J-Kwon Loses Grammy Songwriter Eligibility for Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' After Academy Ruling
The Recording Academy has removed rapper J-Kwon from Grammy eligibility as a songwriter for Shaboozey's country hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
J Kwon in red baseball cap
While "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" is nominated for the 2025 Song of the Year Grammy, J-Kwon won't receive songwriting credit despite his 2004 hit "Tipsy" being interpolated in the track. The Recording Academy has decided that J-Kwon, along with Joe Kent and Mark Williams, will only be eligible for a certificate if the song wins, following Academy rules on sampled material.
Shaboozey's version dominated charts, maintaining the #1 position for 19 weeks, matching Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" record. The song has earned Shaboozey multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, and Song of the Year.
The Virginia native's rise to fame includes collaborations with Beyoncé on her country album "Cowboy Carter," with their track "Spaghetti" receiving a Best Melodic Rap Performance nomination.
Other 2025 Song of the Year nominees include:
- Billie Eilish - "Birds of a Feather"
- Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars - "Die With A Smile"
- Taylor Swift and Post Malone - "Fortnight"
- Chappell Roan - "Good Luck, Babe!"
- Kendrick Lamar - "Not Like Us"
- Sabrina Carpenter - "Please Please Please"
The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 1.