Jon Batiste reflects on Grammy recognition

Jon Batiste says his recent Grammy recognition comes from focusing on honest music and reconnecting with his influences.

The 39-year-old musician earned three nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards for his album Big Money, including Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song, and Best American Roots Performance for Lonely Avenue, a collaboration with Randy Newman. The song emerged after Batiste reached out to Newman, 82, with the intention of reconnecting and creating without pressure.

When Batiste began visiting Newman, he found the veteran songwriter in a quieter phase. Those casual living-room sessions slowly renewed Newman’s interest in singing and playing, leading to the recording of Lonely Avenue and what Batiste calls a meaningful bond.

Batiste recorded Big Money in just two weeks, blending gospel, soul, blues, folk, and rock into a project he sees as a reflection of shared American musical history. 

He says the album focuses on people, collective memory, and community, rather than genre boundaries.

While he has won seven Grammys in the past, including Album of the Year in 2022 for We Are, this year’s nominations hold particular weight. 

Batiste said early recognition felt long overdue after years of going unnoticed, but he now sees awards as secondary to carrying musical traditions forward.

That sense of purpose also extends to his personal life. One track on the album, Do It All Again, was written for his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, and reflects resilience, commitment, and gratitude.

As he prepares for the Grammy ceremony, Batiste says he plans to attend with family and friends and hopes to share the moment with Newman. More than winning, he says his goal is to build bridges between generations, honour musical roots and continue, in his words, “documenting the real.”