The Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album is an award presented to recording artists at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
The award has been presented every year since 1992, though it has had two name changes throughout its history. In 1992 the award was known as Best Traditional Pop Performance, from 1993 to 2000 the award was known as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and since 2001 it has been awarded as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Apart from the first year it was presented, the award has been designated for "albums containing 51% or more playing time of vocal tracks", with "traditional" referring to the "composition, vocal styling, and the instrumental arrangement" of the body of music known as the Great American Songbook.
The 1992 award was presented to Natalie Cole for the spliced-together duet of her and her father, Nat King Cole, performing his original recording of "Unforgettable". This is the only instance in which the traditional pop award was awarded for a song, as opposed to an album. Prior to 2001, the Grammy was presented to the performing artists only; since then the award has been given to the performing artists, the engineers/mixers, as well as the producers, provided they worked on more than 51 percent of playing time on the album. Producers and engineers who worked on less than 50 percent of playing time of the album, as well as mastering engineers do not win an award, but can apply for a Winners Certificate. However, the lead performing artist remains the only one to receive an official nomination. Eligibility criteria for the category was expanded in 2025 to welcome more entries from the musical theater community, and it was mandated that albums must contain more than 75% of newly recorded and previously unreleased material.
Recipients
1990s Year Work Artist 1992 Unforgettable Blue Light, Red Light Harry Connick Jr. In a Sentimental Mood: Mathis Sings Ellington Johnny Mathis Pure Schuur Diane Schuur "Warm All Over" Barbra Streisand 1993 Perfectly Frank Girl Singer Rosemary Clooney Late Night at the Cafe Carlyle Bobby Short Michael Feinstein Sings the Jule Styne Songbook Michael Feinstein With My Lover Beside Me Nancy Wilson 1994 Steppin' Out Back to Broadway Barbra Streisand Do You Miss New York? Rosemary Clooney Love Songs Diane Schuur A Touch of Music in the Night Michael Crawford 1995 MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett The Concert Barbra Streisand Duets Frank Sinatra Moonlight Becomes You Willie Nelson Roberta Roberta Flack 1996 Duets II Back in Business Eartha Kitt Broadway Legend John Raitt Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers Julie Andrews Demi-Centennial Rosemary Clooney 1997 Here's to the Ladies Dedicated to Nelson Rosemary Clooney Gently Liza Minnelli I'll Be Your Baby Tonight Bernadette Peters Stardust Natalie Cole 1998 Tony Bennett on Holiday Film Noir Carly Simon Here I'll Stay Julie Andrews Mothers & Daughters Rosemary Clooney Sondheim, etc. Bernadette Peters 1999 Live at Carnegie Hall: The 50th Anniversary Concert The Birthday Concert Shirley Bassey Jack Jones Paints a Tribute to Tony Bennett Jack Jones Michael & George: Feinstein Sings Gershwin Michael Feinstein The Pleasure of His Company Maureen McGovern
2000s Year Work Artist 2000 Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool Come by Me Harry Connick Jr. Manilow Sings Sinatra Barry Manilow The Movie Album: As Time Goes By Neil Diamond You're the Top: Love Song of Cole Porter Bobby Short 2001 Both Sides Now As Time Goes By Bryan Ferry It's Like This Rickie Lee Jones Songs from the Last Century George Michael Timeless: Live in Concert Barbra Streisand 2002 Songs I Heard Keely Sings Sinatra Keely Smith Romance on Film, Romance on Broadway Michael Feinstein Stars and the Moon: Live at the Donmar Betty Buckley Sentimental Journey: The Girl Singer and Her New Big Band Rosemary Clooney 2003 Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein Bernadette Peters Christmas Memories Barbra Streisand It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook Rod Stewart Michael Feinstein with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Michael Feinstein 2004 A Wonderful World and k.d. lang As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II Rod Stewart Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook Bette Midler The Last Concert Rosemary Clooney The Movie Album Barbra Streisand 2005 Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III Count Your Blessings Barbara Cook Just for a Thrill Ronnie Milsap Only You Harry Connick Jr. Ultimate Mancini Monica Mancini 2006 The Art of Romance Isn't It Romantic Johnny Mathis It's Time Michael Bublé Moonlight Serenade Carly Simon Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV Rod Stewart 2007 Duets: An American Classic Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook Bette Midler Caught in the Act Michael Bublé Timeless Love Smokey Robinson Wintersong Sarah McLachlan 2008 Call Me Irresponsible Cool Yule Bette Midler James Taylor at Christmas James Taylor Live in Concert 2006 Barbra Streisand Trav'lin' Light Queen Latifah 2009 Still Unforgettable In the Swing of Christmas Barry Manilow Noël Josh Groban Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall Rufus Wainwright The Sinatra Project Michael Feinstein
2010s Year Work Artist 2010 Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden American Classic Willie Nelson Liza's at The Palace.... Liza Minnelli A Swingin' Christmas Tony Bennett Your Songs Harry Connick Jr. 2011 Crazy Love Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V Rod Stewart The Greatest Love Songs of All Time Barry Manilow Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville Johnny Mathis Love Is the Answer Barbra Streisand 2012 Duets IITony Bennett The Gift Susan Boyle In Concert on Broadway Harry Connick Jr. Music Is Better Than Words Seth MacFarlane What Matters Most Barbra Streisand 2013 Kisses on the Bottom Paul McCartney Christmas Michael Bublé A Holiday Carole Carole King 2014To Be Loved Michael Bublé Cee Lo's Magic Moment Cee Lo Green Now Dionne Warwick The Standards Gloria Estefan Viva Duets Tony Bennett with various artists 2015 Cheek to Cheek Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Night Songs Barry Manilow Nostalgia Annie Lennox Partners Barbra Streisand with various artists Sending You a Little Christmas Johnny Mathis 2016 The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap My Dream Duets Barry Manilow with various artists No One Ever Tells You Seth MacFarlane Shadows in the Night Bob Dylan Stages Josh Groban 2017 Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin Willie Nelson Cinema Andrea Bocelli Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway Barbra Streisand Fallen Angels Bob Dylan Stages Live Josh Groban 2018 Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 Various Artists (Dae Bennett, producer) In Full Swing Seth MacFarlane Nobody but Me Michael Bublé Triplicate Bob Dylan Wonderland Sarah McLachlan 2019 My Way Willie Nelson Love Is Here to Stay Tony Bennett and Diana Krall The Music...The Mem'ries...The Magic! Barbra Streisand Nat King Cole & Me Gregory Porter Standards (Deluxe) Seal
2020s Year Work Artist 2020 Look Now Elvis Costello & The Imposters A Legendary Christmas John Legend Love (Deluxe Edition) Michael Bublé Sì Andrea Bocelli Walls Barbra Streisand 2021American Standard James Taylor Blue Umbrella Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian Judy Renée Zellweger True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter Harry Connick Jr. Unfollow the Rules Rufus Wainwright 2022Love for Sale Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga A Holly Dolly Christmas Dolly Parton Ledisi Sings Nina Ledisi That's Life Willie Nelson Til We Meet Again (Live) Norah Jones A Tori Kelly Christmas Tori Kelly 2023Higher Michael Bublé Evergreen Pentatonix I Dream of Christmas (Extended) Norah Jones Thank You Diana Ross When Christmas Comes Around... Kelly Clarkson 2024Bewitched Laufey Holidays Around the World Pentatonix Only the Strong Survive Bruce Springsteen Pieces of Treasure Rickie Lee Jones Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3 Various Artists To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim Liz Callaway 2025Visions Norah Jones Christmas Wish Gregory Porter À Fleur De Peau Cyrille Aimée Good Together Lake Street Dive Impossible Dream Aaron Lazar 2026A Matter of Time Laufey The Gift of Love Jennifer Hudson Harlequin Lady Gaga The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two Barbra Streisand Who Believes in Angels? Elton John and Brandi Carlile Wintersongs Laila Biali Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year. Award only went to a producer of the album, not the performing artist(s).
Artists with multiple wins
14 wins Tony Bennett 5 wins Michael Bublé
2 wins Natalie Cole Willie Nelson Lady Gaga Laufey
Artists with multiple nominations
17 nominations Tony Bennett
14 nominations Barbra Streisand
9 nominations Michael Bublé
7 nominations Rosemary Clooney
6 nominations Harry Connick Jr.
5 nominations Michael Feinstein Barry Manilow Rod Stewart
4 nominations Willie Nelson Johnny Mathis
3 nominations Natalie Cole Bob Dylan Lady Gaga Josh Groban Norah Jones Seth MacFarlane Bette Midler Bernadette Peters
2 nominations Julie Andrews Laufey Rickie Lee Jones Sarah McLachlan Liza Minnelli Pentatonix Gregory Porter Diane Schuur Bobby Short Carly Simon Frank Sinatra James Taylor Rufus Wainwright
See also Jazz standard Tin Pan Alley
References
Sources Note: User must select the "Traditional Pop" category as the genre under the search feature.