Buena Vista Social Club has won the 2026 best musical theater album at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, beating out five other nominees, all current or recent Broadway shows (the fourth consecutive year that only Broadway cast recordings have been nominated in the category.)’
“I’d like to thank David Yazbek, Marco Paguia, Oren Wolf, who had the idea to put this all together,” producer Dean Sharenow said. “Our amazing band and cast…Most of all, all the composers and performers who created this music over many, many years that speaks around around the world, to audiences that don’t even speak Spanish.”
Just moments earlier, Darren Criss, the host of the premiere ceremony, sang a duet with Helen J. Shen from one of the other Grammy-nominated musical albums, “Maybe Happy Ending”
In another theater-related win, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to “Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Below is info on all five musial theater album Grammy nominees (with the title linked to find out more or purchase), my reviews of the musicals,
“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.“
Buena Vista Social Club
Marco Paguia, Dean Sharenow & David Yazbek, producers (Original Broadway Cast)
My review of Buena Vista Social Club
Death Becomes Her
Taurean Everett, Megan Hilty, Josh Lamon, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard & Michelle Williams, principal vocalists; Noel Carey, Sean Patrick Flahaven, Julia Mattison & Scott M. Riesett, producers; Noel Carey & Julia Mattison, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
My review of Death Becomes Her
Gypsy
Danny Burstein, Kevin Csolak, Audra McDonald, Jordan Tyson & Joy Woods, principal vocalists; David Caddick, Andy Einhorn, David Lai & George C. Wolfe, producers (Jule Styne, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (2024 Broadway Cast)
My review of Gypsy
Just In Time
Emily Bergl, Jonathan Groff, Erika Henningsen, Gracie Lawrence & Michele Pawk, principal vocalists; Derik Lee, Andrew Resnick & Bill Sherman, producers (Bobby Darin, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
My review of Just in Time
Maybe Happy Ending
Marcus Choi, Darren Criss, Dez Duron & Helen J Shen, principal vocalists; Deborah Abramson, Will Aronson, Ian Kagey & Hue Park, producers; Hue Park, lyricist; Will Aronson, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)
My review of Maybe Happy Ending
