Spectrum #80: Order these artists by Grammys won — the solution

The Spectrum puzzle from November 2, 2026: six things on one hidden scale, fewest to most, with every figure and where the checks were best spent.

The puzzle

Order these artists by Grammys won, fewest at the top and most at the bottom. The board opened in this order:

1. Quincy Jones
2. Stevie Wonder
3. Paul McCartney
4. Beyoncé
5. Michael Jackson
6. Adele

Paul McCartney was already in place; Quincy Jones opened 4 places from home.

The walkthrough

The ends first. Michael Jackson is the fewest of the six at 13 Grammys and Beyoncé the most at 35 Grammys. Anchor those and the middle four are what is left to place.

Where the scale splits. The widest gap is between Quincy Jones (28 Grammys) and Beyoncé (35 Grammys) — 7 Grammys apart. Everything above that line belongs on the fewest side and everything below it on the most side, so sorting the six into those two groups is most of the puzzle.

The closest call. Michael Jackson (13 Grammys) and Adele (16 Grammys) are only 3 Grammys apart — the pair that is a coin flip without the figures, and the place to spend a check: a check locks whatever is already right and leaves only the wrong tiles to swap.

The answer

Previous: Spectrum #79 (Sun, Nov 1) · Next: Spectrum #81 (Tue, Nov 3) · All Spectrum solutions

About Spectrum

Spectrum is Noggin’s daily ordering puzzle: six things, one hidden scale, three checks. Tiles in the right place lock green; the figures turn over when the board is done. How to play Spectrum, or play today’s.