Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

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.

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 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:

  • In 1959 the award was known as Best Original Cast Album (Broadway or TV)
  • In 1960 it was awarded as Best Broadway Show Album
  • In 1961 it was awarded as Best Show Album (Original Cast)
  • From 1962 to 1963 it was awarded as Best Original Cast Show Album
  • From 1964 to 1973 it was awarded as Best Score From an Original Cast Show Album
  • From 1974 to 1975 it was awarded as Best Score From the Original Cast Show Album
  • From 1976 to 1986 it was awarded as Best Cast Show Album
  • From 1987 to 1991 it was awarded as Best Musical Cast Show Album
  • From 1992 to 2011 it was awarded as Best Musical Show Album
  • From 2012 it has been known as Best Musical Theater Album.[2]

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)WorkNomineesRef.
1959Meredith Willson (composer/lyricist)The Music Man
[3][4]
1960Ethel Merman (artist)Gypsy[3][5]
Gwen Verdon (artist)Redhead
1961Richard Rodgers (composer)
Oscar Hammerstein II (lyricist)
The Sound of Music[3][6]
1962Frank Loesser (composer/lyricist)How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
[3][7]
1963Richard Rodgers (composer/lyricist)No Strings[3][8]
1964Jerry Bock (composer)
Sheldon Harnick (lyricist)
She Loves Me
[3][9]
1965Jule Styne (composer)
Bob Merrill (lyricist)
Funny Girl[3][10]
1966Burton Lane (composer)
Alan Jay Lerner (lyricist)
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
[3][11]
1967Jerry Herman (composer/lyricist)Mame
[3][12]
1968John Kander (composer)
Fred Ebb (lyricist)
 · produced by Goddard Lieberson
Cabaret
[3][13]
1969Galt MacDermot (composer)
James Rado & Gerome Ragni (lyricists)
 · produced by Andy Wiswell
Hair
[3][14]
1970Burt Bacharach (composer)
Hal David (lyricist)
 · produced by Henry Jerome & Phil Ramone
Promises, Promises
[3][15]
1971Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard
Company
[3][16]
1972Stephen Schwartz (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Stephen Schwartz
Godspell
[3][17]
1973Micki Grant (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jerry Ragavoy
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
[3][18]
1974Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Goddard Lieberson
A Little Night Music
[3][19]
1975Judd Woldin (composer)
Robert Brittan (lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard
Raisin
[3][20]
1976Charlie Smalls (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jerry Wexler
The Wiz
[3][21]
1977Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore (producers)Bubbling Brown Sugar
[3][22]
1978Charles Strouse (composer)
Martin Charnin (lyricist)
 · produced by Charles Strouse & Larry Morton
Annie
[3][23]
1979Thomas Z. Shepard (producer)Ain't Misbehavin'
[3][24]
1980Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street[3][25]
1981Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer)
Tim Rice (lyricist)
 · produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice
Evita: Premier American Recording[3][26]
1982Quincy Jones (producer)Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music[3][26]
1983Henry Krieger (composer)
Tom Eyen (lyricist)
 · produced by David Foster
Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album[3][26]
1984Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer)Cats: Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording[3][26]
1985Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard
Sunday in the Park with George
[3][26]
1986John McClure (producer)West Side Story[3][26]
1987Thomas Z. Shepard (producer)Follies in Concert[3][26]
1988Claude-Michel Schönberg (composer)
 · lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer;
 · produced by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg
Les Misérables (Original Broadway Cast Recording)[3][27]
1989Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Jay David Saks
Into the Woods[3][26]
1990Jay David Saks (producer)Jerome Robbins' Broadway[3][26]
1991David Caddick (producer)Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording[3][26]
1992Cy Coleman (composer)
 · lyrics by Adolph Green & Betty Comden;
 · produced by Cy Coleman & Mike Berniker
The Will Rogers Follies[3][26]
1993Jay David Saks (producer)Guys and Dolls (The New Broadway Cast Recording)[3][26]
1994Pete Townshend (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by George Martin
The Who's Tommy[3][26]
1995Stephen Sondheim (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Phil Ramone
Passion[3][26]
1996Arif Mardin, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (producers)Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller[3][26]
1997Bill Whelan (composer/lyricist)
 · produced by Bill Whelan
Riverdance[3][26]
1998Jay 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]
    1999Mark Mancina (producer)The Lion King
    [3][29]
    2000John McDaniel & Stephen Ferrera (producers)Annie Get Your Gun (The New Broadway Cast)
    [3][30]
    2001Elton 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]
    2002Mel Brooks (composer/lyricist)
     · produced by Hugh Fordin;
     · engineered/mixed by Cynthia Daniels
    The Producers
    [3][32]
    2003Marc Shaiman (composer)
     · lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman;
     · produced by Marc Shaiman;
     · engineered/mixed by Pete Karam
    Hairspray
    [3][33]
    2004Jay David Saks (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Ken Hahn, Todd Whitelock & Tom Lazarus
    Gypsy: A Musical Fable[3]
    2005Stephen Schwartz (composer.lyricist)
     · produced by Stephen Schwartz;
     · engineered/mixed by Frank Filipetti
    Wicked[3]
    2006Eric 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]
    2007Bob Gaudio (producer);
     · engineered/mixed by Pete Karam
    Jersey Boys[3]
    2008Duncan Sheik (composer)
     · lyrics by Steven Sater;
     · produced by Duncan Sheik;
     · engineered/mixed by Michael Tudor
    Spring Awakening[3][34]
    2009Lin-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]
    2010David Caddick & David Lai (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Todd Whitelock
    West Side Story (New Broadway Cast Recording)[3][36]
    2011Billie Joe Armstrong (producer)
     · engineered/mixed by Chris Dugan & Chris Lord-Alge
    American Idiot (featuring Green Day)
    [3][37][38]
    2012Andrew 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]
    2013Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti (principal soloists)
     · produced by Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe;
     · engineered/mixed by Richard King
    Once: A New Musical
    [3][40]
    2014Billy 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]
    2015Jessie Mueller (principal soloist)
     · produced by Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell & Billy Jay Stein
    Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
    [3]
    2016Daveed 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]
    2017Danielle 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]
    2018Laura 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)
    2019Etai 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)
    2020Reeve 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]
    2021Kathryn 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]
    2022Emily Bear (producer); Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear (composer/lyricists)The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical
    [49]
    2023Sara 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]
    2024Christian 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