Kendrick Lamar has secured five nominations at the upcoming 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, extending his dominant run through 2025 and further cementing his position at the top of hip-hop’s creative and commercial landscape. According to iHeartRadio’s official nominee announcement, the Compton MC is up for Artist of the Year, Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, and three additional awards tied to his hit single “luther” with SZA, at the ceremony set to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 26, 2026.[1][8]
iHeartRadio confirms that Lamar’s collaboration “luther” is nominated for Song of the Year and Hip-Hop Song of the Year.[1][5] AllHipHop adds that the track also earned a nod for Best Collaboration, bringing his total to five nominations and making him one of the most recognized artists on the ballot.[2] The single, taken from Kendrick’s 2025 album GNX, is positioned in a stacked field that includes Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen on the pop side, as well as heavyweights like Drake, Cardi B, GloRilla, and Sexyy Red in the hip-hop categories.[1][2][3]
These latest nominations arrive on the heels of a career-defining year. According to AllHipHop, Kendrick reportedly topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid musicians in 2025 with earnings of $109 million, outpacing Drake by $31 million on the strength of touring and streaming revenue from GNX.[2] HotNewHipHop reports that GNX was Spotify’s most-streamed rap album of 2025, while his joint “Grand National” tour with SZA delivered the highest-grossing rap tour of the year, pulling in an estimated $369.6 million worldwide.[3] AllHipHop also notes that Lamar led the 68th Grammy Awards with nine nominations and took home five wins, including Song of the Year for “Not Like Us.”[2]
Within the broader iHeartRadio field, Kendrick’s presence underscores hip-hop’s central role in mainstream music. iHeartMedia’s nominee list shows hip-hop artists prominently featured across major all-genre categories, from Artist of the Year to Song of the Year, reflecting the format’s continued dominance on radio and streaming.[1][5][8] For Lamar, the five iHeartRadio nominations are less an isolated achievement than the latest milestone in what many outlets describe as his most commanding year since his initial commercial breakthrough, reinforcing his status as one of contemporary music’s defining artists.[2][3]
