Dalai Lama earns first Grammy Nod at 90

At the age of 90, the 14th Dalai Lama has reached a remarkable milestone: his first-ever Grammy nomination. The Tibetan spiritual leader’s spoken-word album, ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’, has been shortlisted in the category of Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. The recognition marks a profound moment in contemporary cultural history, underscoring how his message of compassion and peace continues to resonate across generations and geographies.

The album blends the Dalai Lama’s reflections on empathy, emotional balance and inner harmony with original music composed by legendary sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. The project further stands out for its global creative footprint, featuring contributions from acclaimed international artists such as Andra Day, Maggie Rogers, Tony Succar, Ted Nash, Debi Nova and Rufus Wainwright. The production was led by Grammy award winner Kabir Sehgal, adding another layer of artistic depth.

Responding to the honour, Amjad Ali Khan expressed deep emotion and gratitude. He described the album as a labour of love, an attempt to translate the Dalai Lama’s timeless teachings into a sonic experience that encourages reflection and stillness. In a statement, he noted that working with the Dalai Lama was a rare privilege and that the nomination shines a light on the spiritual leader’s enduring message of compassion. “We aimed to create a listening experience that offers comfort, clarity and connection,” he said.

The Dalai Lama will compete against several notable nominees, including Kathy Carver, Trevor Noah, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Fab Morvan. Regardless of the final outcome, the nomination itself captures a shifting cultural moment, one where spiritual wisdom finds new expression through modern artistic platforms.