With the release of her culturally provocative song “Cowboy Carter,” rapper Kendrick Lamar posted a clean sweep on a night that served as a love letter to Los Angeles that year, earning her the Grammy for the year’s best album.
Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii and Sabrina Carpenter emerged as big winners at the performance-heavy gala, while heavyweights Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish went home empty-handed.
Beyonce’s win for “Cowboy Carter” now makes her the most nominated, most decorated artist at the awards show ever — as well as the first Black woman to claim the top prize in this century.
The 43-year-old’s ambitious, historically grounded album elevated and showcased the work of Black artists in country music, whose rich contributions the industry has repeatedly undermined. This made the triumph even more relevant.
“I just feel very full and very honored”, she said, her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy cheering from the crowd of A-listers at Crypto.com Arena.
Linda Martell, a pioneering Black country musician featured on the album, was the recipient of the award.
“I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors”, Beyonce said.
Beyonce won three Grammys overall thanks to her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, and she also won for her best country album.
“I really was not expecting this”, she said as she accepted that prize, her voice audibly shaking. Sometimes, “genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists.”
“I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about and to stay persistent”, she added.
READ ALSO: Jimmy Carter Wins Posthumous Grammy For Best Audiobook
 , Lamar, Chappell Roan own the stage ,
Lamar, the Grammy-winning rapper, got his act together with his smash-hit diss track “Not Like Us,” one of the Los Angeles-based native’s sonic works that skewers rap rival Drake.
He won in Record and Song of the Year among the five categories for which he received nominations. He was only able to lose to himself because he won two rap genre prizes.
“Nothing more powerful than rap music”, the 37-year-old Lamar said in accepting the top song trophy. “We are the culture”.
The West Coast rap anthem “Not Like Us” was adored for its pounding bass line, rhythmic strings, and exaggerated enunciation and quickly soared to the top of the charts.
Lamar dedicated his best record-breaking performance to his hometown, which is still reeling from the fires that have displaced thousands of people and destroyed entire neighborhoods.
Chappell Roan won the prize for Best New Artist, cappping a remarkable year for the Midwestern artist who transformed from a struggling singer to music’s It girl figuratively over night.
She recalled how the transition to her label during the pandemic and the struggle to find work wasn’t always easy in a powerful acceptance speech.
Roan resisted having labels provide artists with “livable wages and health care.”
“Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees”, she said. “Labels, we got you, but do you got us”?
‘ Anything is possible’ ,
Doechii won the award for best rap album in a new way, becoming only the third woman to have done so. The second-ever winner, Cardi B, presented her with the prize.
“Anything is possible”, Doechii said as she accepted the trophy through tears, speaking directly to Black girls and women like herself.
“Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough, or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud”, she said.
You fit the description of “the person you need” perfectly.
Sabrina Carpenter won for best pop vocal album, her second award of the night that followed a slapstick, Old Hollywood-inspired performance of her nominated hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”.
Shakira gyrating around the room before giving a jaw-dropping performance of her classics and new work.
And Charli XCX gave a smashing performance at the end of the night, earning her three awards, including best dance/electronic album and best dance/electronic album.
 , ‘Love you, LA’ ,
Sunday’s gala was an homage to the city of Los Angeles.
However, the evening was more of a warm-up, honoring first responders and urging donations. According to host Trevor Noah, at least $7 million was raised from viewers to help with wildfires.
As part of the tribute to the late music legend Quincy Jones, top LA County firefighters presented Beyonce with her big award, while students who lost their schools sang with Stevie Wonder on “We Are The World.”
Sheryl Crow and John Legend performed Randy Newman’s song “I Love LA,” and Eilish sang her hit “Birds of a Feather” in an LA Dodgers baseball cap.
“I love you LA”, she said to cheers.
Source: Channels TV
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