Canadian contributors to Beyonce’s hit ‘Cowboy Carter’ album earn Grammy nominations

By David Friend, The Canadian Press on November 8, 2024.

Producer Nathan Ferraro and performer and songwriter Elizabeth Lowell Boland, who performs under the name "Lowell," arrive at the red carpet for the 34th SOCAN Awards in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Ferraro and Boland are among Canadians who received Grammy nominations Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White

Several Canadians emerged as major contenders at the Grammy Awards for their work on Beyonce’s country-pop smash “Cowboy Carter.”

The superstar and her album led the Grammys with 11 nominations and that helped Toronto producer Nathan Ferraro land three nominations, including record of the year.

He shared two of his nods with fellow Canadian songwriters Megan Bülow and Elizabeth Lowell Boland in song of the year and best country song.

Among the other leading Canadian nominees is prolific audio engineer and mixer Serban Ghenea, who scored five nods for a slew of big releases in key categories.

Ghenea locked a nomination in record of the year for “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift, as well as nods in album of the year for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” and Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Halifax-raised hitmaker Cirkut picked up two nominations for his work with Charli XCX on “Brat,”including a mention in the album of the year category. The track “360” also earned him a nomination for record of the year.

Other Canadian contenders this year include the Weeknd whose appearance on Future’s “We Still Don’t Trust You” found a spot in best melodic rap performance, while Charlotte Day Wilson’s “Cyan Blue” is up for a trophy in the best engineered album, non-classical category.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.