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Becoming: Michelle Obama earns Grammy nomination for memoir audiobook

Former first lady also going on tour with Oprah Winfrey

Clémence Michallon
New York
Wednesday 20 November 2019 16:55 EST
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Michelle Obama meets with fans during a book signing on the first anniversary of the launch of her memoir Becoming at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC, on 18 November, 2019.
Michelle Obama meets with fans during a book signing on the first anniversary of the launch of her memoir Becoming at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC, on 18 November, 2019. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

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Michelle Obama has earned a Grammy nomination for her book Becoming.

The former first lady is up for the Best Spoken Word Album award for the audiobook version of her memoir, which came out in November 2018.

She reacted to the news on Twitter, writing: "So thrilled to receive a #GRAMMYs​ nomination! This past year has been such a meaningful, exhilarating ride. I’ve loved hearing your stories and continuing down the road of becoming together. Thank you for every ounce of love and support you’ve shared so generously."

The Best Spoken Word Album category is dedicated to poetry, audiobooks and storytelling.

Other nominees in that category include Hairspray director John Waters as well as the Beastie Boys’ Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz.

Last year, the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album went to former US president Jimmy Carter for his book Faith: A Journey For All.

Past winners include Carrie Fisher, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, and Stephen Colbert.

Singer Lizzo is dominating nominations this year. She’s in the running for eight awards, including the top four categories of Album of the Year, Song and Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Along with Lizzo, breakthrough artists Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X earned six nominations each.

Eilish also scored nominations in the top four categories, making the 17-year-old the youngest artist in the history of the Grammys to achieve the feat. Lil Nas X, 20, is up for three of the top four awards, including Album and Record of the Year for “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.

The 62nd Grammy Awards will take place on 26 January, 2020. You can view a full list of nominees here.

The news of Obama’s nomination comes as she prepares to join Oprah Winfrey for an arena tour in 2020. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Schumer, Tina Fey, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kate Hudson will also make guest appearances during the tour, which will consist of one-on-one conversations between the TV legend and her famous guests.

Additional reporting by agencies

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