The 65th Grammy Awards took place on Sunday in Los Angeles with Trevor Noah returning as host for the third time. The night saw many historic moments and musical highlights.
Beyoncé made history by becoming the artist with the most Grammy wins of all time, with a total of 32 awards. However, she was unable to win the coveted album of the year award for the fourth time. The album of the year award went to Harry Styles for “Harry’s House,” who also won the best pop vocal album category.
The ceremony celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with performances from legendary emcees such as LL Cool J, Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, GloRilla, Lil Baby and more.
Kim Petras made Grammy history as the first transgender woman to win a Grammy in the best pop duo/group performance category. Her win was met with a standing ovation, initiated by Sam Smith, and she took the moment to thank Madonna and the late transgender music producer Sophie, who was a close friend of the singer.
Viola Davis also made history by earning EGOT status, becoming the third Black woman to achieve the rare honor. She received her first Grammy for her audiobook performance of her memoir, “Finding Me.”
Samara Joy, a talented singer with sultry vocals resembling those of legendary jazz divas such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, emerged as the winner of the best new artist award on Sunday. During her heartfelt acceptance speech, a teary-eyed Joy, who is 23 years old, expressed her gratitude for being recognized for simply being herself. The singer also bagged the award for best jazz vocal album for her work in “Linger Awhile,” making it her second win of the night.
Lizzo received the award for Record of the Year for her hit song “About Damn Time.” She referred to the win as “unexpected” and honored the late musician Prince by dedicating the award to him. Lizzo spoke about her commitment to creating uplifting music after Prince’s passing and expressed her desire to spread positivity through her work. She encouraged anyone who feels misunderstood or left out to remain true to themselves, saying that they will eventually attract people who believe in and support them. Lastly, Lizzo gave a shoutout to Beyoncé, mentioning that she once skipped school to see her perform live.
The 50th anniversary celebration of hip-hop was a nostalgic and electrifying event that showcased legendary artists. The tribute concert featured a star-studded lineup of artists, including Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy, Nelly, Queen Latifah, RUN-D.M.C., Missy Elliott, and rising stars Lil Baby and GloRilla. The tribute was co-curated by Grammy winner Questlove and the Roots, who served as the supporting band. LL Cool J announced that there will be a longer hip-hop tribute in the future.
During the show, host Trevor Noah made a request to Taylor Swift. He joked that her fans had already taken on Ticketmaster and wondered if they could tackle another issue, like the high cost of eggs. Swift expressed confidence in her fans, saying that there was really nothing they couldn’t accomplish and encouraged Noah to let them know what they could do.
In conclusion, the recent Grammy Awards ceremony was a night filled with memorable moments and exciting wins. From Samara Joy’s emotional speech to Lizzo’s dedication to Prince and Taylor Swift’s confidence in her fans, the night was a testament to the talent and spirit of the music industry. The star-studded hip-hop tribute was a nostalgic celebration of the genre’s rich history, and the performance by the legendary artists and younger stars alike was a testament to the lasting impact of hip-hop on the music world. The Grammy Awards continue to be a highly anticipated event in the music industry, and this year’s ceremony did not disappoint.
