Music News: The 2020 Grammy Award Winners UPDATE: 2021 Winners & Performances !!!

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Billie Eilish Leads The 2020 Grammy Award Winners
By Zoe Haylock@zoe_alliyah
Siblings! Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
We did it, everyone. Another Grammy Awards ceremony in the bag. Clocking in at almost 4 hours long, the Recording Academy was clearly in no rush to get through this year’s awards, which kicked off with a solemn a cappella tribute to Kobe Bryant by Boys II Men. The group was joined by Grammys host Alicia Keys, who later summed up the year in song and gently shaded the Academy. Usher, Sheila E. and FKA Twigs honored Prince in song and dance, while Billie Eilish, Tyler the Creator, Lizzo and Aerosmith with Run-DMC brought their own special brand of magic to the Grammys stage.
Lil Nas X and BTS brought down the house (or at least rotated it) with their version of “Old Town Road,” and Demi Lovato tugged at your heartstrings with a tearful “Anyone.” Director Ava DuVernay introduced a Nipsey Hussle tribute from John Legend, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, YG and others, while Ariana Grande’s set included a splits as impressive as Billy Porter’s bionic cowboy hat.


The final performance of the night gave you Ben Platt belting “I Sing the Body Electric” from Fame while Misty Copeland danced and Gary Clark Jr. shredded on guitar, creating a set of pure chaos only topped by Billie Eilish sweeping this year’s top four categories (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist), making her only the second artist in history to do so. And that’s not even counting all the other award winners! Which you can read about below:

Record of the Year
“Hey Ma,” Bon Iver
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish
“7 Rings,” Ariana Grande
“Hard Place,” H.E.R.
“Talk,” Khalid
“Old Town Road” (Remix), Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
“Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
“Sunflower,” Post Malone and Swae Lee



Album of the Year
i,i, Bon Iver
Norman Fucking Rockwell!, Lana Del Rey
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish
Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande
I Used to Know Her, H.E.R.
7, Lil Nas X
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe), Lizzo
Father of the Bride, Vampire Weekend
 
Best New Artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lizzo
Lil Nas X
Maggie Rogers
Rosalía
Tank and the Bangas
Yola
Song of the Year
“Always Remember Us This Way,” Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna (Lady Gaga)
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell (Billie Eilish)
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker (Tanya Tucker)
“Hard Place,” Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R., and Rodney Jerkins (H.E.R.)
“Norman Fucking Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff (Lana Del Rey)”
“Lover,” Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift)
“Someone You Love,” Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn, and Sam Roman (Lewis Capaldo)
“Truth Hurts,” Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John (Lizzo)
Best Rap/Sung Performance
“Higher,” DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend

“Drip Too Hard,” Lil Baby and Gunna
“Panini,” Lil Nas X
“Ballin,” Mustard featuring Roddy Ricch
“The London,” Young Thug featuring J. Cole and Travis Scott



Best Rap Album
Revenge of the Dreamers 3, Dreamville
Championships, Meek Mill
IGOR, Tyler the Creator
The Lost Boy, YBN Cordae
I Am > I Was, 21 Savage
Best Comedy Album
Quality Time, Jim Gaffigan
Relatable, Ellen DeGeneres
Right Now, Aziz Ansari
Son of Patricia, Trevor Noah
Sticks & Stones, Dave Chappelle
Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Brand New Man,” Brooks & Dunn featuring Luke Combs
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” Brothers Osborne
“Speechless,” Dan + Shay
“The Daughters,” Little Big Town
“Common,” Maren Morris featuring Brandi Carlile
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Spirit,” Beyoncé
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish
“7 Rings,” Ariana Grande
“Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
“You Need to Calm Down,” Taylor Swift
Best Pop Vocal Album
The Lion King: The Gift — Beyoncé
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go — Billie Eilish
Thank U, Next — Ariana Grande
No. 6 Collaborations Project — Ed Sheeran
Lover — Taylor Swift
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Boyfriend” — Ariana Grande & Social House
“Sucker” — Jonas Brothers
“Old Town Road” — Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus
“Señorita” — Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Sì — Andrea Bocelli
Love (Deluxe Edition) — Michael Bublé
Look Now — Elvis Costello & The Imposters
A Legendary Christmas — John Legend
Walls — Barbra Streisand
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
John Hill
Finneas
Ricky Reed
Best R&B Album
1123 — BJ The Chicago Kid
Painted — Lucky Daye
Ella Mai — Ella Mai
Paul — PJ Morton
Ventura — Anderson .Paak
Best Urban Contemporary Album

Apollo XXI — Steve Lacy
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) — Lizzo
Overload — Georgia Anne Muldrow
Saturn — Nao
Being Human In Public — Jessie Reyez
Best R&B Performance
“Love Again” — Daniel Caesar & Brandy
“Could’ve Been” — H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller
“Exactly How I Feel” — Lizzo & Gucci Mane
“Roll Some Mo” — Lucky Daye
“Come Home” — Anderson .Paak & André 300
Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Time Today” — BJ The Chicago Kid
“Steady Love” — India.Arie
“Jerome” — Lizzo
“Real Games” — Lucky Daye
“Built For Love” — PJ Morton & Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
“Could’ve Been” — Dernst Emile Ii, David “Swagg R’celious” Harris, H.E.R. & Hue “Soundzfire” Strother, Songwriters (H.E.R. Ft. Bryson Tiller)
“Look At Me Now” — Emily King & Jeremy Most, Songwriters (Emily King)
“No Guidance” — Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, Songwriters (Chris Brown Ft. Drake)
“Roll Some Mo” — David Brown, Dernst Emile Ii & Peter Lee Johnson, Songwriters (Lucky Daye)
“Say So” — Pj Morton, Songwriter (Pj Morton Ft. Jojo)
Best Rock Performance

“Pretty Waste” — Bones UK
“This Land” — Gary Clark Jr.
“History Repeats” — Brittany Howard
“Woman” — Karen O & Danger Mouse
“Too Bad” — Rival Sons
Best Rock Song
“Fear Inoculum” — Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones & Maynard James Keenan, Songwriters (Tool)
“Give Yourself A Try” — George Daniel, Adam Hann, Matthew Healy & Ross Macdonald, Songwriters (The 1975)
“Harmony Hall” — Ezra Koenig, Songwriter (Vampire Weekend)
“History Repeats” — Brittany Howard, Songwriter (Brittany Howard)
“This Land” — Gary Clark Jr., Songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
Best Rock Album

Amo — Bring Me The Horizon
Social Cues — Cage The Elephant
In The End — The Cranberries
Trauma — I Prevail
Feral Roots — Rival Sons
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Lion King: The Songs, various artists
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, various artists
Rocketman, Taron Egerton
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, various artists
A Star Is Born, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Avengers: Endgame, Alan Silvestri
Chernobyl, Hildur Guðnadóttir
Game of Thrones: Season 8, Ramin Djawadi
The Lion King, Hans Zimmer
Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman
Best Song Written for Visual Media
“The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” Randy Newman (Chris Stapleton, Toy Story 4)
“Girl in the Movies,” Dolly Parton and Linda Perry (Dolly Parton, Dumplin’)
“I’ll Never Love Again” (Film Version), Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born)
“Spirit,” Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Timothy McKenzie & Ilya Salmanzadeh (Beyoncé, The Lion King)
“Suspirium,” Thom Yorke (Thom Yorke, Suspiria)
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Beastie Boys Book (Various Artists) — Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Sherratt & Dan Zitt, producers
Becoming — Michelle Obama
I.V. Catatonia: 20 Years As A Two-Time Cancer Survivor — Eric Alexandrakis
Mr. Know-It-All — John Waters
Sekou Andrews & The String Theory — Sekou Andrews & The String Theory
Best Instrumental Composition
“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite” — John Williams, composer (John Williams)

“Begin Again” — Fred Hersch, composer (Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band Conducted By Vince Mendoza)
“Crucible For Crisis” — Brian Lynch, composer (Brian Lynch Big Band)
“Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
“Walkin’ Funny” — Christian McBride, composer (Christian McBride)
Best Remixed Recording
“I Rise (Tracy Young’s Pride Intro Radio Remix),” Tracy Young (Madonna)

“Mother’s Daugher (Wuki Remix),” Wuki (Miley Cyrus)
“The One (High Contrast Remix),” Lincoln Barrett (Jorja Smith)
“Swim (Ford. Remix),” Luke Bradford (Mild Minds)
“Work It (Soulwax Remix),” David Gerard C Dewaele and Stephen Antoine C Dewaele (Marie Davidson)
Best Music Video
“We’ve Got to Try,” The Chemical Brothers
“This Land,” Gary Clark Jr.
“Cellophane,” fka twigs
“Old Town Road (Official Movie),” Lil Nas X featuring Billie Ray Cyrus
“Glad He’s Gone,” Tove Lo
Best Music Film
Homecoming, Beyoncé

Remember My Name, David Crosby
Birth of the Cool, Miles Davis
Shangri-La, various artists
Anima, Thom Yorke
Best Dance Recording
“Linked,” Bonobo
“Got to Keep On,” The Chemical Brothers
“Piece of Your Heart,” Meduza featuring Goodboys
“Underwater,” Rüfüs Du Sol
“Midnight Hour,” Skrillex and Boys Noize featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Best Dance/Electronic Album
LP5, Apparat
No Geography, The Chemical Brothers
Hi This Is Flume (Mixtape), Flume
Solace, Rüfüs Du Sol
Weather, Tycho
Best Country Solo Performance
“All Your’n,” Tyler Childers
Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” Ashley McBryde
“Ride Me Back Home,” Willie Nelson
“God’s Country,” Blake Shelton
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker
Best Country Song
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker (Tanya Tucker)

“Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” Jeremy Bussey and Ashley McBryde (Ashley McBryde)
“It All Comes Out In the Wash,” Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose (Miranda Lambert)
“Some of It,” Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, and Bobby Pinson (Eric Church)
“Speechless,” Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers, and Laura Veltz (Dan + Shay)
Best Country Album
Desperate Man, Eric Church
Stronger Than the Truth, Reba McEntire
Interstate Gospel, Pistol Annies
Center Point Road, Thomas Rhett
While I’m Livin’, Tanya Tucker
 
Best Rap Performance
“Middle Child,” J. Cole
“Suge,” DaBaby
“Down Bad,” Dreamville featuring J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, EARTHGANG & Young Nudy
“Racks in the Middle,” Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy
“Clout,” Offset featuring Cardi B
Best Rap Song
“Bad Idea,” Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong & Daniel Hackett (YBN Cordae featuring Chance The Rapper)
“Gold Roses,” Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, William Leonard Roberts II, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas III & Ozan Yildirim (Rick Ross featuring Drake)
“A Lot,” Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White, (21 Savage featuring J. Cole)
“Racks in the Middle,” Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis, Jr. & Rodrick Moore (Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)
“Suge,” DaBaby, Jetsonmade & Pooh Beatz (DaBaby)
Best Recording Package
Chris Cornell — Barry Ament, Jeff Ament, Jeff Fura & Joe Spix, art directors (Chris Cornell)

Anónimas & Resilientes — Luisa María Arango, Carlos Dussan, Manuel García-Orozco & Juliana Jaramillo-Buenaventura, art directors (Voces Del Bullerengue)
Hold That Tiger — Andrew Wong & Fongming Yang, art directors (The Muddy Basin Ramblers)
i,i — Aaron Anderson & Eric Timothy Carlson, art directors (Bon Iver)
Intellexual — Irwan Awalludin, art director (Intellexual)
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Woodstock: Back To The Garden – The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive — Masaki Koike, art director (Various Artists)

Anima — Stanley Donwood & Tchocky, art directors (Thom Yorke)
Gold In Brass Age — Amanda Chiu, Mark Farrow & David Gray, art directors (David Gray)
1963: New Directions — Josh Cheuse, art director (John Coltrane)
The Radio Recordings 1939–1945 — Marek Polewski, art director (Wilhelm Furtwängler & Berliner Philharmoniker)
Best Album Notes
Stax ’68: A Memphis Story — Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)

The Complete Cuban Jam Sessions — Judy Cantor-Navas, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Gospel According To Malaco — Robert Marovich, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Pedal Steel + Four Corners — Brendan Greaves, album notes writer (Terry Allen And The Panhandle Mystery Band)
Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place, album notes writer (Pete Seeger)
Best Historical Album
Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection — Jeff Place & Robert Santelli, compilation producers; Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer (Pete Seeger)

The Girl From Chickasaw County – The Complete Capitol Masters — Andrew Batt & Kris Maher, compilation producers; Simon Gibson, mastering engineer (Bobbie Gentry)
The Great Comeback: Horowitz At Carnegie Hall — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Jennifer Nulsen, mastering engineers (Vladimir Horowitz)
Kankyo Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990 — Spencer Doran, Yosuke Kitazawa, Douglas Macgowan & Matt Sullivan, compilation producers; John Baldwin, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Woodstock: Back To The Garden – The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive — Brian Kehew, Steve Woolard & Andy Zax, compilation producers; Dave Schultz, mastering engineer, Brian Kehew, restoration engineer (Various Artists)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? — Rob Kinelski & Finneas O’Connell, engineers; John Greenham, mastering engineer (Billie Eilish)

All These Things — Tchad Blake, Adam Greenspan & Rodney Shearer, engineers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Thomas Dybdahl)
Ella Mai — Chris “Shaggy” Ascher, Jaycen Joshua & David Pizzimenti, engineers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer (Ella Mai)
Run Home Slow — Paul Butler & Sam Teskey, engineers; Joe Carra, mastering engineer (The Teskey Brothers)
Scenery — Tom Elmhirst, Ben Kane & Jeremy Most, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Emily King)
Best Immersive Audio Album
Lux — Morten Lindberg, immersive audio engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive audio mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive audio producer (Anita Brevik, Trondheimsolistene & Nidarosdomens Jentekor)

Chain Tripping — Luke Argilla, immersive audio engineer; Jurgen Scharpf, immersive audio mastering engineer; Jona Bechtolt, Claire L. Evans & Rob Kieswetter, immersive audio producers (Yacht)
Kverndokk: Symphonic Dances — Jim Anderson, immersive audio engineer; Robert C. Ludwig, immersive audio mastering engineer; Ulrike Schwarz, immersive audio producer (Ken-David Masur & Stavanger Symphony Orchestra)
The Orchestral Organ — Keith O. Johnson, immersive audio engineer; Keith O. Johnson, immersive audio mastering engineer; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin, immersive audio producers (Jan Kraybill)
The Savior — Bob Clearmountain, immersive audio engineer; Bob Ludwig, immersive audio mastering engineer; Michael Marquart & Dave Way, immersive audio producers (A Bad Think)
Best New Age Album
Wings — Peter Kater

Fairy Dreams — David Arkenstone
Homage To Kindness — David Darling
Verve — Sebastian Plano
Deva — Deva Premal
Best Bluegrass Album
Tall Fiddler — Michael Cleveland

Live In Prague, Czech Republic — Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Toil, Tears & Trouble — The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Royal Traveller — Missy Raines
If You Can’t Stand The Heat — Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Best Traditional Blues Album
Tall, Dark & Handsome — Delbert McClinton & Self-made Men

Kingfish — Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Sitting On Top Of The Blues — Bobby Rush
Baby, Please Come Home — Jimmie Vaughan
Spectacular Class — Jontavious Willis
Best Contemporary Blues Album
This Land — Gary Clark Jr.

Venom & Faith — Larkin Poe
Brighter Days — Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Somebody Save Me — Sugaray Rayford
Keep On — Southern Avenue
Best Folk Album
My Finest Work Yet — Andrew Bird
Rearrange My Heart — Che Apalache
Patty Griffin — Patty Griffin
Evening Machines — Gregory Alan Isakov
Front Porch — Joy Williams
Best Regional Roots Music Album
Good Time — Ranky Tanky

Kalawai’anui — Amy Hānaiali’i
When It’s Cold – Cree Round Dance Songs — Northern Cree
Recorded Live At The 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — Rebirth Brass Band
Hawaiian Lullaby (Various Artists) — Imua Garza & Kimié Miner, Producers
Best Reggae Album
Rapture — Koffee

As I Am — Julian Marley
The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie Vs. Roots Radics — Sly & Robbie & Roots Radics
Mass Manipulation — Steel Pulse
More Work To Be Done — Third World
 
Best Children’s Music Album
Ageless Songs For The Child Archetype — Jon Samson

Flying High! — Caspar Babypants
I Love Rainy Days — Daniel Tashian
The Love — Alphabet Rockers
Winterland — The Okee Dokee Brothers
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Mettavolution — Rodrigo y Gabriela

Ancestral Recall — Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Star People Nation — Theo Croker
Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music! — Mark Guiliana
Elevate — Lettuce
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
“Moon River” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

“Blue Skies” — Kris Bowers, arranger (Kris Bowers)
“Hedwig’s Theme” — John Williams, arranger (Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams)
“La Novena” — Emilio Solla, arranger (Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra)
“Love, A Beautiful Force” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
“All Night Long” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Jules Buckley, Take 6 & Metropole Orkest)

“Jolene” — Geoff Keezer, arranger (Sara Gazarek)
“Marry Me A Little” — Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo, arrangers (Cyrille Aimée)
“Over The Rainbow” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Trisha Yearwood)
“12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine)” — Esperanza Spalding, arranger (Esperanza Spalding)
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“Sozinho” — Randy Brecker, soloist

“Elsewhere” — Melissa Aldana, soloist
“Tomorrow Is The Question” — Julian Lage, soloist
“The Windup” — Brandford Marsalis, soloist
“Sightseeing” — Christian McBride, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal Album
12 Little Spells — Esperanza Spalding

Thirsty Ghost — Sara Gazarek
Love & Liberation — Jazzmeia Horn
Alone Together — Catherine Russell
Screenplay — The Tierney Sutton Band
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Finding Gabriel — Brad Mehldau

In The Key Of The Universe — Joey DeFrancesco
The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul — Branford Marsalis Quartet
Christian McBride’s New Jawn — Brad Mehldau
Come What May – Joshua Redman Quartet
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Triple Helix – Anat Cohen Tentet
Dancer in Nowhere – Miho Hazama
Hiding Out – Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra
The Omni-American Book Club – Brian Lynch Big Band
One Day Wonder – Terraza Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album
Antidote — Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band

Sorte!: Music By John Finbury — Thalma De Freitas With Vitor Gonçalves, John Patitucci, Chico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato & Duduka Da Fonseca
Una Noche Con Rubén Blades — Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis & Rubén Blades
Carib — David Sánchez
Sonero: The Music Of Ismael Rivera — Miguel Zenón
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Love Theory”– Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Songwriter

“Talkin’ ‘Bout Jesus” — Gloria Gaynor ft. Yolanda Adams; Bryan Fowler, Gloria Gaynor & Chris Stevens, Songwriters
“See The Light” — Travis Greene ft. Jekalyn Carr
“Speak The Name” — Koryn Hawthorne ft. Natalie Grant
“This Is A Move (Live)” — Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Tony Brown, Brandon Lake, Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Nate Moore, Songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“God Only Knows” — for King & Country & Dolly Parton; Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters

“Only Jesus” — Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms & Matthew West, songwriters
“Haven’t Seen It Yet” — Danny Gokey; Danny Gokey, Ethan Hulse & Colby Wedgeworth, songwriters
“God’s Not Done With You (Single Version)” — Tauren Wells
“Rescue Story” — Zach Williams; Ethan Hulse, Andrew Ripp, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters
Best Gospel Album
Long Live Love — Kirk Franklin

Goshen — Donald Lawrence Presents The Tri-City Singers
Tunnel Vision — Gene Moore
Settle Here — William Murphy
Something’s Happening! A Christmas Album — CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Burn The Ships — for King & Country

I Know A Ghost — Crowder
Haven’t Seen It Yet — Danny Gokey
The Elements — TobyMac
Holy Roar — Chris Tomlin
Best Roots Gospel Album
Testimony — Gloria Gaynor

Deeper Roots: Where The Bluegrass
Grows — Steven Curtis Chapman
Deeper Oceans — Joseph Habedank
His Name Is Jesus — Tim Menzies
Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout (Various Artists) — Jerry Salley, producer
Best Latin Pop Album
#ELDISCO — Alejandro Sanz

Vida — Luis Fonsi
11:11 — Maluma
Montaner — Ricardo Montaner
Fantasía — Sebastian Yatra
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
El Mal Querer – Rosalía

X 100PRE — Bad Bunny
Oasis — J Balvin & Bad Bunny
Indestructible — Flor De Toloache
Almadura — iLe
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
De Ayer Para Siempre — Mariachi Los Camperos

Caminando — Joss Favela
Percepción — Intocable
Poco A Poco — La Energia Norteña
20 Aniversario — Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
Best Tropical Latin Album
Opus — Marc Anthony (TIE)
A Journey Through Cuban Music — Aymée Nuviola (TIE)

Tiempo Al Tiempo — Luis Enrique + C4 Trio
Candela — Vicente García
Literal — Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Riley: Sun Rings — Leslie Ann Jones, engineer; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer (Kronos Quartet)

Aequa – Anna Thorvaldsdóttir — Daniel Shores, engineer; Daniel Shores, mastering engineer (International Contemporary Ensemble)
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 — Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
Rachmaninoff – Hermitage Piano Trio — Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Hermitage Piano Trio)
Wolfe: Fire In My Mouth — Bob Hanlon & Lawrence Rock, engineers; Ian Good & Lawrence Rock, mastering engineers (Jaap Van Zweden, Francisco J. Núñez, Donald Nally, The Crossing, Young People’s Chorus Of NY City & New York Philharmonic)
Producer Of The Year, Classical
Blanton Alspaugh

James Ginsburg
Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin
Morten Lindberg
Dirk Sobotka
Best Orchestral Performance
“Norman: Sustain” — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)

“Bruckner: Symphony No. 9” — Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
“Copland: Billy The Kid; Grohg” — Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
“Transatlantic” — Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
“Weinberg: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 21” — Mirga Gražinytė-tyla, conductor (City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Kremerata Baltica)
Best Opera Recording
“Benjamin: Lessons In Love & Violence” — George Benjamin, conductor; Stéphane Degout, Barbara Hannigan, Peter Hoare & Gyula Orendt; James Whitbourn, producer (Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House)
“Berg: Wozzeck” — Marc Albrecht, conductor; Christopher Maltman & Eva-Maria Westbroek; François Roussillon, producer (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra; Chorus Of Dutch National Opera)
“Charpentier: Les Arts Florissants; Les Plaisirs De Versailles” — Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Jesse Blumberg, Teresa Wakim & Virginia Warnken; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble; Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble)
“Picker: Fantastic Mr. Fox” — Gil Rose, conductor; John Brancy, Andrew Craig Brown, Gabriel Preisser, Krista River & Edwin Vega; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Boston Children’s Chorus)
“Wagner: Lohengrin” — Christian Thielemann, conductor; Piotr Beczała, Anja Harteros, Tomasz Konieczny, Waltraud Meier & Georg Zeppenfeld; Eckhard Glauche, producer (Festspielorchester Bayreuth; Festspielchor Bayreuth)
Best Choral Performance
“Duruflé: Complete Choral Works” — Robert Simpson, conductor (Ken Cowan; Houston Chamber Choir)

“Boyle: Voyages” — Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)
“The Hope Of Loving” — Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Conspirare)
“Sander: The Divine Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom” — Peter Jermihov, conductor (Evan Bravos, Vadim Gan, Kevin Keys, Glenn Miller & Daniel Shirley; PaTRAM Institute Singers)
“Smith, K.: The Arc In The Sky” — Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
“Shaw: Orange” — Attacca Quartet

“Cerrone: The Pieces That Fall To Earth” — Christopher Rountree & Wild Up
“Freedom & Faith” — Publiquartet
“Perpetulum” — Third Coast Percussion
“Rachmaninoff” – Hermitage Piano Trio — Hermitage Piano Trio
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
“The Berlin Recital” — Yuja Wang
“Higdon: Harp Concerto” — Yolanda Kondonassis; Ward Stare, conductor (The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
“Marsalis: Violin Concerto; Fiddle Dance Suite” — Nicola Benedetti; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra)
“The Orchestral Organ” — Jan Kraybill
“Torke: Sky, Concerto For Violin” — Tessa Lark; David Alan Miller, conductor (Albany Symphony)
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
The Edge Of Silence – Works For Voice By György Kurtág — Susan Narucki (Donald Berman, Curtis Macomber, Kathryn Schulmeister & Nicholas Tolle)
Himmelsmusik — Philippe Jaroussky & Céline Scheen; Christina Pluhar, conductor; L’arpeggiata, ensemble (Jesús Rodil & Dingle Yandell)
Schumann: Liederkreis Op. 24, Kerner-lieder Op. 35 — Matthias Goerne; Leif Ove Andsnes, accompanist
Songplay — Joyce Didonato; Chuck Israels, Jimmy Madison, Charlie Porter & Craig Terry, accompanists (Steve Barnett & Lautaro Greco)
A Te, O Cara — Stephen Costello; Constantine Orbelian, conductor (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra)
Best Classical Compendium
American Originals 1918 — John Morris Russell, conductor; Elaine Martone, producer
Leshnoff: Symphony No. 4 ‘heichalos’; Guitar Concerto; Starburst — Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
Meltzer: Songs And Structures — Paul Appleby & Natalia Katyukova; Silas Brown & Harold Meltzer, producers
The Poetry Of Places — Nadia Shpachenko; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin, producers
Saariaho: True Fire; Trans; Ciel D’hiver — Hannu Lintu, conductor; Laura Heikinheimo, producer
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Bermel: Migration Series For Jazz Ensemble & Orchestra — Derek Bermel, composer (Derek Bermel, Ted Nash, David Alan Miller, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra & Albany Symphony Orchestra)
Higdon: Harp Concerto — Jennifer Higdon, composer (Yolanda Kondonassis, Ward Stare & The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
Marsalis: Violin Concerto In D Major — Wynton Marsalis, composer (Nicola Benedetti, Cristian Măcelaru & Philadelphia Orchestra)
Norman: Sustain — Andrew Norman, composer (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
Shaw: Orange — Caroline Shaw, composer (Attacca Quartet)
Wolfe: Fire In My Mouth — Julia Wolfe, composer (Jaap Van Zweden, Francisco J. Núñez, Donald Nally, The Crossing, Young People’s Chorus Of NY City & New York Philharmonic)
 
Best Musical Theater Album
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life And Times Of The Temptations — Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes, principal soloists; Scott M. Riesett, producer (Original Broadway Cast)
Hadestown — Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page, principal soloists; Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose, producers (Anaïs Mitchell, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
Moulin Rouge! The Musical — Danny Burstein, Tam Mutu, Sahr Ngaujah, Karen Olivo & Aaron Tveit, principal soloists; Justin Levine, Baz Luhrmann, Matt Stine & Alex Timbers, producers (Original Broadway Cast)
The Music Of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child – In Four Contemporary Suites — Imogen Heap, producer; Imogen Heap, composer (Imogen Heap)
Oklahoma! — Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill, principal soloists; Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2019 Broadway Cast)
Best Metal Performance
“Astorolus – The Great Octopus” — Candlemass ft. Tony Iommi
“Humanicide” — Death Angel
“Bow Down” — I Prevail
“Unleashed” — Killswitch Engage
“7empest” — Tool
Best Alternative Music Album

U.F.O.F. — Big Theif
Assume Form — James Blake
i,i — Bon Iver
Father of the Bride — Vampire Weekend
Anima — Thom Yorke
Best World Music Album
Gece — Altin Gün
What Heat — Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley
African Giant — Burna Boy
Fanm D’ayiti — Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet
Celia — Angelique Kidjo
Best American Roots Performance
“Saint Honesty” — Sara Bareilles

“Father Mountain” — Calexico With Iron & Wine
“I’m On My Way” — Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi
“Call My Name” — I’m With Her
“Faraway Look” — Yola
Best American Roots Song
“Black Myself” — Amythyst Kiah, songwriter (Our Native Daughters)
“Call My Name” — Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)
“Crossing To Jerusalem” — Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
“Faraway Look” — Dan Auerbach, Yola Carter & Pat Mclaughlin, songwriters (Yola)
“I Don’t Wanna Ride The Rails No More” — Vince Gill, songwriter (Vince Gill)
Best Americana Album
Years To Burn — Calexico And Iron & Wine
Who Are You Now — Madison Cunningham
Oklahoma — Keb’ Mo’
Tales Of America — J.S. Ondara
Walk Through Fire — Yola
 
Beyoncé Leads the 2021 Grammys Awards With 4 Wins
By Charlotte Walsh@charwalsh_
“Houston, we love you.” Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
It was Beyoncé’s Grammys, and we just lived it: Leading the pack with the most Grammy wins at four, the singer also became the female artist with the most Grammys ever, with her 28th win (plus one for daughter Blue Ivy Carter). In other, non-Beyoncé news, Taylor Swift won Album of the Year, and the Recording Academy awarded their darling Billie Eilish the Record of the Year award. The Black Lives Matter movement was honored with a performance by Lil Baby and a film about Beyoncé’s “Black Parade,” and Megan Thee Stallion was left speechless by her Best New Artist win.
For performances, the Recording Academy served us DaBaby with some violins and wannabe Judge Judys, a seductive song from Silk Sonic and Mickey Guyton’s emotional first Grammys performance. Dua Lipa debuted new choreography, Taylor Swift brought us a woodsy folklore medley, and Harry Styles also shook his butt in a feather boa. Megan Thee Stallion proved she (still) is that bitch with a dream performance of “Savage (Remix)” and a clean version of “WAP.” See how your favorites fared with the full slate of winners below:

Winners
Record of the Year
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Rockstar,” DaBaby and Roddy Ricch
“Say So,” Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Circles,” Post Malone
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
One Great Story
The one story you shouldn’t miss, selected by New York editors

Album of the Year
Chilombo, Jhene Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe), Black Pumas
Everyday Life, Coldplay
Djesse Vol. 3, Jacob Collier
Women in Music Pt. III, Haim
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding, Post Malone
Folklore, Taylor Swift
Song of the Year

“Black Parade,” Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice (Beyoncé)
“The Box,” Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore (Roddy Ricch)
“Cardigan,” Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift)
“Circles,” Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh (Post Malone)
“Don’t Start Now,” Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren (Dua Lipa)
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell (Billie Eilish)
“I Can’t Breathe,” Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas (H.E.R.)
“If the World Was Ending,” Julia Michaels & JP Saxe (JP Saxe & Julia Michaels)
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Pop Vocal Album

Changes, Justin Bieber
Chromatica, Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Fine Line, Harry Styles
Folklore, Taylor Swift
Best R&B Performance
“Lightning and Thunder,” Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“All I Need,” Jacob Collier Feat. Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head,” Brittany Howard
“See Me,” Emily King
Best Rap Song
“The Bigger Picture,” Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams (Lil Baby)
“The Box,” Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now, Cry Later,” Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron LaTour & Ryan Martinez (Drake feat. Lil Durk)
“Rockstar,” Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore (DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch)
“Savage,” Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White (Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé)
Best Pop Solo Performance

“Yummy,” Justin Bieber
“Say So,” Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles
“Cardigan,” Taylor Swift
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Rockstar,” DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later,” Drake feat. Lil Durk
“Lockdown,” Anderson .Paak
“The Box,” Roddy Ricch
“HIGHEST IN THE ROOM,” Travis Scott
Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
YHLQMDLG, Bad Bunny

Por Primera Vez, Camilo
Mesa Para Dos, Kany García
Pausa, Ricky Martin
3:33, Debi Nova
Best Country Album
Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde
Best Country Song
“Bluebird,” Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert (Miranda Lambert)
“The Bones,” Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz (Maren Morris)
“Crowded Table,” Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna (The Highwomen)
“More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland (Ingrid Andress)
“Some People Do,” Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Old Dominion)
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“All Night,” Brothers Osbourne
“10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
“Ocean,” Lady A
“Sugar Coat,” Little Big Town
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion
Best Rock Album
A Hero’s Death, Fontaines D.C.
Kiwanuka, Michael Kiwanuka
Daylight, Grace Potter
Sound & Fury, Sturgill Simpson
The New Abnormal, The Strokes
Best Rock Song

“Kyoto,” Phoebe Bridgers, Morgan Nagler, and Marshall Vore (Phoebe Bridgers)
“Lost In Yesterday,” Kevin Parker (Tame Impala)
“Not,” Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief)
“Shameika,” Fiona Apple (Fiona Apple)
“Stay High,” Brittany Howard (Brittany Howard)
Best Rock Performance
“Shameika,” Fiona Apple

“Not,” Big Thief
“Kyoto,” Phoebe Bridgers
“The Steps,” Haim
“Stay High,” Brittany Howard
“Daylight,” Grace Potter
Best Rap Album
Black Habits, D Smoke
Alfredo, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A Written Testimony, Jay Electronica
King’s Disease, Nas
The Allegory, Royce Da 5’9”
Best Rap Performance
“Deep Reverence,” Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hustle
“Bop,” DaBaby
“What’s Poppin,” Jack Harlow
“The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
“Dior,” Pop Smoke
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Un Día (One Day),” J. Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy
“Intentions,” Justin Bieber and Quavo
“Dynamite,” BTS
“Rain on Me,” Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
“Exile,” Taylor Swift and Bon Iver
Best R&B Album
Happy 2 Be Here, Any Clemons
Take Time, Giveon
To Feel Loved, Luke James
Bigger Love, John Legend
All Rise, Gregory Porter
Best Progressive R&B Album
Chilombo, Jhene Aiko
Ungodly Hour, Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals, Free Nationals
F*** Yo Feelings, Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is, Thundercat
Best R&B Song
“Better Than I Imagine,” Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson (Robert Glasper Feat. H.E.R and Meshell Ndegeocello)

“Black Parade,” Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice (Beyoncé)
“Collide,” Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi (Tiana & EARTHGANG)
“Do It,” Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende (Chloe X Halle)
“Slow Down,” Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Sit On Down,” The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks of Me,” Chloe X Halle
“Let Me Go,” Mykal Kilgore
“Anything For You,” Ledisi
“Distance,” Yebba
Best Alternative Album
Hyperspace, Beck
Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple
Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers
Jaime, Brittany Howard
The Slow Rush, Tame Impala
Best Music Video
“Brown Skin Girl,” Beyoncé

“Life Is Good,” Future Feat. Drake
“Lockdown,” Anderson .Paak
“Adore You,” Harry Styles
“Goliath,” Woodkid
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Run To The Water, Cody Carnes
All Of My Best Friends, Hillsong Young & Free
Holy Water, We The Kingdom
Citizen Of Heaven, Tauren Wells
Jesus Is King, Kanye West
Best Song Written For Visual Media

“Beautiful Ghosts” [From Cats], Andrew Lloyd Webber & Taylor Swift (Taylor Swift)
“Carried Me With You” [From Onward], Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth (Brandi Carlile)
“Into The Unknown” [From Frozen 2], Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez (Idina Menzel & AURORA)
“No Time To Die” [From No Time To Die], Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas Baird O’Connell (Billie Eilish)
“Stand Up” [From Harriett], Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo (Cynthia Erivo)
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Ad Astra, Max Richter
Becoming, Kamasi Washington
Joker, Hildur Guðnadóttir
1917, Thomas Newman
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Various Artists
Bill & Ted Face the Music, Various Artists
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Various Artists
Frozen 2, Various Artists
JoJo Rabbit, Various Artists
Best Music Film

Beastie Boys Story, Beastie Boys, Spike Jonze
Black Is King, Beyoncé
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Freestyle Love Supreme
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Linda Ronstadt
That Lil Ol’ Band From Texas, ZZ Top
Best Musical Theater Album
Amelie, Audrey Brisson, Chris Jared, Caolan McCarthy & Jez Unwin, principal soloists; Michael Fentiman, Sean Patrick Flahaven, Barnaby Race & Nathan Tysen, producers; Nathan Tysen, lyricist; Daniel Messe, composer & lyricist (Original London Cast)
American Utopia on Broadway, David Byrne
Jagged Little Pill, Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Lauren Patten & Elizabeth Stanley, principal soloists; Neal Avron, Pete Ganbarg, Tom Kitt, Michael Parker, Craig Rosen & Vivek J. Tiwary, producers (Glen Ballard & Alanis Morissette, lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast)
Little Shop of Horrors, Tammy Blanchard, Jonathan Groff & Tom Alan Robbins, principal soloists; Will Van Dyke, Michael Mayer, Alan Menken & Frank Wolf, producers (Alan Menken, composer; Howard Ashman, lyricist) (The New Off-Broadway Cast)
Prince of Egypt, Christine Allado, Luke Brady, Alexia Khadime & Liam Tamne, principal soloists; Dominick Amendum & Stephen Schwartz, producers; Stephen Schwartz, composer & lyricist (Original Cast)
Soft Power, Francis Jue, Austin Ku, Alyse Alan Louis & Conrad Ricamora, principal soloists; Matt Stine, producer; David Henry Hwang, lyricist; Jeanine Tesori, composer & lyricist (Original Cast)
Best Comedy Album
Black Mitzvah, Tiffany Haddish

I Love Everything, Patton Oswalt
The Pale Tourist, Jim Gaffigan
Paper Tiger, Bill Burr
23 Hours to Kill, Jerry Seinfeld
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Acid for the Children: A Memoir, Flea
Alex Trebek - The Answer is…, Ken Jennings
Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth, Rachel Maddow
Catch and Kill, Ronan Farrow
Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White), Meryl Streep (& Full cast)
Best Global Music Album
Fu Chronicles, Antibalas
Twice As Tall, Burna Boy
Agora, Bebel Gilberto
Love Letters, Anoushka Shankar
Amadjar, Tinariwen
Best Dance Recording
“On My Mind,” Diplo & Sidepiece
“My High,” Disclosure Feat. Aminé & Slowthai
“The Difference,” Flume feat. Toro y Moi
“Both Of Us,” Jayda D
“10%,” Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis
Best Dance/Electronic Album

Kick I, Arca
Planet’s Mad, Baauer
Energy, Disclosure
Bubba, Kaytranada
Good Faith, Madeon
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Axiom, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah
Chronology Of A Dream: Live at Village Vanguard, Jon Baptiste
Take The Stars, Black Violin
Americana, Grégoire Maret, Romain Collin & Bill Frisell
Live At The Royal Albert Hall, Snarky Puppy
Best Instrumental Composition

“Baby Jack,” Arturo O’Farrill, (Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra)
“Be Water II,” Christian Sands (Christian Sands)
“Plumfield,” Alexandre Desplat (Alexandre Desplat)
“Sputnik,” Maria Schneider (Maria Schneider)
“Strata,” Remy Le Boeuf (Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly Of Shadows Featuring Anna Webber & Eric Miller)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
“Bathroom Dance,” Hildur Guðnadóttir (Hildur Guðnadóttir)
“Donna Lee,” John Beasley (John Beasley)
“Honeymooners,” Remy Le Boeuf (Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly Of Shadows)
“Life Every Voice and Sing,” Alvin Chea & Jarrett Johnson (Jarrett Johnson Featuring Alvin Chea)
“Uranus: The Magician,” Jeremy Levy (Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra)
Best New Age Album
Songs from the Bardo, Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal & Jesse Paris Smith
Periphery, Priya Darshini
Form//Less, Superposition
More Guitar Stories, Jim “Kimo” West
Meditations, Cory Wong & Jon Batiste
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Wonderful Is Your Name,” Melvin Crispell III
“Release (Live),” David Frazier (Ricky Dillard Featuring Tiff Joy)
“Come Together,” Rodney “Darkchild” Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon (Jerkins Presents: The Good News)
“Won’t Let Go,” Travis Greene
“Movin’ On,” Darryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb McReynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson (Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music)
Best Gospel Album

2econd Wind: Ready, Anthony Brown & group therAPy
My Tribute, Myron Butler
Choirmaster, Ricky Dillard
Gospel According To PJ, PJ Morton
Kierra, Kierra Sheard
Best Roots Gospel Album
Beautiful Day, Mark Bishop
20/20, The Crabb Family
What Christmas Really Means, The Erwins
Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album), Fisk Jubilee Singers
Something Beautiful, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Best Recording Package
Everyday Life, Pilar Zeta (Coldplay)
Funeral, Kyle Goen (Lil Wayne)
Healer, Julian Gross & Hannah Hooper (Grouplove)
On Circles, Jordan Butcher (Caspian)
Vols. 11 & 12, Doug Cunningham & Jason Noto (Desert Sessions)
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

Flaming Pie (Collector’s Edition), Linn Wie Andersen, Simon Earith, Paul McCartney & James Musgrave (Paul McCartney)
Giants Stadium 1987, 1989, 1991, Lisa Glines & Doran Tyson (Grateful Dead)
Mode, Jeff Schulz (Depeche Mode)
Ode to Joy, Lawrence Azerrad & Jeff Tweedy (Wilco)
The Story of Ghostly International, Michael Cina & Molly Smith (Various Artists)
Best Album Notes
At the Minstrel Show: Minstrel Routines from the Studio, 1894-1926, Tim Brooks (Various Artists)
The Bakersfield Sound: Country Music Capital of the West, 1940-1974, Scott B. Bomar (Various Artists)
Dead Man’s Pop, Bob Mehr (The Replacements)
The Missing Link: How Gus Haenschen Got Us from Joplin to Jazz and Shaped the Music Business, Colin Hancock (Various Artists)
Out of a Clear Blue Sky, David Sager (Nat Brusiloff)
Best Historical Album
Celebrated, 1895-1896, Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin (Unique Quartette)
Hittin’ The Ramp, The Early Years (1936 - 1943), Zev Feldman, Will Friedwald & George Klabin, Matthew Lutthans (Nat King Cole)
It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers, Lee Lodyga & Cheryl Pawelski, Michael Graves (Mister Rogers)
1999 Super Deluxe Edition, Michael Howe, Bernie Grundman (Prince)
Souvenir, Carolyn Agger, Miles Showell (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark)
Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions, Béla Fleck, Richard Dodd (Béla Fleck)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Black Hole Rainbow (Devon Gilfillian)
Expectations (Katie Pruitt)
Hyperspace (Beck)
Jaime (Brittany Howard)
25 Trips (Sierra Hull)
Best Remixed Recording
“Do You Ever (RAC Mix),” RAC (Phil Good)
“Imaginary Friends (Morgan Page Remix),” Deadmau5 (Morgan Page)
“Praying for You (Louie Vega Main Remix),” Jasper Street Co. (Louie Vega)
“Roses (Imanbek Remix),” Saint JHN (Imanbek Zeikenov)
“Young & Alive (Bazzi vs. Haywire Remix),” Bazzi (Haywyre)
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
Hynes: Fields
Ives: Complete Symphonies

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, ‘Babi Yar’
Producer of the Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh
David Frost
Jesse Lewis
Dmitriy Lipay
Elaine Martone
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Aura, Bajofondo
Monstruo, Cami
Sobrevolando, Cultura Profética
La Conquista Del Espacio, Fito Paez
Miss Colombia, Lido Pimienta
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Hecho En México, Alejandro Fernández
La Serenata, Lupita Infante
Un Canto Por Mexico, Vol.1, Natalia Lafourcade
Bailando Sones y Huapangos Con el Mariachi Sol de Mexica de Jose Hernandez, Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez
AYAYAY!, Christian Nodal
Best Tropical Latin Album
Mi Tumbao, José Alberto “El Ruiseñor”
Infinito, Edwin Bonilla
Sigo Cantando Al Amor (Deluxe), Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis
40, Grupo Niche
Memorias de Navidad, Víctor Manuelle
Best Orchestral Performance
“Aspects of America - Pulitzer Edition,” Carlos Kalmar (Oregon Symphony)
“Concurrence,” Daníel Bjarnason (Iceland Symphony Orchestra)
“Copland: Symphony No. 3,” Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony)
“Ives: Complete Symphonies,” Gustavo Dudamel (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
“Lutoslawski: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3,” Hannu Lintu (Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording
“Dello Joio: The Trial at Rouen,” Gil Rose, Heather Buck & Stephen Powell (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Odyssey Opera Chorus)
“Floyd C., Prince of Players,” William Boggs, Keith Phares & Kate Royal, Blanton Alspaugh (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; Florentine Opera Chorus)
“Gershwin: Porgy and Bess,” David Robertson, Angel Blue & Eric Owens, David Frost (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
“Handel: Agrippina,” Maxim Emelyanychev, Joyce DiDonato, Daniel Zalay (Il Pomo D’Oro)
“Zemlinksy: Der Zwerg,” Donald Runnicles, David Butt Philip & Elena Tsallagova, Peter Ghirardini & Erwin Stürzer (Orchestra Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin; Chorus Of The Deutsche Oper Berlin)
Best Choral Performance
“Carthage,” Donald Nally (The Crossing)
“Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua,” JoAnn Falletta, James K. Bass & Adam Luebke (James K. Bass, J’Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers)
“Kastalsky: Requiem,” Leonard Slatkin, Charles Bruffy, Steven Fox & Benedict Sheehan (Joseph Charles Beutel & Anna Dennis; Orchestra Of St. Luke’s; Cathedral Choral Society, The Clarion Choir, Kansas City Chorale & The Saint Tikhon Choir)
“Moravec: Sanctuary Road,” Kent Tritle (Joshua Blue, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Dashon Burton, Malcolm J. Merriweather & Laquita Mitchell; Oratorio Society Of New York Orchestra; Oratorio Society Of New York Chorus)
“Once Upon A Time,” Matthew Guard (Sarah Walker; Skylark Vocal Ensemble)
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
“Contemporary Voices,” Pacifica Quartet

“Healing Modes,” Brooklyn Rider
“Hearne, T.: Place,” Ted Hearne, Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & Place Orchestra
“Hynes: Fields,” Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion
“The Schumann Quartets,” Dover Quartet
Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Adès; Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Kirill Gerstein
Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas, Igor Levit
Bohemian Tales, Augustin Hadelich
Destination Rachmaninov - Arrival, Daniil Trifonov
Theofanidis: Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra, Richard O’Neill
Best Classical Compendium

Adès Conduct Adès, Mark Stone & Christianne Stotijn; Thomas Adès, Nick Squire
Saariaho: Graal Theatre; Circle Map’ Neiges; Vers Toi Es Si Loin, Clément Mao-Takacs, Hans Kipfer
Serebrier: Symphonic Bach Variations; Laments and Hallelujahs; Flute Concerto, José Serebrier, Jens Braun
Thomas, M.T.: From the Diary of Anne Frank & Meditations on Rilke, Isabel Leonard, Michael Tilson Thomas, Jack Vad
Woolf, L.P.: Fire and Flood, Matt Haimovitz, Julian Wachner, Blanton Alspaugh
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Adès: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Thomas Adès (Kirill Gerstein, Thomas Adès & Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua, Richard Danielpour (JoAnn Falletta, James K. Bass, Adam Luebke, UCLA Chamber Singers, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus)
Floyd, C.: Prince of Players, Carlisle Floyd (William Boggs, Kate Royal, Keith Phares, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
Hearne, T.: Place, Ted Hearne (Ted Hearne, Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & Place Orchestra)
Rouse: Symphony No. 5, Christopher Rouse (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
Best American Roots Performance

“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Deep In Love,” Bonny Light Horseman
“Short and Sweet,” Brittany Howard
“I’ll Be Gone,” Norah Jones & Mavis Staples
“I Remember Everything,” John Prine
Best American Roots Song

“Cabin,” Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers (The Secret Sisters)
“Ceiling To The Floor,” Sierra Hull & Kai Welch (Sierra Hull)
“Hometown,” Sarah Jarosz
“I Remember Everything,” Pat McLaughlin & John Prine (John Prine)
“Man Without a Soul,” Tom Overby & Lucinda Williams (Lucinda Williams)
Best Americana Album
Old Flowers, Courtney Marie Andrews
Terms Of Surrender, Hiss Golden Messenger
World On The Ground, Sarah Jarosz
El Dorado, Marcus King
Good Souls Better Angels, Lucinda Williams
Best Bluegrass Album
Man On Fire, Danny Barnes
To Live In Two Worlds, Vol. 1, Thomm Jutz
North Carolina Songbook, Steep Canyon Rangers
Home, Billy Strings
The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1, Various Artists
Best Traditional Blues Album
All My Dues Are Paid, Frank Bey
You Make Me Feel, Don Bryant
That’s What I Heard, Robert Cray Band
Cypress Grove, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
Rawer Than Raw, Bobby Rush
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, Fantastic Negrito

Live At The Paramount, Ruthie Foster Big Band
The Juice, G. Love
Blackbirds, Bettye LaVette
Up And Rolling, North Mississippi Allstars
Best Folk Album
Bonny Light Horseman, Bonny Light Horseman
Thanks for the Dance, Leonard Cohen
Song For Our Daughter, Laura Marling
Saturn Return, The Secret Sisters
All The Good Times, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Best Regional Roots Music Album

My Relatives “Nikso Kowaiks,” Black Lodge Singers
Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadors, Cameron Dupuy And The Cajun Troubadours
Lovely Sunrise, Nā Wai ʽEhā
Atmosphere, New Orleans Nightcrawlers
A Tribute To Al Bernard, Sweet Cecilia
Best Reggae Album
Upside Down 2020, Buju Banton
Higher Place, Skip Marley
It All Comes Back To Love, Maxi Priest
Got To Be Tough, Toots & The Maytals
One World, The Wailers
Best Children’s Music Album
All The Ladies, Joanie Leeds

Be a Pain: An Album for Young (and Old) Leaders, Alastair Moock And Friends
I’m An Optimist, Dog On Fleas
Songs For Singin’, The Okee Dokee Brothers
Wild Life, Justin Roberts
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“Guinevere,” Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, track from: Axiom
“Pachamama,” Regina Carter, track from: Ona (Thana Alexa)
“Celia,” Gerald Clayton
“All Blues” Chick Corea, track from: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade)
“Moe Honk,” Joshua Redman, track from: RoundAgain (Redman Mehldau McBride Blade)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Ona, Thana Alexa
Secrets Are The Best Stories, Kurt Elling Feat. Danilo Pérez
Modern Ancestors, Carmen Lundy
Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper, Somi With Frankfurt Radio Big Band
What’s The Hurry, Kenny Wahsington
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
on the tender spot of every calloused moment, Ambrose Akinmusire
Waiting Game, Terri Lyne Carrington And Social Science
Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard, Gerald Clayton
Trilogy 2, Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade
Roundagain, Redman Mehldau McBride Blade
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Dialogues on Race, Gregg August
MONK’estra Plays John Beasley, John Beasley
The Intangible Between, Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band
Songs You Like A Lot, John Hollenbeck With Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace And The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
Data Lords, Maria Schneider Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz Album

Tradiciones, Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
Four Questions, Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
City of Dreams, Chico Pinheiro
Viento y Tiempo: Live at Blue Note Tokyo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola
Trane’s Delight, Poncho Sanchez
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Blue Umbrella, Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashain
True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, Harry Connick Jr.
American Standard, James Taylor
Unfollow the Rules, Rufus Wainwright
Judy, Renee Zellweger
Best Metal Performance
“Bum-Rush,” Body Count

“Underneath,” Code Orange
“The In-Between,” In This Moment
“Bloodmoney,” Poppy
“Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe) — Live,” Power Trip
Best Country Solo Performance
“Stick That In Your Country Song,” Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was,” Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays,” Vince Gill
“Black Like Me,” Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus
Andrew Watt
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

“Asas Fechadas,” John Beasley & Maria Mendes (Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Orkest Metropole)
“Desert Song,” Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor (Säje)
“From This Place,” Alan Broadbent & Pat Metheny (Pat Metheny Featuring Meshell Ndegeocello)
“He Won’t Hold You,” Jacob Collier (Jacob Collier Featuring Rapsody)
“Slow Burn,” Talia Billig, Nic Hard & Becca Stevens (Becca Stevens Feat. Jacob Collier, Mark Lettieri, Justin Stanton, Jordan Perlson, Nic Hard, Keita Ogawa, Marcelo Woloski & Nate Werth)
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“The Blessing (Live),” Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe Carnes & Steven Furtick (Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation Worship)
“Sunday Morning,” Denisia Andrews, Jones Terrence Antonio, Saint Bodhi, Brittany Coney, Kirk Franklin, Lasanna Harris, Shama Joseph, Stuart Lowery, Lecrae Moore & Nathanael Saint-Fleur (Lecrae Featuring Kirk Franklin)
“Holy Water,” Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash & Scott Cash (We The Kingdom)
“Famous For (I Believe),” Chuck Butler, Krissy Nordhoff, Jordan Sapp, Alexis Slifer & Tauren Wells (Tauren Wells Featuring Jenn Johnson)
“There Was Jesus,” Casey Beathard, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams (Zach Williams & Dolly Parton)
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

American Composers at Play, William Bolcom, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, John Musto, Stephen Powell
Clairières, Lili & Nadia Boulanger, Nicholas Phan
Farinelli, Cecilia Bartoli
A Lad’s Love, Biran Giebler
Smyth: The Prison, Sarah Brailey & Dashon Burton
 




I let him mmm / now he diabetic

I don’t wanna spit, I wanna woo!

I wanna ahh / I wanna [pause]

I want you to touch that, touch that

That swing in the back of my [pause]



 
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Beyoncé Is Now the Most-Awarded Woman in Grammys History
By Justin Curto

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Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Beyoncé!? The most-nominated artist at this year’s Grammy Awards just made history, becoming the woman with the most awards in the show’s history. Earlier tonight, Beyoncé tied Alison Krauss’s previous record when she won her 27th Grammy for Best Rap Song alongside Megan Thee Stallion for “Savage,” then proceeded to break it with her 28th Grammy win, in Best R&B Performance for “Black Parade.” “This is so overwhelming,” Beyoncé said in an emotional acceptance speech after a standing ovation. “I’ve been working my whole life, since 9 years old. I can’t believe this happened. This is such a magical night, thank you so much.” She is now tied with Quincy Jones as the living person with the most Grammys. (Only the late conductor George Solti has more, at 31.)

In total, Beyoncé won four awards tonight, also claiming trophies for Best Music Video for “Brown Skin Girl” and Best Rap Performance for “Savage,” also with Megan Thee Stallion. “As an artist, I believe it’s my job and all of our jobs to reflect the times,” Beyoncé said of winning song “Black Parade.” “And it’s been such a difficult time, so I wanted to uplift and encourage and celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world.” And to top it all off, she shouted out her Best Music Video co-winner (and daughter) Blue Ivy herself. “Blue, congratulations! She won a Grammy tonight,” added Beyoncé, like any proud parent would. “I’m so proud of you, and I’m so honored to be your mommy.” We’re proud of you, Beyoncé.
 
The Grammys Would Be Wise to Get Out of Its Own Way More Often
By Craig Jenkins

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This was the most fun and the least baffling Grammy ceremony in many years. Photo: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Sunday was Music’s Biggest Night™, the occasion where we gather to watch the Grammys and find out how much the Recording Academy has or hasn’t adjusted to meet the times. In a good year, expecting the show to make great plays is a game of acceptable losses where, inevitably, people go home upset and fans flood the internet with outrage. But 2020 was a maze of horrors from start to finish; it was during last year’s Grammy red carpet that news broke that Kobe Bryant passed away. Over the ensuing year, a global pandemic put concerts on hold, pushed beloved nightlife venues to the brink of extinction, pinched earnings in every corner of the industry, and claimed the lives of beloved artists from folk lifer John Prine to power-pop veteran Adam Schlesinger to country-music trailblazer Charley Pride. What kind of night is appropriate in the shadow of that? How do you summarize what we lost and what we won in spite of it? This year, the Grammys worked harder to deliver a better show than in several years past, to the benefit of the viewers and the nominated artists, but fell back on a few of the classic Grammy inconsistencies.
The aim appeared to be to prove that the Recording Academy has really changed after recent tumult. In 2018, when asked to comment on that year’s overwhelmingly male cast of winners in general categories, longtime Academy president Neil Portnow said that women needed to “step up” in order to be recognized, sparking backlash that ironically concluded with Portnow announcing he would be stepping down in 2019. Deborah Dugan, Portnow’s replacement and the Academy’s first woman president, was nudged out days before the 2020 ceremony, we were told, due to complaints of bullying from an assistant. (On the way out, Dugan claimed to have witnessed widespread ethical and financial mismanagement during her months as president, raising questions that haven’t all been answered.) This year’s show was producer, songwriter, and Grammy Foundation exec Harvey Mason Jr.’s chance to shine as interim Academy president, but controversy struck again when nominees were announced in November, and the Weeknd responded to being snubbed by vowing to boycott the show. Justin Bieber complained that Changes was nominated in the wrong categories. Nicki Minaj and Zayn Malik voiced long-standing displeasure with the show and the Academy. The objective of the 2021 Grammys was not just to “get it right,” to navigate the tricky business of the pandemic awards show with grace, or to reflect movingly on a rough year. It also had to justify its own enduring prestige and prove that it is aware of and committed to righting its own criticisms. Sunday’s show approached the task by getting out of its own way and having talent do most of the talking.
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It was a no-brainer letting easygoing performances from gifted artists eat up most of the event’s nearly four-hour run time, but the round-robin staging, which many Twitter observers noted to be reminiscent of the BBC’s Later … with Jools Holland, gave off a glimmer of the loose sense of togetherness you’d glean from watching artists vibe to each other’s music when the cameras cut to the crowd. (To that end, host Trevor Noah was less of a comedic voice there to supply lacerating wit and more of a bro checking in on various scenes of chill. Anytime he tried to do much more than that, it kinda fell flat.) Seeing Bad Bunny mouthing words to Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” and Harry Styles stanning Haim and Black Pumas was tonally much more inviting than the Zoom-meeting energy of last month’s Golden Globes, the seemingly digitized viewers at last summer’s MTV Video Music Awards, and the nostalgic Total Request Live mood the same season’s BET Awards offered. Rotating nominees into the stage where awards were handed out led to delightful interactions like Megan Thee Stallion and Lizzo having a laugh together at the top of the night and Taylor Swift excitedly cheering everyone (but also cringe like Billie Eilish exclaiming through her disbelief at winning Record of the Year twice in a row that she felt Megan deserved it more, again inviting complaints about stuff that wasn’t really her fault, but now drawing comparisons to the good-intentioned but performative wokeness of Macklemore’s text apology to Kendrick Lamar for sweeping the rap categories in 2014). The sound was mostly great during the performances, and overwrought, nonsensical artist pairings were out, presumably due to the difficulties of the COVID protocols — but this didn’t necessarily keep anything low-key, as the elderly women dancing in judges’ gowns in DaBaby’s performance (???) and the unexpectedly green dancers in Cardi B and Megan’s racy prime-time debut of “WAP” proved.
Performances were otherwise a blast, and quality music won awards. The late, great Chick Corea, Toots Hibbert, and John Prine won five awards between them. Honors went to Nas and Ledisi, both seasoned performers who’d been snubbed at least a dozen times apiece. The Strokes won Best Rock Album after two decades of being overlooked in the Grammy nominations. Beyoncé made history twice as wins for Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” remix and Black Is King’s “Black Parade” tied her with bluegrass legend Alison Krauss’s 27 career wins and later pushed her to 28, the most Grammy wins for any singer of any gender. Kaytranada was (somehow) the first Black artist to win Best Dance/Electronic Album in 16 years. Bad Bunny accepted the Best Latin Pop Album award in broadcast (though the moment originally happened during a commercial break). Taylor Swift became the first woman to win Album of the Year three times, as folklore (deservedly) snagged top honors, and Swift joined Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon on the short list of singers with three AOTY wins. (Kanye West winning for Best Christian Contemporary Music Album after tweeting a video of himself pissing on a Grammy last fall, a potential career-ender for your average CCM performer, was certainly … a choice.) As much as it’s possible to read intent into the actions of the Grammy voting pool — and honestly, who ever knows — Sunday’s ceremony felt like a sharp turn in the right direction. But those come with turbulence.
The Grammys played catch-up at the cost of major upsets. Strong competition in the pop categories set fandom against fandom as BTS and Doja Cat left empty-handed. Fiona Apple broke a long dry streak; Tame Impala, Big Thief, and Phoebe Bridgers were shut out. (Rock categories badly need restructuring. “Alternative,” such that it is a real genre, is a catchall term that’s as puzzling recognizing Fiona and Beck as sharing a genre this year as it was in 1991, situating The Replacements, Sinéad O’Connor, and Laurie Anderson in the same scene. It is absurd to break R&B into three strains but keep zero punk categories.) Nas won over the (much better) Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist album. Giving Ice-T his first Grammy in 30 years, for Body Count’s latest, meant no posthumous honors for Power Trip’s Riley Gale. Sturgill Simpson and the Irish post-punk quartet Fontaines D.C. were just as deserving as The Strokes. Thundercat won, but Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, and Chloe x Halle didn’t. It remains fishy how often Beyoncé gets overlooked in the general categories. Fetch the Bolt Cutters deserved a crack at AOTY. A few preshow performers and acceptance speeches, like Burna Boy’s, could have fit in the main show if it cut a few lengthy pop-artist promos. For smaller artists, being siloed in genre categories is marginalizing on several fronts: They lose out on face time, they’re often left out of general categories, and they’re pitted against better-known artists in their own genres for accolades that could open doors and raise rates. Nominations start to feel like name-checking cool bands for the cred, a method of gesturing at open-mindedness and earning goodwill without acting on it, a suggestion of daring change that dangles enticingly out of reach. One hopes that these are just the growing pains of a stiff music-industry institution getting loose under new management and that the plan is to keep pushing. This was the most fun and the least baffling Grammy ceremony in many years.
 
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