5 Star Athletes Who Have Been Nominated for Grammy Awards

Sometimes, a pro athlete's star shines so bright that the field of play simply cannot contain it. While it may be easy to forget that athletes are often multi-talented human beings that do a whole lot more with their time than simply play their sport, Sunday night's arrival of the 2020 Grammy Awards got us thinking: just how many sporting stars have managed to achieve crossover success in the recording industry's biggest event? The following four athletes have all been nominated for Grammy awards -- and a couple of them actually won.

4. Oscar De La Hoya

Boxer Oscar De La Hoya was nominated for the Best Latin Pop Album award back in 2000. / Chris Polk/Getty Images

Oscar De La Hoya seems to have two completely different personalities. In the boxing ring, the Golden Boy was a ferocious fighter who won world titles across multiple weight divisions. Outside of the ring, however, he moonlighted as a Latin pop star. Back in 2000, he dropped a self-titled record that went on to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album.

3. Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams nearly won a Latin Grammy back in 2009 after his baseball career ended. / John Lamparski/Getty Images

Former star New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams won four World Series titles with the Yankees, but shortly after his baseball career ended, he started playing and producing music seriously. His second album, "Moving Forward," was nominated for Best Instrumental Album back in 2009 at the Latin Grammys.

2. Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson won a Grammy back in 1993 for his Spoken Word Album, What You Can Do To Avoid AIDS. / Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

After being diagnosed with HIV back in 1991, Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson began to work on a book, "What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS." Johnson then created an audio version of the book, which went on to win the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 1993 -- yet another piece of hardware for one of basketball's most decorated legends.

1. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was nominated for two Grammy awards during his illustrious career. / Harry Benson/Getty Images

The Greatest was nominated for two Grammys during his lifetime, once while he was still known as Cassius Clay, and again after becoming Muhammad Ali. Back in 1963, the heavyweight all-timer was nominated for Best Comedy Performance for "I Am the Greatest." He was nominated again in 1976 for "The Adventures Of Ali And His Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay" in the Best Recording for Children category.