By: Nadia Liu

Public Relations Manager

The 65th Grammy Awards, hosted for the third time by Trevor Noah, celebrated the world’s top musical talent. The highlight of the night was Beyoncé’s win for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for her album Renaissance, which made history by breaking the record for most wins by a single performer in the event’s history with 32 total awards. However, Beyoncé lost in the prestigious Album of the Year category for the fourth time. Harry Styles’ album Harry’s House beat Renaissance, but his win was met with boos and yelling from the crowd. The album also won the award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Bad Bunny, who was Spotify’s most streamed artist in 2022, was awarded Best Música Urbana for his album Un Verano Sin Ti. 

Kim Petras’ win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside Sam Smith for their duet Unholy also made history. Petras became the first transgender woman to win in the category, who then honored Madonna and the late transgender music producer Sophie, a close friend of the singer who died in 2021. Petras further honored her mother in the speech, saying, “I grew up next to a highway in nowhere, Germany, and my mother believed me, that I was a girl, and I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.” 

Another highlight of the night was Viola Davis’ award for her performance of the audiobook for her memoir Finding Me, elevating Davis to the coveted EGOT status (winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony). Only 18 people have earned this status and Davis is the third Black woman in history to achieve the honor. Shervin Hajipour’s Baraye, which was recognized as the anthem of the protests in Iran, won in a special merit category honoring the song for social change.

Lizzo took home the award for Record of the Year for her viral hit About Damn Time. In her acceptance speech, she honored Beyoncé and deemed her “the artist of our lives.” The award for Song of the Year going to Bonnie Raitt’s Just Like surprised many as one of the biggest upsets in recent Grammy history. Raitt won the award over fellow nominees Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles with a shocked expression while accepting the honor. Another surprising win for Best New Artist was jazz singer Samara Joy, who beat prominent artists such as Wet Leg and Måneskin.

Notable performances included Bad Bunny’s show-stopping opening medley and Quavo’s emotional tribute to his nephew Takeoff, who died in November, 2022. The ceremony also celebrated 50 years of hip-hop, with Questlove producing a hip-hop chronology with dozens of performers spitting a memorable line or verse; this included legends like Queen Latifah and Busta Rhymes. However, Harry Styles’ performance of Song of the Year nominated As It Was fell flat, with Styles himself looking weary and nervous. Later, one of the dancers revealed that the turntable Styles and the dancers were performing on was turning the wrong way, explaining the singer’s shakiness. 

Although many viewers were angry and confused about Beyoncé’s loss in the Album of the Year category and Raitt’s win for Song of the Year, Petras’ historic award, Davis’ EGOT status, and Beyoncé’s record-breaking win redeemed this year’s Grammy Awards.

(Sources: Pitchfork, NPR, NY Times, BBC, NBC)