LOS ANGELES –
Beyoncé sat alone on the Grammy throne as the most decorated artist in the ceremony’s history, but at the end of Sunday’s performance it was Harry Styles who walked away with Album of the Year.
The Grammys shared the top awards among other artists, prompting Beyoncé to leave the stage at the end of the night. But the superstar was there all night long, even when she wasn’t in her room, especially as she scooped up her 32nd award and overtook late composer Georg Solti for all-time wins.
“I’m trying not to get too emotional,” the superstar said after her historic win as her husband Jay-Z stood up to applaud her. The singer thanked her late uncle, parents, Jay-Z and children for supporting her. “I’m just trying to get tonight. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thanks God.”
The late-night Grammys stage has eluded Beyoncé since 2010, when she won song of the year for “Single Ladies”. She added four trophies to her collection for the album “Renaissance”.
Styles was emotional when accepting Album of the Year, saying he was inspired by everyone in the category. “A lot of different times in my life, I’ve listened to people in these categories. The important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as the best.”
The British singer and actor took home three awards on Sunday. “It feels like confirmation that you’re on the right track,” the singer said backstage. “When we go into the studio and start recording, we just make the music we want. It’s nice to feel like, ‘Oh, that’s the right thing to do.’”
Beyoncé missed being in the room when she surpassed Solti’s record early in the TV show. Host Trevor Noah said she was on her way to the ceremony but blamed Los Angeles traffic for not being in person to pick up.
When Beyoncé – the night’s top contender – finally arrived, Noah presented her with the award for best R&B song at her desk.
Beyoncé won best R&B song for “Cuff It,” dance-electric recording for “Break My Soul,” traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa” and dance-electric album for “Renaissance, ” was nominated for album of the year.
Lizzo, who won the record of the year for “About Dam Time,” delivered a fiery speech that left many in the audience, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Adele, to their feet.
“Me and Adele had a great time, supporting our friends. This is a great night. This was 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 changer to make the world a better place. Now, I look around and see these songs about falling in love. your body and feel comfortable with your skin and feel good.”
Jazz singer Samara Joy won the best new artist award, overcoming challenges with acts like Wet Led, Anitta and Maneskin. The New Yorker was almost in tears when she accepted the award and noted that her younger brother was her date. “I am very, very grateful. Thanks.” She’s released two albums as lead artist and also won a Grammy for best jazz vocals album at the start of the night.
Veteran singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt beat out big-name competitors like Adele, Swift and Beyoncé to win Song of the Year. “I was very surprised. I don’t know what to say,” Raitt said in apparent shock, adding that the song “Just Like That” is about organ donation. It was limited to one night when Raitt won two other Grammys – for best Americana performance and best American original song.
Someone from hip-hop royalty took to the stage for an epic, sparking a 15-minute tribute to the genre’s 50th anniversary. The performance included Grandmaster Flash performing part of his hit hit “The Message,” Run DMC, Chuck D, and Flavor Flav with Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, and Nelly all taking the stage.
It ended with everyone on stage and LL Cool J shouting “multi-generational! Fifty years!”
The performance was a crowd-pleasing moment for a ceremony that has long had a history of discrediting rap.
Bad Bunny opened the show with an energetic, festive performance that drew a wide audience, including Swift, who got up and danced near her table at the Crypto Arena. com in Los Angeles.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won best pop duo performance for their song “Unholy”. Petras said Smith wanted Petras to accept the award because “I am the first transgender woman to win this award.”
“I want to thank all the amazing transgender legends before me who opened these doors for me to be here tonight,” said Petras, who mentioned the friend and music. Grammy-nominated singer Sophie, who passed away from an accidental fall in Athens, Greece in 2021. “You told me this was going to happen. I always believe in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I admire you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”
Petras thanked Madonna for being a staunch supporter of LGBTQ rights.
“I don’t think I would be here without Madonna,” Petras said. “Mom, I grew up by the highway in Germany. And my mother believes that I am a girl. I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
In tribute, the Grammy Awards recognized the lives of Loretta Lynn, Migos and Christine McVie rappers Takeoff and a number of all-star performers paid their respects. Touching performances include Kacey Musgraves singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in memory of Lynn; Quavo and Maverick City Music took to the stage to honor their nephew Takeoff with the song “Without You;” and Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood and Bonnie Raitt performed “Songbird” in memory of McVie.
Kendrick Lamar won his sixth career trophy for best rap performance for “The Heart Part 5” and also won best rap album for his studio production, “Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers.”
“You know, as entertainers, we say things to provoke thoughts, feelings and emotions,” he said. “So setting this record was one of the hardest for me. … I want to thank the culture that has allowed me to grow to do this. I finally found my imperfections with this album.”
Viola Davis emerged from Sunday’s EGOT show – the term for people who’ve won Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys – after she won best audiobook, narration and storytelling. The actor gave an emotional speech and emphatically said “I’m just MYSELF” after she took the stage to accept her award.
“Oh, my God,” she said. “I wrote this book to honor 6-year-old Viola, to honor her, her life, her joys, her trauma, everything,” Davis said. a journey.”
The show returned to Los Angeles after the pandemic was first delayed, then forced the Grammys to move to Las Vegas last year. Noah also hosted the ceremony, which saw Jon Batiste take home the album of the year.
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AP Entertainment writer Mark Kennedy contributed to this report.
