The 66th Annual Grammy Awards were held with a spirit of innovation and diversification in music, bringing together some of the industry’s biggest stars like Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, and Olivia Rodrigo. This year’s nominations were led by SZA, who received a remarkable nine nominations, followed closely by Victoria Monét, Phoebe Bridgers, and Serban Ghenea, each earning seven nominations. Notably, Monét’s two-year-old daughter, Hazel, became the youngest artist ever nominated in Grammy history for their collaboration on the nominated R&B performance “Hollywood.”
Big Wins for Victoria Monét and SZA
In a historic moment, Victoria Monét took home the award for “Best New Artist.” In her acceptance speech, she emphasized her perseverance in Hollywood, stating, “I want everyone to see me as a testament. This award is the culmination of a 15-year pursuit.” At 35 years old, Monét has carved a niche as an independent artist, collaborating extensively with Ariana Grande and releasing attention-grabbing tracks like “Smoke,” “On My Mama,” and “Party Girls.”
SZA also achieved great success, winning the award for “Best R&B Song” with her hit “Snooze,” which dominated the Billboard charts for an impressive 12 weeks. “People can’t understand how far I’ve come,” she shared during her acceptance. This win marked SZA’s third Grammy, following previous victories for “Best Contemporary R&B Album” for SOS and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for “Ghost in the Machine,” featuring Phoebe Bridgers.
Taylor Swift’s Historic Night
Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift claimed the Grammy for “Best Pop Album” and the coveted “Album of the Year” for her album Midnights. While accepting the award for Best Pop Album, she celebrated her 13th Grammy, sharing, “I know how the Academy reflects the passion of the fans.” Swift also teased a new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” set for release on April 19. The album’s cover art quickly garnered nearly three million likes on Instagram within minutes.
With four Grammy wins, Swift made history, matching legends like Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon in the Album of the Year category, previously winning with Fearless, 1989, and Folklore. Midnights also broke records as the most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify.
Miley Cyrus Shines Bright
This year’s ceremony also highlighted the significant growth of Miley Cyrus, who bagged two awards for “Best Pop Solo Performance” and “Record of the Year” for her hit “Flowers.” Critics noted that “Flowers” marked a pivotal moment in Cyrus’s career, showcasing her transformation into a more mature, independent artist. In her speech, she described the song as a long-desired gift, celebrating her first Grammy after nearly two decades in the industry.
Cyrus’s fashion choices, particularly her Maison Margiela gown made from bold gold safety pins, stirred conversations and showcased her daring style.
Billie Eilish’s Emotional Victory
Billie Eilish also received recognition, winning “Song of the Year” for “What Was I Made For?” The track, which is featured in the Barbie movie soundtrack, was heavily favored to win and is anticipated to compete for Best Original Song at the upcoming Oscars on March 10.
Noteworthy Controversies
However, the event wasn’t without its mishaps. The Recording Academy accidentally leaked the winners on social media before the broadcast, announcing Nicki Minaj’s song “Barbie World” as the winner for “Best Rap Song”. This announcement was quickly retracted, with Killer Mike ultimately winning the award for “Scientists & Engineers.” The mix-up sparked a social media frenzy, leading to the trending hashtag #Scammys, with fans expressing their frustration over Minaj’s continued Grammy snubs.
Celebrating Women in Music
Overall, the 2024 Grammy Awards celebrated a remarkable resurgence of female artists after years of underrepresentation. In prestigious categories such as Album of the Year and Song of the Year, seven out of eight nominees were women. According to Professor Kristin Lieb, who studies entertainment marketing and gender, “Female pop stars not only dominated the red carpet but also the entire conversation at the Grammys, which is a significant change.”
This year’s ceremony, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, marked the first time the Grammys featured new categories such as “Best Dance/Pop Performance,” “Best African Music Performance,” and “Best Alternative Jazz Album.”
