While Los Angeles rolled out red carpets, flashed designer gowns, and waited anxiously for golden envelopes to open, sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar was nowhere near the Grammy chaos. She was in India, surrounded by her music, her team, and the calm she says matters far more than trophies.
Two nominations, but no red carpet this time
At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, Anoushka Shankar received two nominations; one for her album ‘Chapter III: We Return to Light’ and another for ‘Daybreak’, the album’s lead track. These nominations marked her 12th and 13th Grammy nods.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Anoushka posted photos from her recent performances in India. The pictures showed her playing the sitar on stage, smiling backstage, and sharing light moments with her team.
“It’s Grammy day today!” she wrote, clearly proud but also reflective. She called the nominations “HUGE”, and they are. Yet, what followed was not the usual excitement or disappointment fans expect from artists on awards night.
Why the Grammys stress Anoushka Shankar out
Anoushka didn’t sugarcoat her feelings. She openly admitted that award season brings stress, anxiety, exhaustion. According to her, being in Los Angeles during major award events can feel like getting “sucked into a whirlwind” of emotions.
She explained that the days leading up to the Grammys are filled with intense preparation; travel, promotions, appearances, networking, constant pressure to look perfect. All of it, she said, can take a serious toll on mental health.
This year, she made a conscious decision: instead of chasing a trophy, she chose to stay on tour in India, doing what she loves most; playing music for real audiences.
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She shared that artists often spend thousands of dollars just to attend the Grammys on flights, hotels, outfits, publicity, marketing campaigns, endless events. Then comes the emotional rollercoaster. Hoping to win, imagining the moment. And sometimes walking away empty-handed.
She admitted that repeatedly not winning can hurt even if you try to stay strong. But over time, she has learned to step back and ask herself what really matters.
The reality behind Grammy voting
Anoushka also touched on the behind-the-scenes truth of how Grammy voting works especially in global music categories. She explained that bigger and more mainstream artists often have more money and resources to promote themselves.
Some artists spend months networking attending exclusive events and making sure their names are constantly visible to voters. Anoushka said she shares this not out of bitterness, but honesty.
“There is always a bigger artist,” she pointed out.
Despite everything, Anoushka made it clear that if she ever wins a Grammy, it would absolutely bring joy. But she strongly believes that, in the bigger picture, it does not define her worth or her music.
Anoushka Shankar’s Grammy Awards journey
Anoushka Shankar’s Grammy journey began in 2003, when she received her first nomination for ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’. She was the youngest-ever nominee in the Best Global Music Album category at the time.
Since then, she has been nominated multiple times: in 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. This year marked her 13th and 14th nominations, yet the Grammy trophy continues to elude her.
Still, Anoushka seems at peace.