Benson Boone, The Weeknd, Lorde snubbed from 2026 Grammy nominations
USA TODAY’s Ralphie Aversa recaps some of the 2026 Grammy nomination snubs and surprises, from “Golden” to The Weeknd, Benson Boone, Lorde and more.
The 2026 Grammy nominations have dropped, and one name in particular stands out.
Leon Thomas, also known as Leon Thomas III, received six Grammy nominations on Friday, Nov. 7. That’s the second-most nominations, following only rapper Kendrick Lamar, who received nine.
Unlike the Super Bowl 59 performer, however, Thomas is not a household name.
The R&B artist has written songs for mainstream performers like Ariana Grande and SZA. And some young adults might even remember him from a hit 2010s Nickelodeon TV show. But in case you’re still not sure, here’s what to know about the Brooklyn native.
What is Leon Thomas famous for?
Thomas, 32, is a producer, songwriter, arranger and vocalist. He is one half of The Rascals, a production duo he formed with writer-producer Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, according to REVOLT, a media company focused on hip-hop and youth culture. He also has experience as a child actor on Broadway and Nickelodeon TV shows.
Thomas won a Grammy in 2024 for SZA’s No. 1 hit “Snooze.” Thomas produced the Best R&B Song win as part of The Rascals.
Who has Leon Thomas written songs for?
Thomas has written or produced songs for popular artists such as Ariana Grande, SZA, Drake, Ty Dolla Sign, Jack Harlow, Post Malone, Big Sean and Bryson Tiller, according to REVOLT.
Popular songs written by Leon Thomas
Thomas has written or produced for several artists through the years. Popular tracks include:
Leon Thomas was Andre from ‘Victorious’
Thomas worked as a child actor and appeared in kids’ shows. When he was 10, he performed as Young Simba on Broadway’s “The Lion King,” according to his Motown Records bio.
At 13, he began working with Nickelodeon and voiced “The Backyardigans” character Tyrone. He is well-known for his role as Andre Harris on the popular Nickelodeon show “Victorious,” which aired from 2010-13. He also made two appearances on the Nickelodeon show “iCarly.”
What was Leon Thomas nominated for?
Thomas was nominated for six Grammy awards this year, including Album of the Year for “MUTT,” which Grammy.com describes as “a fusion of jazz, neo-soul, and rock.” The full list of nominations includes:
- Album of the Year for “MUTT.”
- Best New Artist.
- Best R&B Performance for “MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk).”
- Best Traditional R&B Performance for “VIBES DON’T LIE.”
- Best R&B Album for “MUTT.”
- Best R&B Song for “YES IT IS.”
