This year’s Grammy Awards were dominated by women, with Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, SZA and Miley Cyrus taking home the night’s major awards.
Swift won Album of the Year for the fourth time for Midnight, making history as the first artist to win the award. She joined fellow nominee Lana Del Rey on stage. “I would like to say that this is the happiest moment of my life, and I feel such happiness when I finish a song,” she said. “All I want to do is keep doing this.”
she joked earlier that night while collecting Best Pop Vocal Albums. “Okay, this is my 13th Grammy. This is my lucky number. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that.” Swift also called this her 11th Grammy. He also used the opportunity to announce the release of his new studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19th.
The award for Album of the Year went to Celine Dion, who recently took a hiatus due to stiff person syndrome. She received a standing ovation. “I really mean it when I say I’m happy to be here,” she said.
Cyrus won her first Grammy Award for Flowers, winning Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. “My life was great yesterday and I really hope this doesn’t change anything,” she said in her speech. She added at the end: “I don’t think anyone forgot, but I might have forgotten my underwear!”
Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie was named Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media. “Damn you idiots!” she said in her speech. “It was a crazy list of incredible people…I’m shocked.” The film’s song that won the award was Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” It was ever since. Barbie was also named Visual Media’s Best Compilation Soundtrack.
SZA received nine nominations and won three, leading what host Trevor Noah called “a year to remember.” She performed a medley of her hit songs at the ceremony and paid her homage to the inspiration for Kill Bill with an action-packed sequence. “I can’t believe this is happening after I’ve come so, so far,” she said in an emotional speech for Best R&B Song. And she joked, “I’m not a charming crybaby.”
Victoria Mone won Best New Artist and Best R&B Album. “I want to say to everyone who has a dream, look at this as an example,” she said.
During the pre-telecast portion of the night, Killer Mike, who won three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album, was escorted out of the arena by LAPD officers in handcuffs.by hollywood reporter, a misdemeanor charge from that night, but details have not yet been confirmed. “The only thing that limits your age is not telling the truth about your age or what you do,” Mike said backstage before being taken into custody.
Jay-Z received this year’s Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his personal and professional accomplishments. In his speech, he accused the Grammy Awards of having a spotty history of black artists. “All I’m saying is, I want people to get it right,” he said. He then added, “Obviously it’s subjective because it’s music,” but blamed the Recording Academy on behalf of his wife, Beyoncé. “I don’t want to embarrass this young woman, but she’s won more Grammys than anyone and she’s never won Album of the Year,” he said. “So even by your own standards, it doesn’t work. Think about it. It’s won the most Grammys. It’s never won Album of the Year. It doesn’t work. plug.”
The night in Los Angeles began with Dua Lipa singing a medley surrounded by half-naked male dancers. Noah called her one of the “best performers of our generation” before calling the Grammys “the only concert that starts on time.” His opening monologue was dashed by the late appearance of Swift and Meryl Streep, who was sitting next to his son-in-law and nominee Mark Ronson.
Tracy Chapman performed in public for the first time since 2009 alongside Luke Combs, who achieved huge success in 2023 by covering her hit song “Fast Car.” “This was my favorite song even before I knew what a favorite song was,” he said. He called it “a very cool, full-circle moment.” He lost out to Chris Stapleton for Best Country Solo Performance.
Joni Mitchell performed at the Grammy Awards for the first time at age 80. In her introduction, Brandi Carlyle called her “one of the most influential and emotionally generous creators in human history.” She Mitchell also won the award for Best Folk Album.
There was also a unique set from U2, “one of the most innovative and beloved bands of all time,” according to Noah, who performed from the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Stevie Wonder has paid tribute to the late Tony Bennett, “someone I’ve looked up to for a long time”, while recalling the recording of For Once in My Life. He spoke of his respect for Bennett and “his love of art, his love of peace, his love of unity, and his love of civil rights.” He added: “You will be missed forever. I will always love you.” An expanded memorial section will feature performances by Annie Lennox, Fantasia Barrino and Jon Batiste, followed by performances by Sinead O’Connor, Clarence Avant and Wayne – Memorable artists such as Kramer and Burt Bacharach also appeared. Oprah Winfrey also remembered her friend Tina Turner, saying, “She was a special role model.”
After the performance, Lennox said, “Artists calling for a ceasefire and world peace.” It was a sentiment shared by Bogenius, who wore a cease-fire pin on his suit. The trio won three awards, including Best Rock Song.
Kylie Minogue won her second Grammy Award, beating out Bebe Rexha and fellow Australian Troye Sivan to win the inaugural award for Best Pop Dance Recording for Padam Padam. The singer reacted excitedly in an Instagram video.
Other female winners on the night included Laney Wilson for Best Country Album, Karol G for Best Music City Album, Laufey for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best R&B Performance. The award included Coco Jones.
