Billie Eilish took home the Song of the Year Award for “Wildflower” at the 2026 Grammys and some people are wondering how it was eligible.
The song was originally released on her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft, which competed at the 2025 Grammys. The album earned noms for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, and the single “Birds of a Feather” also received several nominations. The song “Wildflower” was a track on Hit Me Hard and Soft, leading many to question how it could get nominated in 2026.
Keep reading to find out more…
Despite the song debuting on the 2024 album, Billie didn’t release it as a single until February 2025. The eligibility period for this year’s Grammys went from August 31, 2024 to August 30, 2025, which is how “Wildflower” managed to get into its two categories.
Even though it was on the album, the Recording Academy counts singles as different from the entirety of an album, which is why “Wildflower” was eligible for its own awards separate from Hit Me Hard and Soft.
Watch Billie‘s acceptance speech here. She also made her first official event debut with her boyfriend Nat Wolff!