Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
Awarded forQuality musical theater cast recordings
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awardedThe Music Man (1959)
Currently held bySome Like It Hot (2024)
Websitegrammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award is generally given to the album's producers, principal vocalist(s), and the composer and lyricist if they have written a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album, though the number of recipients has varied over the category's tenure.

The inaugural award was presented at the 1st Grammy Awards to composer Meredith Willson for his work on his 1957 musical The Music Man. Ethel Merman and Gwen Verdon became the first female recipients the in 1960 when they tied for Gypsy and Redhead. Stephen Sondheim and Thomas Z. Shepard hold the record for most wins in the category, with six each, while Sondheim holds the record for most nominations, with eleven. Tommy Krasker holds the record for most nominations without a win, with eight. To date, two-time recipient Phillipa Soo is the only woman to win more than one award. Among shows, cast recordings from Gypsy, West Side Story, Into the Woods, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street have been nominated four times each respectively, with Gypsy, West Side Story, Into the Woods, and Les Misérables are the only shows to win twice. Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I, and My Fair Lady hold the record for most nominations without a win, with three. The current recipient of the award is Some Like It Hot, which won at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024.

Process

Over the years, the qualifications for the individual nominees has fluctuated with principal artists, composers, and producers at one point being the sole eligible nominee, to the current (as of the 66th Grammy Awards) standard which is as follows: "For albums containing greater than 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principal vocalist(s), and the album producer(s) of 50% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50 % or more of a score of a new recording are eligible for an Award if any previous recording of said score has not been nominated in this category."

Vocalists were first awarded in this category at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012. When an album does not feature any individual soloists and predominantly features an ensemble cast, no individual award is given to the members of the ensemble, with each member instead receiving a winners certificate. As of the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, only a maximum of four principle vocalists can be awarded (previously unlimited), in addition to the producer/s and lyricists/composers.[1]

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year.

Name changes

This award has had several minor name changes:

Winner and nominees

Inaugural recipient Meredith Willson.
1968 winner and four-time nominee John Kander.
Stephen Sondheim holds the record for most wins in this category, with six.
Three-time winner Charles Strouse.
Two-time winner Andrew Lloyd Webber received awards in 1981 and 1984 for his hit shows Evita and Cats, respectively.
Quincy Jones won the award in 1982.
2001 recipient Elton John.
2012 winner Andrew Rannells.
Two-time winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Alex Lacamoire has received the award three times.
Two-time nominee Jonathan Groff won in 2016 as part of the cast of Hamilton.
Cyndi Lauper won in 2014, and was nominated again in 2017, for her show Kinky Boots.
Sara Bareilles was nominated as a lyricist in 2017 for Waitress, and won in 2023 as a principal vocalist in Into the Woods.
Jennifer Hudson received an award in 2017 as a vocalist in The Color Purple.
2018 recipient Ben Platt won for his leading role in Dear Evan Hansen.
Anaïs Mitchell won in 2020 for her musical Hadestown.
Year[I] Performing artist(s) Work Nominees Ref.
1959 Meredith Willson (composer/lyricist) The Music Man
[3][4]
1960 Ethel Merman (artist) Gypsy [3][5]
Gwen Verdon (artist) Redhead
1961 Richard Rodgers (composer)
Oscar Hammerstein II (lyricist) 		The Sound of Music [3][6]
1962 Frank Loesser (composer/lyricist) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
[3][7]
1963 Richard Rodgers (composer/lyricist) No Strings [3][8]
1964 Jerry Bock (composer)
Sheldon Harnick (lyricist) 		She Loves Me
[3][9]
1965 Jule Styne (composer)
Bob Merrill (lyricist) 		Funny Girl [3][10]
1966 Burton Lane (composer)
Alan Jay Lerner (lyricist) 		On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
[3][11]
1967 Jerry Herman (composer/lyricist) Mame
[3][12]
1968 John Kander (composer)
Fred Ebb (lyricist)
 · produced by Goddard Lieberson 		Cabaret
[3][13]
1969 Galt MacDermot (composer)
James Rado & Gerome Ragni (lyricists)
 · produced by Andy Wiswell 		Hair
[3][14]
1970 Burt Bacharach (composer)
Hal David (lyricist)
 · produced by Henry Jerome & Phil Ramone 		Promises, Promises
[3][15]
1971 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard 		Company
[3][16]
1972 Stephen Schwartz (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Stephen Schwartz 		Godspell
[3][17]
1973 Micki Grant (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jerry Ragavoy 		Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
[3][18]
1974 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Goddard Lieberson 		A Little Night Music
[3][19]
1975 Judd Woldin (composer)
Robert Brittan (lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard 		Raisin
[3][20]
1976 Charlie Smalls (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jerry Wexler 		The Wiz
[3][21]
1977 Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore (producers) Bubbling Brown Sugar
[3][22]
1978 Charles Strouse (composer)
Martin Charnin (lyricist)
 · produced by Charles Strouse & Larry Morton 		Annie
[3][23]
1979 Thomas Z. Shepard (producer) Ain't Misbehavin'
[3][24]
1980 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard 		Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [3][25]
1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer)
Tim Rice (lyricist)
 · produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice 		Evita: Premier American Recording [3][26]
1982 Quincy Jones (producer) Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music [3][26]
1983 Henry Krieger (composer)
Tom Eyen (lyricist)
 · produced by David Foster 		Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album [3][26]
1984 Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer) Cats: Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording [3][26]
1985 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard 		Sunday in the Park with George
[3][26]
1986 John McClure (producer) West Side Story [3][26]
1987 Thomas Z. Shepard (producer) Follies in Concert [3][26]
1988 Claude-Michel Schönberg (composer)
 · lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer;
 · produced by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg 		Les Misérables (Original Broadway Cast Recording) [3][27]
1989 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jay David Saks 		Into the Woods [3][26]
1990 Jay David Saks (producer) Jerome Robbins' Broadway [3][26]
1991 David Caddick (producer) Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording [3][26]
1992 Cy Coleman (composer)
 · lyrics by Adolph Green & Betty Comden;
 · produced by Cy Coleman & Mike Berniker 		The Will Rogers Follies [3][26]
1993 Jay David Saks (producer) Guys and Dolls (The New Broadway Cast Recording) [3][26]
1994 Pete Townshend (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by George Martin 		The Who's Tommy [3][26]
1995 Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Phil Ramone 		Passion [3][26]
1996 Arif Mardin, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (producers) Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller [3][26]
1997 Bill Whelan (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Bill Whelan 		Riverdance [3][26]
1998 Jay David Saks (producer) Chicago: The Musical (1996 Broadway Revival Cast)
  • The Life – Cy Coleman (composer); Ira Gasman (lyricist); Mike Berniker & Cy Coleman (producers)
  • Songs from Ragtime: The Musical (1996 Concept Album) – Stephen Flaherty (composer); Lynn Ahrens (lyricist); Jay David Saks (producer)
  • Titanic – Maury Yeston (composer & lyricist); Tommy Krasker & Maury Yeston (producers)
    		•  [3][28]
    1999 Mark Mancina (producer) The Lion King
    		[3][29]
    2000 John McDaniel & Stephen Ferrera (producers) Annie Get Your Gun (The New Broadway Cast)
    		[3][30]
    2001 Elton John (composer)
     · lyrics by Tim Rice;
     · produced by Chris Montan, Frank Filipetti, Guy Babylon & Paul Bogaev;
     · engineered/mixed by Frank Filipetti         		Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
    		[3][31]
    2002 Mel Brooks (composer/lyricist)
     · produced by Hugh Fordin;
     · engineered/mixed by Cynthia Daniels         		The Producers
    		[3][32]
    2003 Marc Shaiman (composer)
     · lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman;
     · produced by Marc Shaiman;
     · engineered/mixed by Pete Karam         		Hairspray
    		[3][33]
    2004 Jay David Saks (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Ken Hahn, Todd Whitelock & Tom Lazarus     		Gypsy: A Musical Fable [3]
    2005 Stephen Schwartz (composer.lyricist)
     · produced by Stephen Schwartz;
     · engineered/mixed by Frank Filipetti         		Wicked [3]
    2006 Eric Idle & John Du Prez (composers)
     · lyrics by Eric Idle;
     · produced by Eric Idle & John Du Prez;
     · engineered/mixed by Frank Filipetti         		Monty Python's Spamalot [3]
    2007 Bob Gaudio (producer);
     · engineered/mixed by Pete Karam     		Jersey Boys [3]
    2008 Duncan Sheik (composer)
     · lyrics by Steven Sater;
     · produced by Duncan Sheik;
     · engineered/mixed by Michael Tudor         		Spring Awakening [3][34]
    2009 Lin-Manuel Miranda (composer/lyricist)
     · produced by Alex Lacamoire, Andres Levin, Bill Sherman, Joel W. Moss, Kurt Deutsch & Lin-Manuel Miranda;
     · engineered/mixed by Joel W. Moss & Tim Latham         		In the Heights [3][35]
    2010 David Caddick & David Lai (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Todd Whitelock     		West Side Story (New Broadway Cast Recording) [3][36]
    2011 Billie Joe Armstrong (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Chris Dugan & Chris Lord-Alge     		American Idiot (featuring Green Day)
    		[3][37][38]
    2012 Andrew Rannells & Josh Gad (artists)
     · music & lyrics by Matt Stone, Robert Lopez & Trey Parker;
     · produced by Anne Garefino, Matt Stone, Robert Lopez, Scott Rudin, Stephen Oremus & Trey Parker;
     · engineered/mixed by Frank Filipetti         		The Book of Mormon
    		[3][39]
    2013 Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti (principal soloists)
     · produced by Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe;
     · engineered/mixed by Richard King         		Once: A New Musical
    		[3][40]
    2014 Billy Porter & Stark Sands (principal soloists)
     · music & lyrics by Cyndi Lauper;
     · produced by Sammy James, Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus & William Wittman;
     · engineered/mixed by Derik Lee & William Wittman         		Kinky Boots
    		[3][41]
    2015 Jessie Mueller (principal soloist)
     · produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell & Billy Jay Stein     		Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
    		[3]
    2016 Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos & Phillipa Soo (principal soloists)
     · music & lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
     · produced by Alex Lacamoire, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Sherman, Ahmir Thompson & Tarik Trotter         		Hamilton
    		[42]
    2017 Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson (principal soloists)
     · produced by Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Scott Sanders & Jhett Tolentino     		The Color Purple (2015 Broadway Cast)
    		[43][44]
    2018 Laura Dreyfuss, Mike Faist, Rachel Bay Jones, Kristolyn Lloyd, Michael Park, Ben Platt, Will Roland & Jennifer Laura Thompson (principal soloists)
     · music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
     · produced by Pete Ganbarg, Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul         		Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast)
    [45]
    2019 Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari'el Stachel (principal soloists)
     · music & lyrics by David Yazbek
     · produced by Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek         		The Band's Visit (Original Broadway Cast)
    [46]
    2020 Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page (principal soloists)
     · music & lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell
     · produced by Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose         		Hadestown (Original Broadway Cast)
    		[47]
    2021 Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Lauren Patten & Elizabeth Stanley (principal soloists)

     · lyricists: Glen Ballard and Alanis Morissette
     · produced by Neal Avron, Pete Ganbarg, Tom Kitt, Michael Parker, Craig Rossen & Vivek J. Tiwary

    		Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast)
    		[48]
    2022 Emily Bear (producer); Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear (composer/lyricists) The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
    		[49]
    2023 Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller & Phillipa Soo (principal soloists)

     · Rob Berman & Sean Patrick Flahaven (producers)

    		Into the Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording)
    		[50]
    2024 Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks & NaTasha Yvette Williams (principal vocalists)
     · Scott Wittman (lyricist); Marc Shaiman (composer & lyricist)
     · Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Bryan Carter, Scott M. Riesett, Charlie Rosen & Marc Shaiman (producers)     		Some Like It Hot (Original Broadway Cast)
    		[51]

    Shows with multiple wins and nominations

    Shows with multiple wins

    2 wins:

    Shows with multiple nominations

    4 nominations

    3 nominations:

    2 nominations:

    Individuals with multiple wins and nominations

    Individuals with multiple wins

    6 wins:

    5 wins:

    3 wins:

    2 wins:

    Individuals with multiple nominations

    11 nominations

    10 nominations

    8 nominations

    7 nominations

    6 nominations

    5 nominations

    4 nominations

    3 nominations

    2 nominations

    References

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    5. ^ "Grammy Awards 1960". Awards & Shows.
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    9. ^ "Grammy Awards 1964". Awards & Shows.
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    11. ^ "Grammy Awards 1966". Awards & Shows.
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    49. ^ 2022 Nominations List
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    51. ^ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-11.

    External links

    Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
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