Here’s why Kesha’s Grammy nominations this year are so important

Before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements gained steam, there was Kesha taking her producer, Dr. Luke of Kemosabe Records, to court for sexual assault. Kesha, still under contract with Kemosabe, sought legal permission to work with someone other than her alleged abuser. Unfortunately, Kesha did not win her court case and had to continue working under her existing contract. Despite overwhelming support from across the globe, and from other artists and creators, Kesha seemed to have lost.

Then in July 2017, Kesha released new music. And it was beautiful. The song, “Praying,” was produced under Kemosabe per her contract, but was produced and co-written with Ryan Lewis instead of Dr. Luke. Fans loved the song, and they loved the message of finding strength and hope in the midst of hardship and pain. When her full album, Rainbow, was released, fans and critics alike were blown away by the music and the message.

Fast forward to the end of 2017, and Kesha earned two Grammy nominations, Best Pop Solo Performance for “Praying,” and Best Pop Vocal Album for Rainbow.

And while it’s always rad to see your favorite artists get nominated for major awards, these Grammy nominations say a lot more than simple recognition for a good song and album. No, these nominations are almost a beacon of hope. While a lot of us felt devastated and hopeless after Kesha lost her court case, seeing her rise from that pain, create amazing music, and then earn nominations for her industry’s biggest awards show is nothing short of inspiring.

While the #MeToo movement hadn’t really kicked off when Kesha’s 2014 court case started, it’s in full force now, and more and more abusers are being held accountable. Just yesterday, January 24th, we witnessed a serial abuser who targeted the women of the USA Gymnastics Team get convicted and sentenced to YEARS in prison. Finally, we’re starting to see some justice, and we’re seeing those who have been silenced and victimized rise up and do great things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Dur3uXXCQ?feature=oembed

The Grammys recognizing Kesha’s work and honoring a song that many believe is about Dr. Luke (though this theory has never been officially confirmed) feels like another step in the right direction. As Her Campus points it, this particular Grammy nom isn’t just a big deal for Kesha, it’s a monumental moment for abuse victims everywhere. Change may be slow, but it’s encouraging to see more people step out from the shadow of abuse and regain their power.

These Grammy nominations, above all, have us feeling hopeful.