LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� 叠别测辞苍肠茅 won album of the year for 鈥淐owboy Carter鈥� at delivering her 鈥� at last 鈥� the show鈥檚 elusive top award.
The superstar, who is both the artist in Grammys history, has been up for the category four times before and many feel she has been snubbed by its top honors.
In winning album of the year with 鈥淐owboy Carter,鈥� 叠别测辞苍肠茅 has become the first Black woman to win the top prize in the 21st century. The last was Lauryn Hill with 鈥淭he Miseducation of Lauryn Hill鈥� 26 years ago. Before her was Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston. That means 叠别测辞苍肠茅 is only the fourth Black woman to win album of the year at the Grammys.
Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department presented 叠别测辞苍肠茅 with the trophy, one of several times the show reflected the recent wildfires that burned thousands of homes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been many, many years,鈥� 叠别测辞苍肠茅 said in her speech. 鈥淚 want to dedicate this to Ms. Martell,鈥� she said, referencing Linda Martell, the performer who became the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry.
鈥淲e finally saw it happen, everyone,鈥� host Trevor Noah said, nodding to the long overdue achievement for one of music's transcendent artists.
Kendrick Lamar for his diss track 鈥淣ot Like Us,鈥� taking home two of the night's most prestigious awards.
鈥淲e're gonna dedicate this one to the city,鈥� Lamar said before shouting out Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
It is the second hip-hop single to ever win in the category. The first was Childish Gambino鈥檚 鈥淭his Is America."
The Weeknd mends fences, Chappell Roan challenges music industry
The Weeknd has mended his fractious relationship with the Grammy Awards with a surprise performance of his new single, 鈥淐ry For Me鈥� and 鈥淭imeless鈥� with Playboi Carti.
His decision is a direct reflection of the changes the Recording Academy has made to CEO Harvey Mason jr. said in his introduction. The Weeknd has been openly critical of the Grammys organization, dating back to 鈥淭he Grammys remain corrupt.鈥�
It was just one of many pleasant surprises Sunday night. Chappell Roan was named best new artist.
She read a speech from a notebook, speaking directly to major labels and the music industry, instructing them to 鈥渙ffer a living wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists.鈥� She described getting signed as a minor, getting dropped and entering the workforce during COVID-19 with no work experience and no health care. She asked them to treat artists like "valuable employees.鈥�
鈥淟abels, we got you," she concluded her speech. "But do you got us?"
叠别测辞苍肠茅 and Chappell Roan give Grammys a country theme
In one of the biggest moments of the evening so far, Taylor Swift presented the award for best country album to . She became the first Black woman to ever win in the category.
鈥淕enre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists," she said in her speech. "I'm still in shock. Thank you so much for this honor."
entered the night as the leading nominee.
A little bit of the wild west, a little bit of West Hollywood. Roan brought a rocking version of her 鈥淧ink Pony Club鈥� to the Grammy stage. Joined by a posse of dancing clown cowboys, she sang from atop a giant pink horse.
Los Angeles on the mind
In incorporating the wildfires throughout the show, the Grammys put the spotlight on the city鈥檚 resiliency.
Noah's opening speech was dedicated to those affected by the fires, promising a show that not only celebrates them, but one that also celebrates "the city that brought us so much of that music.鈥� The Grammys have also allotted ad time to be used by local businesses affected by the fires.
As the show neared its end, Noah announced that viewers had contributed $7 million to relief efforts Sunday night so far.
On a stage set up to look like the mountains of Los Angeles, the LA born-and-raised Billie Eilish and her brother/collaborator Finneas performed her hit 鈥淏irds of a Feather.鈥� It was one of a number of ways the show seeks to salute the city. 鈥淲e love you LA,鈥� she told the crowd at the end of the set.
The show kicked off with a powerful opening performance of Randy Newman's 鈥淚 Love L.A.鈥� by Dawes 鈥� whose 鈥� backed by John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent.
Star studded performances and victories
The went to Doechii for best rap album for
The tears were immediate. 鈥淭his category was introduced in 1989. Two women have won, Lauryn Hill 鈥斺�� she said, correcting herself. 鈥淭hree women have won. Lauryn Hill, Cardi B and Doechii.鈥�
Will Smith introduced a tribute to the 鈥淚n his 91 years, Q touched countless lives, but I have to say he changed mine forever,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou probably wouldn鈥檛 even know who Will Smith was without Quincy Jones.鈥�
Jones at age 91. Kicked off by Cynthia Erivo, accompanied by Herbie Hancock on piano, sang Frank Sinatra鈥檚 鈥淔ly Me to the Moon.鈥� Then came Lainey Wilson and Jacob Collier with 鈥淟et the Good Times Roll,鈥� followed by Stevie Wonder and Hancock busting out 鈥淏luesette鈥� and 鈥淲e Are The World.鈥� For the latter, they were joined by student singers from two schools that were lost in the LA-area fires.
Then, Janelle Monae with an inspired rendition of 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop 'Til You Get Enough," channeling Michael Jackson in a sparkly tuxedo and an effortless moonwalk.
The Beatles鈥� 鈥淣ow and Then,鈥� took home best rock performance. Sean Lennon accepted the award on behalf of his father John Lennon. 鈥淎s far as I鈥檓 concerned, it鈥檚 the best band of all time,鈥� he said of the Beatles.
First time winners were abundant. They included Carpenter, Roan, Doechii, Charli xcx, M煤sica Mexicana star Carin Le贸n, French metal band Gojira and country folk artist Sierra Ferrell.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers鈥� Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith led the crowd in a short singalong of their hit 鈥淯nder the Bridge,鈥� reminding the crowd to 鈥渟upport their friends and neighbors as they rebuild their lives,鈥� said Kiedis. Then they presented the best pop vocal album award to
鈥淚 really wasn鈥檛 expecting this,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is, woo, my first Grammy so I鈥檓 going to cry.鈥� (She鈥檚 now won two, but the earlier award was handed out a pre-telecast ceremony that many artists don鈥檛 attend.) She also performed.
Winners use speeches to lift marginalized communities in tense political climate
Shakira won Latin pop album for and gave a powerful, short speech. 鈥淚 want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country,鈥� she said.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars teamed up for a cover of 鈥淐alifornia Dreamin鈥�.鈥� Later, SZA presented them with the award for best pop duo/group performance for 鈥淒ie With A Smile.鈥�
鈥淭rans people are not invisible. ... The queer community deserves to be lifted up,鈥� Gaga said in her speech.
Alicia Keys was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award 鈥淒EI is not a threat, it鈥檚 a gift,鈥� she said in her speech, referencing diversity, equity and inclusion programs that have been and several major corporations.
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Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
