Jon Batiste Talks About His Journey to Capture Authentic Stories, Earning 3 Grammy Nominations and Connecting with Randy Newman

NEED TO KNOW

• Jon Batiste discusses his three Grammy nominations with PEOPLE.
• The musician reflects on collaborating with Randy Newman and the inspiration for his album Big Money.
• “This is just the beginning of the continued expression of the real,” he states.

Randy Newman received an unexpected call from Jon Batiste during a quiet period in his music career. The two artists, who had met a decade earlier, had since drifted apart. However, Batiste was eager to reconnect with influential musicians, placing Newman high on his list.

“He hadn’t been in fighting shape… those around him were so excited to see him engaged with music,” Batiste, 39, shared. “When I’d come around, he’d be wanting to sing and play the piano.”

From their collaborative sessions emerged “Lonely Avenue,” featured on Batiste’s album Big Money. This song is nominated for Best American Roots Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards, one of three nominations Batiste received, including Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song.

Jon Batiste; Randy Newman.

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Given his vibrant energy, it is little wonder that Batiste rekindled Newman’s creative spark. Even in interview settings, Batiste’s enthusiasm for music shines through, often breaking into song.

As Batiste quips, “It’s like Quincy Jones said, ‘If I don’t get up and write this thing… then God’s going to give it to Henry Mancini.’ I don’t see it as a job. It’s more a calling, a vessel for the music.”

Recorded in just two weeks, Big Money marks Batiste’s ninth album, continuing his tradition of genre-defying artistry. It melds gospel, soul, blues, folk, and rock, embodying the complexities of contemporary American identity.

Jon Batiste performing on the Today show in New York City in August 2023.

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“This album is really about people and our collective history in sound and song,” Batiste explained. He believes the definition of Americana is due for evolution, representing the full spectrum of music ingrained in American culture.

For Batiste, music has always been a communal experience. Growing up in a New Orleans musical heritage, he has connected with audiences through his performances, including his seven-year tenure as bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Jon Batiste winning Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

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Though he has experienced past success at the Grammys with seven awards, including Album of the Year in 2022, he views the nominations for Big Money as particularly meaningful due to its representation of his artistic journey.

He hopes this recognition will serve as motivation for other emerging artists. “We stand on the shoulders of men and women who have paved the way,” he remarked. “It’s much bigger than just personal recognition.”

Batiste acknowledges that his path has not been without challenges. His 2022 win felt like “making up for lost time,” especially after more than a decade without nominations.

“I’ve been making records since I was 16 and always believed our music was Grammy-worthy. The lack of recognition was disheartening,” he recalled. “I just wanted at least a nomination.”

Despite the challenges, Batiste emphasizes the importance of pursuing artistic endeavors for the right reasons. “Do the work not for fame or profit but because only you can do it.”

His commitment to “document the real” sometimes draws from personal relationships, as showcased in the song “Do It All Again,” which he composed for his wife, Suleika Jaouad, whom he considers a guiding light in his life.

Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad at an Oscars afterparty in March 2024.

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“It’s a ballad of love,” Batiste said of the song. “You realize through it all, I would still do it all again. All of it is worth it.”

As he approaches the 2026 Grammy Awards, Batiste plans to bring along many family members and friends and hopes to celebrate a win alongside Newman, with whom he has developed a “beautiful bond.”

He aims to further explore his artistic voice while challenging traditional genres. “I love disrupting things. This is just the beginning of the continued expression of the real.”

The 2026 Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 1.