The Grammy Awards might not have spotlighted a Will Smith slapping cameo, but the Recording Academy’s 64th ceremony was still chalked full of whoa’s and no’s for music’s biggest night.
Originally set to air on January 30, the awards were postponed to April amid new COVID-19 variants that called for further restrictions. For the first time, it was broadcasted live from Las Vegas and comedian Trevor Noah hosted the show for a second year.
Jazz/R&B singer-songwriter Jon Batiste was this year’s most-nominated artist. His album “We Are” took home the night’s biggest prize, being named Album of the Year.
Coverage of the red carpet leading up to the show highlighted fashion that was as timeless as it was eccentrically avant-garde for some of the night’s biggest names. Lady Gaga, arriving in a classic monochrome gown, could not have been further from her VMA meat dress days—and it was exactly what fans needed to see.
Other memorable looks included Lil Nas X in a pearl-studded Balmain suit and Dua Lipa in a leather-roped number, paying homage to classic Donatella Versace influences. The carpet was full of Grammy glamor, covered on E! by actress and trans activist Laverne Cox.
Silk Sonic opened the show with “777,” a gambling-inspired strutter that set the tone for the sparkling night in Las Vegas. Olivia Rodrigo followed with her highly anticipated performance of “Driver’s License,” singing under a dimly lit pink glow in a classic Mercedes-Benz.
K-pop supergroup BTS took the stage with a performance of their song “Butter,” lighting up the arena with their electric choreography. Carrie Underwood delivered a levitating debut of her song “Ghost Story,” and Billie Eilish flooded the stage with water during “Happier Than Ever.”
The big four awards, including Baptiste’s sweep for the year’s best album, compiled a stiff nomination list. Song of the Year, which honors the writers on a track, went to Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak of Silk Sonic, who took home the accompanying Record of the Year for their smash hit “Leave the Door Open.” These awards led Silk Sonic to take home three of the four major honors during the show.
Olivia Rodrigo, another hot topic who was anticipated to take home a pile of awards, was honored as the year’s Best New Artist and won the Best Pop Vocal Album award for her debut project “Sour.”
Later in the show, a return to reality on the Russian-Ukrainian war was brought to the surface. “The war. What’s more opposite than music?” said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in a touching virtual appearance. Broadcasted from overseas, the segment served as a moment of solidarity for the Ukrainian citizens impacted by the war.
Finally, after a full three and a half hours of runtime, the show concluded with a satisfied group of nominees and music fans alike. Reaching nearly every genre, this year’s Grammy Awards made for a much-needed return to live music and star-studded events.
A full list of categories, nominations, and winners can be found here.
