BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Last year, singer Sabrina Carpenter became the first Lehigh Valley native to win a Grammy Award for performance with her chart-topping hit "Espresso" and "Short n' Sweet."
The 68th Grammy Award show Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will be broadcast live on the CBS-TV starting at 8 p.m.National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
This year, Carpenter, who originally is from Lower Milford Township, seems to have no less momentum heading into the 68th Grammy Award show Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
It will be broadcast live on CBS starting at 8 p.m.
Carpenter's latest album, "Man's Best Friend," released in August, was her second No. 1 disc in a row and already has achieved platinum sales and produced three gold and platinum hits.
Carpenter's star is at such a level that Internet betting site VegasInsider.com says she could break five Grammy Awards records during the ceremony.
Carpenter is up for six Grammys this year — the same number for which she was nominated last year, when she was among the few music artists ever nominated for all the “Big Four” categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
She again is nominated for three of those categories this year — Album of the Year for "Man's Best Friend," and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Manchild."
In addition, she's nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Music Video for “Manchild,” and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Man's Best Friend."
Carpenter won those final two last year — Best Pop Solo Performance for "Espresso," and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Short n' Sweet."
In winning, Carpenter became the first person born in or residing in Lehigh or Northampton counties to win a performance Grammy, according to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, organizers of the awards.
50 Grammy records up for grabs
In all, VegasInsider.com says more than 50 Grammy records could fall this year.
Some are significant: Kendrick Lamar could break Jay-Z’s record for total wins (25) and become the most awarded rapper of all time.
Lamar also could tie Michael Jackson's and Santana’s record for the most Grammys won in one night (eight).
Lady Gaga could break Adele and Beyoncé’s record for the most Grammys won in one night by a female artist (six).
But most intriguing to Lehigh Valley music fans may be the chances for Carpenter, who was born in Quakertown Hospital, to break several records.
Carpenter's standing in the music world is undeniable: When the Grammy nominations were announced in November, Carpenter was among the announcers.
For the second year in a row, she's scheduled to be among the award show's performers.
She's expected to perform tracks from "Man’s Best Friend."
Only two artists this year are nominated for more Grammys than Carpenter: Lamar for nine and Lady Gaga for seven. Jack Antonoff and Cirkut also each got seven nominations, but all were for songwriting and production.
Carpenter could topple records
This year, Carpenter is among three artists — Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga are the others — who have a chance to join eight other artists who managed to win Record, Song and Album of The Year Grammys in one evening.
Carpenter could become only the second artist to ever win in the Best Pop Solo Performance category in consecutive years (after Adele). She's won last year for “Espresso” and is nominated this year for nominated for “Manchild."
Carpenter, also for “Man’s Best Friend,” could become the first artist to ever win in the Best Pop Vocal Album category in consecutive years — she won last year for “Short ‘n Sweet.”National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Carpenter also could join Adele (four wins) and Ed Sheeran (two wins) as only the third artist to win on multiple occasions in the Best Pop Solo Performance category. This year she's nominated for “Manchild.”
Carpenter also could tie the record for the most wins in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, now held by Taylor Swift, Adele and Kelly Clarkson. Carpenter is nominated for “Man’s Best Friend.”
And Carpenter, also for “Man’s Best Friend,” could become the first artist to ever win in the Best Pop Vocal Album category in consecutive years — she won last year for “Short ‘n Sweet.”
Nominations may not mean wins
Of course, if last year was any indication, the attention Carpenter has gotten from the Recording Industry this year may not translate into wins.
Despite being nominated for all “Big Four” categories last year — among only 14 artists ever to receive those nominations in one year, and with her first Grammy nominations ever — she won none.National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Despite being nominated for all “Big Four” categories last year — among only 14 artists ever to receive those nominations in one year, and with her first Grammy nominations ever — she won none.
She ended up winning two Best Pop Solo Performance for "Espresso," and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Short n' Sweet." She's nominated in both those categories again this year.
Last year, Carpenter lost Record of the Year and Song of the Year to Lamar, who dominated the ceremony with five wins.
This year, she again faces off against Lamar for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his “luther,” with SZA, and for Album of the Year for his “GNX.”
Carpenter also is up against Gaga for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her “Abracadabra” and Album of the Year for “Mayhem.”
She also faces Gaga for Best Solo Pop Performance for Gaga's “Disease” and Best Pop Vocal Album for Gaga's ”Mayhem.”
