25 Artists Who Have Never Won a Grammy 57th Annual Grammy Awards

February 4, 2015

On February 8th, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj will both be returning to the Grammys — and both will be vying to take home their first trophy. Like Patti Smith (one nomination), Björk (13) and Snoop Dogg and Brian McKnight (16 each), neither have won a gramophone of their own. Here now, a rundown of the pop stars, punk icons and rock geniuses whose work has never been recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Brian McKnight

Times nominated: 16

Sort of the Susan Lucci of R&B, Brian McKnight co-holds the ignominious honor of being the artist who has the most Grammy nominations without a win. Surely you would think that somewhere in his deep and velvety catalog, brimming with favorites like "Anytime" (lost Best Pop Vocal Performance to Stevie Wonder's "St. Louis Blues" in 1999) and Back at One (lost Best R&B Album to TLC's FanMail in 2000), there is an album or song or video or duet worthy of a statue. But maybe his pristine adult contemporary R&B – though apparently highly nominate-able – is somehow too safe, too staid for even the Grammy records? Actually, scratch that: McKnight's 0-fer is probably just bad luck.

Snoop Dogg

Times nominated: 16

With last year's nomination for Best Reggae Album (for Reincarnated), Snoop matched Brian McKnight for the dubious distinction of most nominations without a win. In the past, the man now called Snoop Lion (or is it Snoopzilla?) made the final cut for classics "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang," "Gin and Juice" and "Drop It Like It's Hot," among others. He can probably find some consolation in knowing he's been beaten out by the eminently worthy likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé (twice) and Dr. Dre.

Martina McBride

Times nominated: 14

Martina McBride has sold more than 14 million albums and won the Country Music Association's "Female Vocalist of the Year" award four times, but she has yet to catch a break at the Grammys. The closest she ever came was in 1996, when an album on which she was featured, Amazing Grace – A Salute to Gospel, won for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album. But it was the compilation's producer, Bill Hearn, who got the award.

Björk

Times nominated: 13

Although it would seem that Björk's art-rock is a tad too far out for even the Grammys' Alternative categories, the Icelandic icon's eccentricity isn't much of an issue for other organizations doling out music awards. Björk has won BRIT Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, 21 Icelandic Music awards, an award from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, two Webby Awards and the award for Best Actress at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. So her trophy room is fully stocked.