LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Rapper Kendrick Lamar

topped the list of Grammy contenders for the second straight

year on Friday with nine nominations, outpacing the seven nods

for pop superstar Lady Gaga in the race for the music industry's

top honors.

Lamar's "GNX" and Gaga's "MAYHEM" will compete for the

coveted album of the year trophy at the Grammy Awards 2026

ceremony in February. Neither artist has won the honor despite

multiple nominations in the category.

Others nominated in the album field include Bad Bunny for

the Spanish-language "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," Justin Bieber for

"Swag" and Sabrina Carpenter for "Man's Best Friend."

"The Life of a Showgirl" by Taylor Swift, who has claimed

album of the year an unmatched four times, was not in the

running because it was released after this year's Grammy

eligibility window closed.

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican musician who will perform at

next year's Super Bowl halftime show, received six nominations

in total including for record, song and album of the year.

Two KPop songs landed in the field for song of the year, an

award given to songwriters. They are "Golden" from the

soundtrack of smash Netflix ( NFLX ) movie "KPop Demon Hunters"

and "APT." by Rose and Bruno Mars.

"APT." also was nominated for record of the year, a trophy

given to producers and performers. Others on the list included

Gaga's "Abracadabra," "luther" by Lamar and SZA, and "DtMF" by

Bad Bunny.

In the best new artist category, Olivia Dean and KATSEYE

will compete with Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and others. Thomas,

an R&B and soul musician, also received an album of the year

nomination for "Mutt."

Grammy winners will be chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting

members of the Recording Academy and announced at a red-carpet

ceremony in Los Angeles on February 1.