SZA’s critically praised album SOS is more than just a contender for Album of the Year at the forthcoming 66th Grammy Awards; it has the ability to make history. If SZA wins the Grammy as a lead artist, she will be the first Black woman to do so since Lauryn Hill’s classic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999.

This potential triumph is noteworthy in an industry with a long-standing diversity disadvantage. Only 37 albums by Black women have been nominated for Album of the Year since its debut in 1959, despite numerous contributions to the musical landscape by singers such as Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Ella Fitzgerald.

SOS has grabbed both fans and critics with its raw sensitivity, genre-bending sound, and insightful lyricism. It has already received nine Grammy nominations, including those for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best R&B Performance.

Janelle Monae, another Black woman musician, has been nominated for Album of the Year at this year’s award with Dirty Computer. While only one can win, their inclusion in the category represents a potential turning point.

The Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammys, has received criticism in recent years for its lack of diversity and inclusiveness.

This potential win for SZA could be viewed as a step forward, but many feel that much more work need to be done to overcome structural prejudices and ensure balanced representation in the awards and the industry at large.

The 66th Grammy Awards will take place on February 5th, 2024.