Bey’s day has lastly come.
After 4 earlier Album of the 12 months nominations, Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” — a groundbreaking, genre-bucking nation assortment — lassoed the highest Grammy that had lengthy eluded the pop celebrity.
“It’s been many, many years,” she stated in a victory speech that was a very long time coming.
Regardless of her staggering success on music’s greatest night time — she turned the most-awarded artist in Grammy historical past in 2023 — Beyoncé had by no means gained the award that issues most: Album of the 12 months. However after losses for “I Am … Sasha Fierce” in 2010, “Beyoncé” in 2015, “Lemonade” in 2017 and “Renaissance” in 2023, she broke the streak on Sunday night time on the Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles.
Her massive victory comes one 12 months after hubby Jay-Z known as the Grammys out about as he accepted the Dr. Dre International Influence Award final 12 months: “She has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”
Beyoncé led the contenders with 11 nominations on Sunday night time — essentially the most ever by a feminine artist in a single 12 months. And after setting one other document with 99 nominations coming into the 67th annual awards, she added to her historic Grammy haul with three wins for “Cowboy Carter,” bringing her whole to 35.
The opposite massive winner was Kendrick Lamar, who took residence 5 trophies — together with Report and Music of the 12 months” for “Not Like Us” — the week earlier than he headlines the Tremendous Bowl.
In the meantime, Charli xcx picked up three awards for her “Brat” album, whereas Sabrina Carpenter bagged two gramophones” for her “Short n’ Sweet” LP and Chappell Roan was topped Finest New Artist.
Taylor Swift, although, was shut out for “The Tortured Poets Department.”
After the devastation attributable to the LA wildfires final month, the Grammys — hosted for the fifth consecutive 12 months by Trevor Noah — went on by including fundraising to the festivities. And on an evening the place the therapeutic energy of music was the final word winner, listed below are a few of the finest — and worst — moments.
WORST: Dawes
The Grammys’ coronary heart was in the suitable place with having Dawes open the present with a canopy of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” In any case, each Goldsmith brothers — Taylor (who’s married to Mandy Moore) and Griffin — suffered devastating losses through the wildfires.
However even with the all-star backing of John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, Brad Paisley and St. Vincent, this was an underwhelming opener. And on condition that Dawes weren’t even nominated, it didn’t really feel like an honor they deserved.
BEST: Billie Eilish
Eilish was the image of breezy chill delivering her hit “Birds of a Feather.” However there was an emotional depth to associate with her low-key cool.
It was carried out in opposition to a backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains and Eaton Canyon in Altadena, close to the place Eilish and Finneas grew up in Los Angeles, and pictures of their childhood days enjoying within the foothills and trails of the canyon had been interspersed all through.
Rocking an LA Dodgers hat, she turned the love track right into a a love letter to LA. “We love you LA,” she stated on the finish. It was simply as touching in its personal means as her efficiency of “What Was I Made For?” final 12 months.
BEST: Chappell Roan
The Finest New Artist winner took us to “The Pink Pony Club” with a high-hoofing efficiency full with an enormous carousel pony (pink, naturally), rodeo clowns and a memorable singalong. It was a shock that Roan didn’t do “Good Luck, Babe!” — because it was nominated for each Report and Music of the 12 months — however then once more, the monitor a couple of strip membership in West Hollywood was her personal option to pay tribute to Los Angeles.
BEST: Doechii
First, the rapper was fittingly awarded the Finest Rap Album gramophone for “Alligator Bites Never Heal” by Cardi B — certainly one of solely two different girls to ever win this class. After which she delivered a speech for the ages. Then Doechii returned to personal the stage with a killer efficiency of “Catfish” and “Denial Is a River.” Regardless that she went on to lose for Finest New Artist, the rapper arguably gained the night time.
BEST: Tay presents Finest Nation Album to Bey
It was a second gifted to us from the diva heavens when Taylor Swift — flaunting a “T” chain round her higher thigh — introduced Finest Nation Album to Beyoncé for “Cowboy Carter.” After Swift received her begin in nation music, it was a full-circle second to present the award to the primary black lady ever to win. And Bey, regardless of being the winningest artist in Grammy historical past, seemed genuinely shocked to listen to her identify known as.
WORST: Khruangbin
The Texan trio was fortunate to get a spot as a part of the Finest New Artist performances. However they paled subsequent to all the nominees, together with Benson Boone, Raye, Teddy Swims and Shaboozey.
BEST: Girl Gaga and Bruno Mars
As a substitute of performing their Grammy-winning duet “Die with a Smile,” Gaga and Mars proved to be a powerhouse pairing once more singing the Seashore Boys traditional “California Dreaming.” Now this could’ve been the efficiency to open the present in tribute to LA? At this level, we’d like a duets album from them.
BEST/WORST: The Quincy Jones tribute
The tribute to the Grammy legend, who handed away final 12 months, was a combined bag. Why precisely was Lainey Wilson part of it? However Stevie Marvel, main a singalong of “We Are the World,” and Janelle Monáe, channeling Michael Jackson on “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” did Q justice.
WORST: The Weeknd
Whereas it was good to see The Weeknd come again to the Grammys after his boycott, his shock efficiency of latest track “Cry for Me” — from his just-released album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” — felt pointless on an evening the place there have been so many worthy nominated performances. It was simply kinda meh. And the best way he was shrouded all through the whole factor, can we even make certain that it was him?
