Grammys: Harry Styles Wins Album of the Year, Beyoncé Becomes Most Awarded Artist in Show’s History
Harry Styles’ Harry’s House found a home at the 2023 Grammys, winning album of the year on the same night Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in Grammy history. “Shit,” Styles said Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as he won the top prize. “I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in […]
Harry Styles’ Harry’s House found a home at the 2023 Grammys, winning album of the year on the same night Beyoncé became the most decorated artist in Grammy history.
“Shit,” Styles said Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles as he won the top prize. “I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me … I listen to everyone in this category when I’m alone.”
Styles — who also won best pop vocal album — went on to say “there is no such thing as best in music” and that artists don’t make music thinking about “what is going to get us one of these [awards].”
“This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful. This doesn’t happen to people like me very often,” he continued.
Beyoncé lost the top three awards but she still had a historic night by winning 32 Grammys. She won four awards, breaking the record set by conductor Georg Solti, who won 31 awards and died in 1997.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional and I’m trying to just receive this night,” she said as the audience cheered her on. “Thank you God. I’d like to thank my uncle Johnny, who is not here but he’s here in spirit. I’d like to thank my parents — my father, my mother — for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband and my beautiful three children.”
“I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre,” Beyoncé continued.
The singer’s wins included best dance/electronic album for Renaissance, best R&B song for “Cuff It,” best dance/electronic recording for “Break My Soul” and best traditional R&B performance for her groove “Plastic Off the Sofa.”
Beyoncé and Styles lost song and record of the year — and the wins by Bonnie Raitt (song) and Lizzo (record) surprised the audience, and the recipients themselves. There was similar energy when jazz singer Samara Joy was named best new artist (she also won best jazz vocal album).
Lizzo’s jaw-dropped when it was announced that her massive hit, “About Damn Time,” won record of the year.
“Umm. Huh? Lemme tell you something, me and Adele having a good time rooting for our friends. This is so unexpected,” Lizzo said.
She went on to dedicate the award to Prince — who she performed with on the Purple One’s 2014 album Plectrumelectrum — and also thanked Beyoncé for being “the artist of our lives.”
“Beyoncé, whoa! In the fifth grade I skipped school to see you perform,” Lizzo admitted. “You changed my life.”
Bonnie Raitt won song of the year — shocking the audience and Raitt herself. She stood in her seat with her mouth wide open.
“I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say. This is just an unreal moment. Thank you for honoring me,” said Raitt, who won for “Just Like That” and said the song was inspired by John Prine and is about “the love and grace and generosity of someone that donates their beloved’s organs to help another person else live.”
Kendrick Lamar matched Raitt’s three honors, taking home best rap album for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers as well as best rap song and best rap performance for “The Heart Part 5.”
“First and foremost I want to thank my family for giving me the courage and vulnerability to share my truth with this album,” said Lamar. “I want to thank my fans for trusting me …. [and] thank the culture for allowing me to evolve.”
Brandi Carlile also won three honors while Adele picked up best pop solo performance for “Easy on Me.”
“I want to dedicate this to my son Angelo,” she said, holding back tears.
Bad Bunny’s top-selling and top-streaming album, Un Verano Sin Ti, won best música urbana album. It made history and was the first Latin album to compete for album of the year.
“I made this album with love and passion … [and] when you do things with love and passion, life is easier,” he said.
The Puerto Rican rapper kicked off the Grammys with a festive performance full of Latin heat. It had most of the attendees out of their seats dancing, including Taylor Swift. “That album is so fire it makes Trump want to learn Spanish,” host Trevor Noah said.
The night’s hottest performance, though, was the show’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. It featured rap icons like Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Rakim, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J and RUN-DMC, while Busta Rhymes stole the show with his performance of “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and his speedy verse on “Look At Me Now.” Missy Elliott followed, earning loud roars from the crowd as she performed “Lose Control.”
The show’s In Memoriam segment was touching and emotional: Kacey Musgraves honored Loretta Lynn by singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter”; Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood and Raitt remembered Christine McVie with “Songbird”; and Migos rapper Takeoff was honored by Quavo and worship music group Maverick City Music, who won all four awards they were nominated for.
Other big winners included Kim Petras and Sam Smith, who won best pop duo/group performance for “Unholy,” which they performed at the Grammys. Madonna introduced the performance.
“Sam wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras said onstage, and earned a standing ovation from the crowd. “I just want to thank all of the incredible transgender legends who kicked the doors open.”
Willie Nelson won two honors but didn’t attend the show. Encanto won three awards, including best song written for visual media for the No. 1 hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” The honor went to songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Dave Chappelle won best comedy album for The Closer. Other winners include Ozzy Osbourne, Rosalia, Wet Leg, Muni Long, Steve Lacy, Robert Glasper, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce and Swift, who won best music video for All Too Well: The Short Film. Drake — who didn’t submit his latest album for awards — won best melodic rap performance for his guest appearance on Future’s “Wait for U.” He shares the win with Future and Tems. And Viola Davis became an EGOT, capturing her first Grammy on Sunday.
This story was originally published on Feb. 5 at 1:03 p.m.
