Grammys 2023 recap: Beyoncé marks record breaking win while Harry Styles takes home album of the year
Harry Styles has won the biggest award at this year’s Grammys, the prize for best album — on a night that also saw Beyoncé make history to become the ceremony’s most decorated artist of all time.
Former One Direction star Styles collected the top prize for his third album Harry’s House, seeing off serious competition from artists including Adele, Lizzo and Kendrick Lamar, as well as record-breaker Beyoncé.
Beyoncé arrived late to the show (even Queen Bey gets stuck in traffic, it seems), but made it in time to pick up her gong for best dance/electronic album for Renaissance – her 32nd Grammys trophy, which saw her break the record previously held by the late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti, who won 31 throughout his career. “I’m trying not to be too emotional,” the 41-year-old said as she collected her award on stage. “I’m trying just to receive this night.”
Adele was also among the winners who took to the stage. The star was visibly emotional as she collected the best pop solo performance prize for her hit song ‘Easy On Me,’ and dedicated it to her son, Angelo. The 34-year-old accepted the award from her “new best friend” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who she got to meet for the first time at the start of the night.
Elsewhere, there was something of a surprise win for 73-year-old blues singer Bonnie Raitt, who beat the likes of Adele, Beyonce, Styles, Lizzo and Taylor Swift to win the award for best song for ‘Just Like That.’
Record of the year, which looks at the recording of a track and honours the contributing artists, producers and engineers, went to Lizzo, for ‘About Damn Time,’ while jazz singer Samara Joy saw off competition from British stars Wet Leg, as well as 2021 Eurovision winners Maneskin, to be named best newcomer.
Lamar won the Grammy for best rap album, for Mr Morale & The Big Steppers, while best country album went to Willie Nelson for A Beautiful Time. Meanwhile, Kim Petras made history by becoming the first transgender woman to win an award, after taking home the best pop duo/group performance for her Sam Smith collaboration, ‘UNHOLY.’
The in memoriam section gave an emotional send-off to stars like Olivia Newton-John, Irene Cara, David Crosby and Jeff Beck. Kacey Musgraves played a heartfelt version of ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ in tribute to the “Queen of Country” Loretta Lynn; while Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie was honoured with a performance of her signature hit, ‘Songbird,’ by Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood.
And Migos rapper Quavo played ‘Without You’ – a song he wrote after the tragic death of his nephew and bandmate Takeoff last November. In a more celebratory moment, the stage was taken over by more than two dozen rap icons, celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.
