Macklemore & Ryan Lewis get Grammy respect; Lorde 'skips a grade' to get 4 nominations

A song about the joy of thrift shops put Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the charts, but it's their musical attack on homophobia that's earning Grammy nominations.

When the Recording Academy revealed nominations for the 56th Grammy Awards Friday night, the hip-hop duo was named in seven categories, including for best new artist, song of the year and album of the year.

"Seven is unbelievable," Lewis told CNN. "We came here hoping for one." Only Jay Z's nine nominations topped them.

A testament to their popularity came from rocker Melissa Etheridge, who won her first Grammy two decades ago. She became a Macklemore & Ryan Lewis fan when her daughter asked her to listen to their song "Same Love," which is now contending for song of the year.

Etheridge was so excited to meet the duo backstage at the Grammy nominations show, she stopped her interview with CNN to chase them down and hug them.

"I just had to tell them when something comes into the music scene, which then seeps into pop culture, you just can't take it away," Etheridge said.