Guide to the Grammys

Two beloved songwriters, almost half a century apart in age, are set to be stars of tonight’s Grammy Awards.

Joni Mitchell, who nearly died from an aneurysm several years ago, will give her first Grammys performance at the age of 80. And Taylor Swift has a shot to win her fourth album of the year award, something no other artist has done.

But Swift, who has six nominations, faces tough competition. SZA leads the field with nine nominations for her acclaimed “SOS” album and hit single “Kill Bill.” The pop and R&B singer Victoria Monét received seven nods; Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Jon Batiste, and the indie-rock trio boygenius have six apiece. (Here are all the nominees.)

We asked three Times music critics — Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica and Lindsay Zoladz — to share their thoughts on who might win tonight’s awards.

Let’s start with the big one, album of the year. Who do you expect will win?

Lindsay Zoladz: Taylor Swift looks like the front-runner here, less on the merits of “Midnights” than on the massive monocultural impact of her Eras Tour. But I’m going to bet the Grammy voters are experiencing a little Swift fatigue, so I’m predicting a slight upset: I think boygenius will win for “The Record,” a gently forward-thinking folk-rock album with a nonetheless traditional, Grammy-approved sound. Personally, though, I’m rooting for Olivia Rodrigo’s spunky “Guts” or Lana Del Rey’s weird, sprawling “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.”

Jon Pareles: I’d be delighted for SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius or Janelle Monáe to win — they were all among my picks for the year’s best albums — and I wouldn’t be too unhappy with a win by Lana Del Rey or Taylor Swift, either. If Swift wins, she will be the first musician with four album of the year awards, surpassing Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.