Nine Inch Nails ‘As Alive As You Need Me to Be’ Wins 2026 Grammy For Best Rock Song

The 2026 Grammy for Best Rock Song goes to… Nine Inch Nails for “As Alive As You Need Me to Be.”

The duo was not present to accept the award in person during the premiere ceremony, prior to the main telecast.

2026 Grammy Best Rock Song Nominees

“As Alive As You Need Me To Be” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)

The single was written and produced by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (with additional production by Boys Noize). This track debuted July 17, 2025, as the first single from the TRON: Ares soundtrack. It blends industrial rock with synth-driven textures. It marked Nine Inch Nails’ first major single in five years and served as a creative pivot into cinematic scoring while staying rooted in NIN’s sound.

“Caramel” – Vessel1 & Vessel2, songwriters (Sleep Token)

“Caramel” is a genre-blending single released April 4, 2025, by Sleep Token, from their album Even in Arcadia. “Caramel” became Sleep Token’s first Top 10 hit in the UK and first Top 40 hit in the U.S. Vessel1 and Vessel2 wrote the track while Carl Brown produced the song.

“Glum” – Daniel James & Hayley Williams, songwriters (Hayley Williams)

The single was written by Daniel James and Hayley Williams, “Glum” was released in April 2025. The track explores loneliness, insecurity, and the quiet desperation beneath everyday life.

“NEVER ENOUGH” – Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills & Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)

Penned by band members Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills & Brendan Yates, “NEVER ENOUGH” dropped in June 2025. The song addresses the emotional strain of modern life, tackling the exhaustion that comes with always striving but never feeling satisfied. Turnstile’s Best Rock Song nomination joins other nominations they received in Rock Performance, Metal Performance, and Rock Album categories.

“Zombie” – Dominic Harrison & Matt Schwartz, songwriters (YUNGBLUD)

Written by Dominic Harrison (YUNGBLUD) & Matt Schwartz, “Zombie” was released in May 2025 and draws on deeply personal themes, exploring fear, emotional erosion, and the anxiety of becoming a burden to loved ones.