US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish wins the Grammys for visual media trophy for the 'Barbie' ballad 'What Was I Made For'. Photo: AFP
Phoebe Bridgers took an early lead at the 66th Grammy Awards, quickly winning four trophies ahead of the main telecast, with her and her boygenius bandmates bringing an infectious energy to the Premiere Ceremony.
Host/songwriter Justin Tranter gave her the first award Sunday (Feb 4), best pop duo/group performance, which went to SZA and Phoebe Bridgers for Ghost in the Machine.
She wasn't on stage for that but skipped her way up with her band boygenius – made up of her, Lucy Dacus and Julian Baker – clad in matching white suits, when they won their first Grammy as a group for best rock performance for Not Strong Enough.
(From left) Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, of boygenius, accept the award for best rock performance 'Not Strong Enough' during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: AP
"Oh my God I want to throw up,” said Dacus in their acceptance speech. "This isn't real. Thank you.” "Music saved my life,” Baker jumped in. "Anyone can be in a band.” Minutes later, they walked back out on stage for best rock song and best alternative music album.
Newcomer Coco Jones won best R&B performance for ICU in a stacked competition where she was up against SZA’s Kill Bill and Victoria Monet’s How Does It Make You Feel. SZA’s second win of the night came in the form of the best progressive R&B album for S.O.S.
Jack Antonoff took home producer of the year, non-classical for a third year in a row, tying Babyface as the only other producer to do so consecutively. "You need the door kicked open for you,” he said in his acceptance speech. "Taylor Swift kicked that (expletive) door open for me," referencing their work together.
The first of three new categories in 2024, best pop dance recording, was given out shortly afterward and went to Kylie Minogue for Padam Padam – her first win in 18 years.
Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue wins for 'Padam Padam' – her first win in 18 years. Photo: AFP
About 80 Grammys were handed out pre-broadcast. Regional Mexican star Peso Pluma won his first Grammy for his first and only nomination, for best musica Mexicana album for his Genesis.
Early on in the afternoon, Barbie took home two Grammys in quick succession: for compilation soundtrack for visual media and best song written for visual media.
Billie Eilish and Finneas arrived early in the afternoon to collect song written for visual media trophy for their Barbie ballad What Was I Made For.
"This is shocking to me,” Eilish said. "I was expecting to turn right back around and leave.”
"I want to thank our parents, our dad, who worked as a construction worker at Mattel Corporation for much of our childhood to keep food the table,” said Finneas.
Dozens of stars began arriving early, with Dua Lipa and Monet among the stunning looks on the arrivals carpet.
Dua Lipa poses on the red carpet as she attends the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Reuters
Best African music performance, a new category which aims to highlight regional musical traditions and recognising "recordings that utilise unique local expressions from across the African continent,” went to South African singer Tyla for her ubiquitous hit, Water.
It marks her first Grammy nomination and win. "I never thought I’d say I won a Grammy at 21 years old,” she said in her acceptance speech. "Last year God decided to change my whole life.”
Jimmy Jam presented the bulk of the R&B and rap categories, which included best traditional R&B performance. That one went to PJ Morton and Susan Carol for Good Morning, – a sweet moment, but it meant Hazel Monet, Victoria Monet’s two-year-old daughter, lost her opportunity to become the youngest Grammy award winner of all time.
Best rap performance went to Killer Mike Featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane for Scientists & Engineers.
It meant Killer Mike won first Grammy in 21 years, since The Whole World won for best rap performance by a duo or group in 2003. It is also a first nomination and win for Eryn Allen Kane. And how could they not win: the standout song featured Future’s hoarse vocals, Kane’s superb crooning and fine verses delivered by Mike and Andre 3000.
Soon afterward, they won for best rap song. Killer Mike also took home best rap album for Michael, cheering, "It is a sweep! It is a sweep!”
Brandy Clark, who has been nominated for 17 Grammy awards in her career – including six this year – took home her first Grammy for best americana performance for her track Dear Insecurity.
"I thank my mum for always believing in me, whatever my crazy dreams had been” she said. "And mostly I want to thank Brandi Carlile for making this record with me.”
Brandy Clark accepts the award for Best Americana Performance for 'Dear Insecurity' Featuring Brandi Carlile during the Premiere ceremony of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Michelle Obama won a Grammy for best audio book, narration, and storytelling recording for The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times, beating Meryl Streep, Williams Shatner, Rick Rubin and Sen. Bernie Sanders. When the nominations for the category were first announced, some fans were shocked Prince Harry’s memoir Spare evaded recognition.
Women outpace men in the major categories, so expect to see a spotlight on its female nominees as the night continues.
Comedian Trevor Noah will host for a fourth year in a row, history could be made, and unlike those other award shows, the Grammys doubles as a concert featuring the biggest artists in the world.
SZA is the lead contender with nine nominations, followed closely by Monet and Bridgers with seven. Bridgers' band boygenius has six, as does Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Eilish, Clark, Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff.
There are a few history-making opportunities as well: A Black woman hasn't won album of the year since 1999, when The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was awarded the top prize. This year, SZA or Janelle Monae could change that.
If Swift takes home album of the year, she breaks the record of the artist with the most wins, ever, with four. Lana Del Rey and Miley Cyrus may win their first Grammys.
Karol G could become the first female artist to ever win in the best musica urbana album category if she wins for Manana Sera Bonito. Jack Antonoff could tie Babyface as the producer with the most consecutive wins in the producer of the year, non-classical category with a third win in 2024.
A lot of people! The list includes: SZA, a first-ever Grammys performance from Joni Mitchell, and five-time Grammy winner and 23-time nominee Billy Joel.
The lineup also includes Grammy winners and current nominees Eilish, Rodrigo, Lipa, Burna Boy, Luke Combs and Travis Scott. – AP
