Women dominated this year’s Grammys as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, SZA and Miley Cyrus won the night’s major awards.
Swift won her fourth Album of the Year award for “Midnights,” making history as the first artist to win Album of the Year. She shared the stage with fellow nominee Lana Del Rey. “I would love to tell you this is the happiest moment of my life, but I feel so happy when I finish a song,” she said. “All I want to do is keep doing this.”
Earlier in the night, while up for best pop vocal album, she joked: “Well, this is my 13th Grammy, it’s my lucky number, I don’t know if I ever told you that That.” Swift also took the opportunity to announce the release of her 11th new studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” on April 19.
The Album of the Year award was presented to Celine Dion, who recently stopped performing due to suffering from Zombie Syndrome. She received a standing ovation. “When I say I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
Cyrus won Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Flowers,” her first Grammy win. “I really hope this doesn’t change anything because my life was great yesterday,” she said in her speech. She concluded by adding: “I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I probably forgot my underwear!”
Eilish’s “What Am I Born For?” ” from Barbie was named Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media. “Damn, what a bunch of idiots!” she said in her speech. “It’s a crazy list of incredible people… I’m stunned.” It was the first film song to win the award since Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Barbie was also named Best Soundtrack Collection for Visual Media.
SZA led the night with nine nominations and won three, with host Trevor Noah calling it “a year to remember.” She performed a medley of hits during the ceremony, paying tribute to the inspiration for “Kill Bill” with an action-packed sequence. “I’ve come really far and I can’t believe this is happening,” she said during an emotional speech for best R&B song. She then joked: “I’m not a charming crier.”
The award for Best New Artist went to Victoria Monet, who also won Best R&B Album. “I just want to say to everyone who has a dream, I hope you use this as an example,” she said.
Killer Mike, who won three Grammys, including best rap album during the pre-televised portion of the night, was escorted out of the arena in handcuffs by Los Angeles Police Department officers. According to The Hollywood Reporter , this is a misdemeanor charge for that night, and the specific details are still to be confirmed. “The only thing that limits your age is being dishonest about your age or what you’re doing,” Mack said backstage before being taken into custody.
Jay-Z received the annual Dr Dre Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements. In his speech, he criticized the Grammy Awards for their uneven history with black artists. “I’m just saying, we want you all to get it right,” he said. He then added, “Obviously it’s subjective because it’s music,” but made the request to the Recording Academy on behalf of his wife, Beyoncé. “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has won more Grammys than anyone else and has never won Album of the Year,” he said. “So even by your own standards, that’s not going to work. Think about it: Most Grammys. Never won Album of the Year. That’s not going to work.”
The night in Los Angeles kicked off with Dua Lipa singing a medley while surrounded by half-dressed male dancers. Noah called her one of the “best performers of a generation” before calling the Grammys “the only concert that starts on time.” His opening monologue was interrupted by the late arrival of Swift and Meryl Streep, who sat next to her son-in-law and fellow nominee Mark Ronson.
Tracy Chapman performs in public for the first time since 2009 with Luke Combs, who covers her hit song ” Fast Car” and became a huge success. “This was my favorite song before I knew what a favorite song was,” he said. He called it “a cool, complete moment.” He lost the award for Best Country Solo Performance to Chris Stapleton.
Joni Mitchell performed at the Grammy Awards for the first time at the age of 80. In her introduction, Brandi Carlile calls her “one of the most influential and emotionally generous creators in human history.” Mitchell also won for Best Folk Album.
There will also be a unique performance from U2, “one of the most groundbreaking and popular bands of all time” according to Noah, performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Stevie Wonder pays tribute to late Tony Bennett, saying ‘he was someone I admired for a long time’ as he reflects on recording ‘For Once in My Life’ experience. 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.” “I will always miss you. I will always love you,” he added. An extended tribute featured Annie Lennox, Fantasia Barrino and Jon Batiste Featuring a performance by Jon Batiste, followed by tributes to Sinead O’Connor, Clarence Avant, Wayne Kramer and Bert Artists such as Burt Bacharach. Oprah Winfrey remembers friend Tina Turner: ‘She was a special role model’
After the show, Lennox said, “Artists are committed to a ceasefire, world peace.” Boyginis felt the same way, wearing a pin on his suit and calling for a ceasefire. The trio won three awards, including Best Rock Song.
Kylie Minogue beats Bebe Rexha and fellow Australian Troye Sivan to win the inaugural Best Dance Pop Recording Award for “Padam Padam” for the second time Grammy Awards. The singer excitedly responded in an Instagram video.
Other female winners on the night included Lainey Wilson for Best Country Album, Karol G for Best Urban Music Album, Laufey for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best R&B Performance by Coco Jones.
