- The 2024 Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, February 4.
- Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders are both nominated this year.
- Presidents, first ladies, and senators have been recognized for their recording achievements.
In addition to winning elections, some politicians have also won Grammy awards.
Presidents, first ladies, and Congress members have been recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for their achievements in recorded sound.
Here are nine politicians you may not have known were Grammy winners — and seven more who have been nominated.
The former president has been nominated nine times for best spoken-word album, according to the Grammys' official website. He won for the recordings of his books "Faith — A Journey For All" in 2019, "A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety" in 2016, and "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis" in 2007.
A Republican senator from Illinois, Dirksen took home the Grammy for best spoken word, drama, or documentary recording in 1968, according to the Grammys website. He was also nominated in 1971 for his spoken-word album "Everett Dirksen's America."
Clinton's narration of the children's book "Peter and the Wolf: Wolf Tracks" earned him his first Grammy in 2004. The following year, he won best spoken-word album for the audiobook of his presidential memoir, "My Life," according to the Grammys.
He received two other Grammy nominations for his recordings of "Giving: How Each Of Us Can Change The World" and "Back To Work: Why We Need Smart Government For A Strong Economy."
The then-first lady won a Grammy for the recording of her nonfiction book, "It Takes A Village," according to the Grammys. She was nominated again in 2004 for the audiobook of her memoir "Living History."
The former Minnesota senator, who rose to fame as a comedian before entering politics, won best comedy album in 1997 and best spoken-word album in 2004. He has been nominated seven times, according to the Grammys.
The audiobook was read by actors Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon, and Blair Underwood, according to its listing on Audible.
Jackson advocated for DC statehood in an unpaid Senate position known as a "shadow senator" from 1991 to 1997, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. He was also appointed as a special envoy to Africa by President Bill Clinton in 1997.
In 1989, Jackson won a spoken-word Grammy for a recorded address entitled "Speech by Rev. Jesse Jackson," according to the official Grammys website. He was nominated in the same category in 1985 for "Our Time Has Come."
His musical talents were also recognized at the 22nd Grammy Awards in 1980, when his gospel album "Push For Excellence" was nominated for best contemporary soul gospel performance.
The recordings of Obama's books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" won best spoken-word album in 2006 and 2008, respectively, according to the official Grammys website. His presidential memoir audiobook, "A Promised Land," was also nominated in 2022.
The former first lady's audiobook for her memoir "Becoming" won best spoken-word album in 2020, according to the official Grammys website. This year, she is nominated again for the recording of her latest book, "The Light We Carry."
Editor Bill Adler's book "The Kennedy Wit," a compilation of the former president's quotes and humorous quips, became a bestseller in 1964, the year after his assassination, according to Goodreads.
On the recorded version, Kennedy was listed as an artist along with narrator David Brinkley and Adlai Stevenson, who provided an introduction. The album was nominated for best documentary, spoken word, or drama recording, according to the award show's official website.
Ultimately, the cast of the BBC show "That Was The Week That Was" won the award for its tribute to Kennedy.
In what became known as "Frost/Nixon" or "the Nixon interviews," the former president sat down with Frost to discuss his presidency and role in the Watergate scandal. The Grammy-nominated interviews were watched by 45 million people, the BBC reported.
The album, a mix of stories, jokes, and pop music covers, was nominated for best spoken-word recording at the 17th Grammy Awards, NPR affiliate WFAE reported.
Stevenson served as governor of Illinois and ran twice for president as the Democratic nominee in 1952 and 1956, according to the Stevenson Center at Illinois State University.
He was nominated for his first Grammy in 1965 for his contribution to "The Kennedy Wit." He was nominated again in 1967 for "The Stevenson Wit," a similar album featuring selections from his "speeches, press conferences, and off-the-cuff remarks," according to the album cover.
"The Truman Tapes," a series of recorded interviews with Ben Gradus, was nominated for best spoken-word recording at the 20th Grammy Awards, according to the official Grammys website.
Warren lost the award to "Diary of a Mad Diva" by Joan Rivers.
In 2018, Sanders was nominated for best spoken-word album for "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In" along with actor Mark Ruffalo, who narrated parts of the audiobook. The pair lost to Carrie Fisher, who won a posthumous award for her memoir "The Princess Diarist," Billboard reported.
This year, Sanders is nominated in the same category for his audiobook, "It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism."