LOS ANGELES (AP) — Harry Styles won album of the year at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, taking home top honors on a night that dominated Beyoncé and became the ceremony’s most decorated artist.
What you need to know
- Beyoncé won her 32nd award, breaking a record of 26 years old. But as in years past, the album of the year honor eluded her
- Styles took home three awards on Sunday, including the night’s highest honor, album of the year
- Lizzo won Record of the Year for “About Damn Time” and gave a rousing speech that rallied many in the audience, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Adele
- Veteran singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt shook off rivals like Adele, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to win the song of the year award
Beyoncé won her 32nd award, breaking a record of 26 years old. But as in years past, the album of the year honor eluded her. Styles took home three prizes on Sunday.
Still, standing alone on her Grammy throne, Beyoncé had the support of the room all night long, with winners regularly referencing her and her influence over them.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” the superstar said after her historic win as husband Jay-Z stood up and applauded her. The singer thanked her late uncle, her parents, Jay-Z and her children for their support. “I’m just trying to receive this evening. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you God.”
Beyoncé won Best R&B Song for “Cuff It”, Dance Electric Music Recording for “Break My Soul”, Traditional R&B Performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa”, and Dance Electric Album for “Renaissance”, which is also nominated for album of the year.
Lizzo won record of the year for “About Damn Time,” a rousing speech that rallied many in the audience, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Adele.
“Me and Adele had a good time and supported our friends. This is a great evening. This is so unexpected,” Lizzo said as she presented her award to Prince.
“I wanted to make the world a better place, so I had to be that change to make the world a better place. Now I look around and see that these songs are about loving your body and feeling good about yourself and feeling good.”
Jazz singer Samara Joy won the Best New Artist award and shrugged off challenges from acts such as Wet Led, Anitta and Maneskin. The New Yorker was almost in tears when she accepted the award, noting that her little brother was her date. “I am so, so thankful. Thank you.” She has released two albums as a lead artist and also won the Grammy for best jazz vocal album earlier in the evening.
Beyoncé missed the milestone of matching Solti’s record, which has stood since 1997. Host Trevor Noah said she was on her way to the ceremony, but blamed Los Angeles traffic for not being there in person to accept it. The song was written by several writers, including Beyonce, The-Dream, Nile Rodgers, and Raphael Saadiq.
When Beyoncé – the main nominee of the night – finally arrived, Noah presented her with the award for Best R&B Song at her table.
Veteran singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt took down big rivals like Adele, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to win the song of the year award. ‘I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say,” a visibly stunned Raitt said, adding that the song “Just Like That” explores organ donation. It capped off a night where Raitt won two more Grammys – for Best Americana Performance and Best American Roots Song.
A who’s who of hip-hop royalty took the stage for an epic, rousing 15-minute tribute to the genre’s 50th anniversary. During the performance, Grandmaster Flash performed part of his breakthrough hit “The Message”, Run DMC, Chuck D and Flavor Flav along with Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Nelly all taking the stage.
It ended with everyone on stage and LL Cool J yelling “multi-generational! Fifty years!”
Bad Bunny opened the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday with a celebratory, energetic performance that drew large crowds, including Taylor Swift who stood up and danced by her table.
Noah introduced Bunny, calling him a “global force” who is the most streamed and listened to artist in the world.
By the time the show started on CBS, Beyoncé had already won two Grammys. Beyoncé won the Best Dance Electronic Music Recording category for the first time ever for “Break My Soul.” She also won for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa” at the pre-broadcast ceremony where most of the Grammys are handed out.
It is the first time that Beyoncé has been nominated in the dance category. Her seventh studio project is nominated for the best dance electronic music album.
Beyoncé entered Sunday’s ceremony as the main nominee including Album, Song and Record of the Year. If she wins in any of those major categories, it will be her first since receiving the “Single Ladies” award for “Single Ladies” in 2010.
Harry Styles won the main broadcast’s first prize for best pop song album for “Harry’s House,” which included his fun, huge hit “As It Was.” The singer said recording the song was one of the “greatest experiences of my life.” It has been my greatest joy.”
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best performance from the pop duo group for their song “Unholy.” Petras said Smith wanted Petras to give the acceptance speech because “I am the first transgender woman to win this award.”
“I want to thank all the incredible transgender legends for me who kicked these doors open for me to be here tonight,” said Petras, making a reference to friend and Grammy-nominated musician Sophie, who died after an accidental fall in Athens, Greece in 2021. “You told me this would happen. I’ve always believed in myself. Thank you very much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”
Petras thanked Madonna for being a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights.
“I don’t think I could be here without Madonna,” Petras said. “My mother, I grew up next to a highway in nowhere Germany. And my mother believed me that I was a girl. I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
Petras thanked Madonna for being a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights.
“I don’t think I could be here without Madonna,” Petras said. “My mother, I grew up next to a highway in nowhere Germany. And my mother believed me that I was a girl. I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
During the in memoriam segment, the Grammys recognized the lives of Loretta Lynn, Migos rapper Takeoff and Christine McVie with several star-studded artists paying tribute to them. The moving performances included Kacey Musgraves singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in tribute to Lynn; Quavo and the Maverick City Music took the stage to honor his cousin Takeoff with the song “Without You;” and Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood and Bonnie Raitt played “Songbird” to remember McVie.
Kendrick Lamar won the sixth career trophy for Best Rap Performance for “The Heart Part 5” and also won Best Rap Album for his studio album, “Mr. Morales and the Big Steppers.”
“You know, as entertainers, we say things to provoke thoughts and feelings and emotions,” he said. “So making this record is one of my hardest. … I want to thank the culture for letting me evolve to make this. I finally found imperfection with this album.”
Viola Davis came off Sunday’s show an EGOT — a term for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony — following her win for Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. The actor gave an emotional speech, emphatically saying “I just EGOT” after she marched on stage to collect her award.
“Oh my God,” she said. “I wrote this book to honor 6-year-old Viola, to honor her, her life, her joy, her trauma, everything,” Davis said. “It’s just been such a journey.”
Battered streetwear, T-shirts and denim mixed with blinged-out couture, wild patterns and plenty of skin on the Grammy carpet. Lizzo sparkled in a bright orange Dolce & Gabbana robe adorned with flowers and a huge hood, while Taylor Swift wore a long two-piece sparkly skirt with a high-necked, long-sleeved crop top in midnight blue.
Brandi Carlile rarely appeared during pre-air for a major performer. The singer showed up after her song “Broke Horses” won Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, a Songwriter’s Award and Best Americana Album.
“It’s rock ‘n’ roll, man,” said a smiling Carlile, running onto the stage with some of her bandmates. “I can’t tell you how much this means to us. We were born and raised in Seattle. When I met these guys 22 years ago, we decided to get in a band.”
Carlile co-wrote “Broken Horses” with twin brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth.
“Oh my God, this is great,” she said. “Oh, I’ll never be the same again.”
Kendrick Lamar extended his record in the Best Rap Performance category with his sixth career trophy for “The Heart Part 5”, which also recognized his songwriting as a Best Rap Song winner.
The Tennessee State University Marching Band defeated Willie Nelson to win Best Roots Gospel Album for “The Urban Hymnal.” The band’s nomination marked the first time a college marching band had been nominated in the category.
Sir the Baptist accepted the award for the band and used his acceptance speech to highlight how underfunded black colleges and universities like Tennessee State have historically been, saying he had to “put my last dime to get us over the line”.
Trevor Noah returned for a third time to host the broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. The show features other performances from Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Lizzo and special musical tributes to the late musicians Takeoff, Loretta Lynn and Christine McVie.
But with 91 Grammy categories, most of the awards were handed out at the Recording Academy’s livestreamed Premiere Ceremony.
There could be many more firsts: if Bad Bunny wins album of the year for “Un Verano Sin Ti,” it would be the first time a Spanish-language album takes home top honors. Taylor Swift, whose latest album “Midnights” failed to qualify for this year’s Grammys, could win her first song of the year trophy for “All Too Well.” A win for Adele for song of the year for her song “Easy on Me” would make her the most decorated artist in the category with three wins, the others for her mega hits “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep”.
This year’s Grammys also introduced several new categories, including one for video game music composition, which went to the soundtrack for “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla.”
Ozzy Osbourne won two Grammys, confirming the metal god’s rejuvenation at the end of his career.
Ozzy Osbourne’s “Degradation Rules” featuring Tony Iommi won Best Metal Performance and his album “Patient Number 9” won Best Rock Album.
Earlier this year, Osbourne announced the cancellation of his 2023 tour dates in the UK and continental Europe and that his health would likely prevent him from touring again.
This year’s show marks a return to Los Angeles after the pandemic was first postponed and then forced the Grammys to move to Las Vegas last year. Noah also hosted the ceremony, with Jon Batiste taking home album of the year.