The Big Four Grammy Awards are four Grammy Awards presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences which go to musical acts and works which are not restricted by genre or another criterion. The Big Four are part of the General Field, which encompasses six categories, including Producer of the Year (created 1975) and Songwriter of the Year (created 2023) which were both added in 2023; these latter two add categories are restricted only by not being of the Classical genre. Unlike the other Grammy Awards, the nomination and voting process within the General Field is open to all Academy voting members.
The most prestigious and important awards at the ceremony, the Big Four comprise: Album of the Year – awarded to the performer, songwriter(s), and the production team of a full album Record of the Year – awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song Song of the Year – awarded to the songwriter(s) of a single song Best New Artist – awarded to an artist without reference to a song or album The first three categories are also known as the Big Three.
Only 2 artists have swept all 4 categories in a single year: Christopher Cross in 1981 for his self-titled album Christopher Cross and the single "Sailing" and Billie Eilish in 2020 for her album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and the single "Bad Guy". Adele and Jack Antonoff have won all 4, but in separate years.
Artists and bands with multiple wins Adele, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, and Paul Simon hold a four-way tie for most Big 4 wins, with seven each.
Eight artists have received the award more than once (either as a main-credit artist, duo or band; not counting wins solely as a producer, mixer or engineer).. Taylor Swift holds the record for Album of the Year with 4. Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell hold the record for Song of the Year with 3 wins. Bruno Mars and Paul Simon hold the record for most wins for Record of the Year with 3 each.
2 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourDomenico Modugno"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" (1959)Record, Song (1959) Bobby Darin"Mack the Knife", Best New Artist (1960)Record, Best New Artist (1960) Bob NewhartThe Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, Best New Artist (1961)Album, Best New Artist (1961) Tony Bennett"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (1963), MTV Unplugged (1995)Record (1963), Album (1995)Barbra StreisandThe Barbra Streisand Album (1964), "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" (1978)Album (1964), Song (1978) Stan GetzGetz/Gilberto, "The Girl from Ipanema" (1965)Album, Record (1965) The BeatlesBest New Artist (1965), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1968)Best New Artist (1965), Album (1968)The 5th Dimension"Up, Up and Away" (1968), "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (1970)Record (1968, 1970)Bob DylanThe Concert for Bangladesh (1973), Time Out of Mind (1998)Album (1973, 1998) Roberta Flack"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1973), "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (1974)Record (1973, 1974) Bette MidlerBest New Artist (1974), "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1990) Record (1990), Best New Artist (1974) Marvin HamlischBest New Artist, "The Way We Were" (1975)Best New Artist, Song (1975) Michael McDonald"What a Fool Believes" (with The Doobie Brothers (1980)Record, Song (1980)TotoToto IV, "Rosanna" (1983)Album, Record (1983)Lionel RichieCan't Slow Down (1985), "We Are the World" (1986)Album (1985), Song (1986)Tina Turner"What's Love Got to Do with It" (1985), River: The Joni Letters (with Herbie Hancock) (2008)Record (1985), Album (2008)Phil CollinsNo Jacket Required (1986), "Another Day in Paradise" (1991)Album (1986), Record (1991)Rob Thomas"Smooth" (2000)Record, Song (2000) Celine DionFalling Into You (1997), "My Heart Will Go On" (1999)Album (1997), Record (1999) Shawn Colvin"Sunny Came Home" (1998)Record, Song (1998) Seal"Kiss From A Rose" (1996)Record, Song (1996) Sheryl Crow"All I Wanna Do", Best New Artist (1995)Record, Best New Artist (1995) Whitney HoustonThe Bodyguard - Original Soundtrack Album, "I Will Always Love You" (1994)Album, Record (1994) Alicia Keys"Fallin'", Best New Artist (2002)Song, Best New Artist (2002) Ray CharlesGenius Loves Company, "Here We Go Again" (2005)Album, Record (2005) Daft PunkRandom Access Memories, "Get Lucky" (2014)Album, Record (2014) fun."We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe, Best New ArtistSong, Best New Artist (2013) Lady A"Need You Now" (2011)Record, Song (2011) Robert Plant & Alison KraussRaising Sand, "Please Read the Letter" (2011)Album, Record (2009) Coldplay"Clocks" (2004), "Viva La Vida" (2009)Record (2004), Song (2009) Bonnie RaittNick of Time (1990), "Just Like That" (2023)Album (1990), Song (2023) Childish Gambino"This Is America" (2019)Record, Song (2019) Beyoncé"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (2010), Cowboy Carter (2025)Song (2010), Album (2025)Anderson .Paak"Leave the Door Open" (2022)Record, Song (2022)
3 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourPaul McCartneyBest New Artist (with The Beatles) (1965), "Michelle" (1967), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (with The Beatles) (1968)Best New Artist (1965), Song (1967), Album (1968)George Harrison & Ringo StarrBest New Artist (with The Beatles) (1965), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (with The Beatles) (1968), The Concert for Bangladesh (1973)Best New Artist (1965), Album (1968, 1973)Simon & Garfunkel"Mrs. Robinson" (1969), "Bridge over Troubled Water", Bridge over Troubled Water (1971)Record (1969, 1971), Album (1971)Carole King"It's Too Late", Tapestry, "You've Got a Friend" (1972)Record, Album, Song (1972)Stevie WonderInnervisions (1974), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1975), Songs in the Key of Life (1977)Album (1974, 1975, 1977)Natalie ColeUnforgettable... with Love, "Unforgettable" (1993), Best New Artist (1976)Album, Record (1993), Best New Artist (1976) Billy Joel"Just the Way You Are", 52nd Street (1980)Record, Song (1979), Album (1980)Lauryn Hill"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", Best New Artist (1999), Supernatural (2000)Album (1999, 2000), Best New ArtistSantana & Rob ThomasSupernatural, "Smooth" (2000)Album, Record, Song (2000) Amy Winehouse"Rehab", Best New Artist (2008)Record, Song, Best New Artist (2008) The ChicksTaking the Long Way, "Not Ready to Make Nice" (2007)Album, Record, Song (2007) Sam Smith"Stay with Me", Best New Artist (2015)Record, Song, Best New Artist (2015) Kendrick Lamar"Not Like Us" (2025), "Luther" (2026)Record (2025, 2026), Song (2025)
4 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourFrank SinatraCome Dance with Me! (1960), September of My Years (1966), A Man and His Music (1967), "Strangers in the Night" (1967)Album (1960, 1966, 1967), Record (1967)John LennonBest New Artist (with The Beatles (1965), "Michelle" (1967), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (with The Beatles) (1968), Double Fantasy (with Yoko Ono (1982)Best New Artist (1965), Song (1967), Album (1968, 1982)Christopher CrossChristopher Cross, "Sailing", Best New Artist (1981)Album, Record, Song, Best New Artist (1981)Michael JacksonThriller, "Beat It" (1984), "We Are the World" (1986)Album (1984), Record (1984, 1986), Song (1986)Quincy JonesThriller, "Beat It" (1984), "We Are the World" (1986), Back on the Block (1991)Album (1984, 1991), Record (1984, 1986) Taylor SwiftFearless (2008), 1989 (2014), Folklore (2020), Midnights (2024)Album (2008, 2014, 2020, 2024)
5 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourHenry Mancini"The Music from Peter Gunn" (1959), "Moon River" (1962), "Days of Wine and Roses" (1964)Album (1959) Record, Song (1962, 1964) Eric ClaptonThe Concert for Bangladesh (1973), Unplugged, "Tears in Heaven" (1993), "Change the World" (1997)Album (1973, 1993), Record (1993, 1997), Song (1993)Norah JonesCome Away with Me, "Don't Know Why", Best New Artist (2003), "Here We Go Again" (2005), River: The Joni Letters (2008)Album (2003, 2008) Record (2003, 2005), Best New Artist (2003)
6 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourU2The Joshua Tree (1988), "Beautiful Day" (2001), "Walk On" (2002), How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" (2006) Album (1988, 2006), Record (2001, 2002), Song (2001, 2006) Finneas O'ConnellWhen We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, "Bad Guy" (2020), "Everything I Wanted" (2021), "What Was I Made For?" (2024), "Wildflower" (2026)Album (2020), Record (2020, 2021), Song (2020, 2024, 2026)Jack Antonoff"We Are Young", Best New Artist (2013), 1989 (2016), Folklore (2021), Midnights (2024), "Luther" (2026)Album (2016, 2021, 2024), Song (2013), Best New Artist (2013), Record (2026)
7 +Artist/BandAlbums/SongsTop FourPaul Simon"Mrs. Robinson" (with Simon & Garfunkel (1969), Bridge over Troubled Water with Simon & Garfunkel, "Bridge over Troubled Water" with Simon & Garfunkel (1971), Still Crazy After All These Years (1976), Graceland (1987), "Graceland" (1988)Record (1969, 1971, 1988), Album (1971, 1976, 1987), Song (1971)AdeleBest New Artist (2009), 21, "Rolling in the Deep" (2012), 25, "Hello" (2017)Album (2012, 2017), Record (2012, 2017), Song (2012, 2017), Best New Artist (2009)Bruno Mars"Uptown Funk" (2016), 25 (2017) 24K Magic, "24K Magic", "That's What I Like" (2018), "Leave the Door Open" (2022)Album (2017, 2018), Record (2016, 2018, 2022), Song (2018, 2022)Billie EilishWhen We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, "Bad Guy", Best New Artist (2020), "Everything I Wanted" (2021), "What Was I Made For?" (2024), Wildflower (2026)Album (2020), Record (2020, 2021), Song (2020, 2024, 2026), Best New Artist (2020)
Recipients 1950s Year Award Work Artist(s)/Song Writers 1959 Album The Music from Peter Gunn Henry Mancini Record "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" Domenico Modugno Song"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" Domenico Modugno
1960s Year Award Work Artist(s) Production Team/Song Writers 1960AlbumCome Dance with Me!Frank Sinatra Record "Mack the Knife" Bobby DarinSong"The Battle of New Orleans"Johnny HortonJimmy Driftwood Best New Artist 1961Album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart Bob NewhartRecord "Theme from A Summer Place" Percy FaithSong"Theme of Exodus" Instrumental (Various Artists)Ernest Gold Best New Artist 1962AlbumJudy at Carnegie HallJudy GarlandRecord"Moon River" Henry ManciniSong"Moon River"Henry ManciniHenry ManciniJohnny Mercer Best New Artist 1963Album The First Family Vaughn Meader Bob Booker & Earle Doud, producersRecord "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" Tony BennettSong"What Kind of Fool Am I?" Sammy Davis Jr.Leslie BricusseAnthony Newley Best New Artist 1964Album The Barbra Streisand Album Barbra StreisandRecord "Days of Wine and Roses" Henry Mancini Song"Days of Wine and Roses" *Henry ManciniHenry ManciniJohnny Mercer Best New Artist The Swingle Singers 1965Album Getz/Gilberto Stan Getz & João GilbertoRecord "The Girl from Ipanema" Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto Song"Hello, Dolly!"Louis ArmstrongJerry Herman Best New Artist The Beatles 1966Album September of My Years Frank Sinatra Sonny Burke, producerRecord "A Taste of Honey" Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss, producersSong"The Shadow of Your Smile"Tony BennettPaul Francis WebsterJohnny Mandel Best New Artist 1967Album A Man and His Music Frank Sinatra Sonny Burke, producerRecord "Strangers in the Night" Frank Sinatra Jimmy Bowen, producerSong"Michelle" The BeatlesJohn LennonPaul McCartney Best New Artist No Award 1968Album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles George Martin, producerRecord "Up, Up and Away" The 5th Dimension Marc Gordon & Johnny Rivers, producersSong"Up, Up, and Away" *The 5th DimensionJimmy Webb Best New Artist 1969Album By the Time I Get to Phoenix Glen Campbell Al De Lory, producerRecord "Mrs. Robinson" Simon & Garfunkel Roy Halee & Simon & Garfunkel, producers Song"Little Green Apples" O. C. SmithBobby Russell Best New Artist
1970s