Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter won the coveted Album of the Year award at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night, marking a historic first for the most awarded artist in Grammys history. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home five awards, including Record and Song of the Year for his diss track Not Like Us.
Key Highlights
- Beyoncé’s Landmark Win: Despite holding the record for the most Grammy wins by any artist, Beyoncé had never won Album of the Year until this year. In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude, stating she felt “very full and very honored,” and dedicated the award to pioneering Black country artist Linda Martell, saying, “I wanna dedicate this to Miss Martell, and I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors.”
- Additional Wins for Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter also secured the award for Best Country Album, while her duet with Miley Cyrus, II Most Wanted, won Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
- Kendrick Lamar’s Dominance: The rapper won five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video for Not Like Us. Accepting his awards, Lamar dedicated them to Los Angeles, which has been reeling from recent wildfires, saying, “We’re going to dedicate this one to the city.”
Other Major Winners
- Best New Artist: Chappell Roan took home the award and used her speech to call on record labels to provide livable wages and healthcare for developing artists.
- Pop Categories: Sabrina Carpenter won Best Solo Pop Performance for Espresso and Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With a Smile won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
- Dance/Electronic Awards: Charli XCX won Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package for Brat, along with Best Dance Pop Recording for Von Dutch.
Political Statements at the Grammys
Several artists used the stage to make bold political statements:
- Alicia Keys, who received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, defended diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, stating, “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift. And the more voices, the more powerful the sound. When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix.”
- Lady Gaga voiced support for transgender rights, saying, “Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love.”
- Shakira, who won Best Latin Pop Album, dedicated her award to immigrants, stating, “To all of my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country—you are loved, you’re worth it, and I will always fight for you.”
Historic Milestone
Beyoncé now holds a record-breaking 35 Grammy wins, cementing her legacy as the most awarded artist in the Recording Academy’s history.
