The Best Spoken Word Poetry Album category at the GRAMMY Awards recognizes excellence in audio recordings of poetry, spoken word performances, and storytelling. This market specifically predicts which nominated album will win this award at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, with nominations announced on November 7, 2025, and the ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026. The category, which has undergone several name changes since its inception, honors artists who blend literary artistry with vocal performance, creating works that exist at the intersection of music, literature, and oral tradition. The award is presented by the Recording Academy, the premier organization of music professionals responsible for the GRAMMYs. Interest in this prediction stems from both cultural observers tracking the evolution of spoken word as an art form and from fans and investors following specific artists' careers. The category has gained increased visibility in recent years as spoken word poetry experiences a renaissance through digital platforms and social media, making the award a significant barometer of contemporary oral literary trends. The outcome reflects both artistic merit and the Recording Academy's evolving recognition of diverse vocal performance genres beyond traditional singing.

Historical Context

The GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album has evolved through several iterations since its establishment. The category originated in 1959 as Best Documentary or Spoken Word Recording, later splitting into specialized awards. In 1999, it became Best Spoken Word Album, combining poetry with other spoken word genres. Significant reform occurred in 2012 when the Recording Academy streamlined categories, nearly eliminating spoken word awards before reinstating them due to artist advocacy. The current dedicated poetry category, Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, was established for the 64th GRAMMY Awards in 2022, separating poetry from general spoken word content like audiobooks and comedy albums. This change reflected the growing distinction between poetry performance and other spoken audio formats. Historically, winners have included literary giants like Maya Angelou, who won three awards in this category, and contemporary performers like Ursula Rucker. The category's evolution mirrors broader cultural shifts in how poetry is consumed, moving from printed page to performed recording. Recent years have seen increased diversity in winners, with 2023 marking the first win by a poet primarily known for hip-hop influenced work, J. Ivy. The category's criteria have gradually expanded to include digitally-native works and live performance recordings, adapting to changing production and distribution methods.

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