By Anaka Bretzke
Image from Getty Images
On Sunday, March 14, music enthusiasts and artists from across the globe came together to celebrate one of music’s biggest nights: the 63rd annual Grammy Awards.
While the ceremony usually takes place in a packed Staples Center stadium, the show was filmed without a live audience, with only the nominees in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In case you missed it, here’s everything you need to know about the most notable performances, the night’s biggest winners, and the best red carpet looks.
Beyoncé made history Sunday by winning her 28th career Grammy award, making her the most-decorated woman in Grammy history. She won four of the nine awards that she was nominated for, walking away with the most nominations and awards of the night. Notably, her daughter Blue Ivy, 9, won her first Grammy award and became the youngest Grammy winner ever for her role in the “Brown Skin Girl” music video.
A big winner of the night was Megan Thee Stallion, who took home three awards, including Best Rap Performance with Beyoncé for their song “Savage.” Stallion also won in one of the major four categories, winning Best New Artist.
Taylor Swift with her third Album of the Year award for “Folklore.” Swift is now the first woman to have won this honor three times, and the fourth in history to do so. The other three artists who have won this prize thrice include Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
Some other notable winners of the night were Billie Eilish for Record of the Year; H.E.R. for Song of the Year; Dua Lipa for Best Pop Vocal Album; Harry Styles for Best Pop Solo Performance; Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Even though there was no live audience, the performances were bigger and better than ever. Harry Styles opened the show with a performance of his smash-hit “Watermelon Sugar.” His stellar dance moves, keen vocals, and green feather boa made the production *chefs kiss*.
Dua Lipa performed “Levitating” with DaBaby along with her international sensation “Don’t Start Now.” With three costume changes, outstanding choreography, and her amazing live vocals, this performance was pop perfection.
One of the most anticipated acts of the night was Taylor Swift’s first Grammy performance since 2016. She performed “Cardigan” and “August” off of her Grammy nominated “Folklore,” as well as her song “Willow,” from her newer album, “Evermore.” The mystical, folklorian set design was stunning, and gave us all the cabincore aesthetic vibes.
A performance from the night that may go down in Grammy history was Megan Thee Stallion’s entertaining set. She performed two of her hit songs, “Body” and “Savage,” and collaborated on stage with Cardi B for an iconic performance of “WAP.”
Perhaps the best performance of the night was Lil Baby’s pre-recorded spectacle for his song “The Bigger Picture.” The narrative looked back on last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, and also looked ahead to the future. With a gut-wrenching speech from Tamika Mallory, the activist demanded current president Joe Biden to take action on the ongoing issue.
Wardrobe at the Red Carpet
While the show looked much different from past years, the stars still brought their A-game not only to the stage, but to the red carpet. Here are some of the best looks from the night:
Dua Lipa stunned in her shimmery Atelier Versace gown complete with a bold, bedazzled butterfly bodice. The detail, side cut-outs, and straps perfectly pulled together this Y2K inspired look. Not to mention, her bold eye makeup is amazing.
Looking stunning in her neon orange number, Megan Thee Stallion graced the runway in this Dolce & Gabbana gown. A new take on the classic strapless silhouette was complete with a thigh-high slit and a statement bow in the back. The jewelry and studded orange sandals perfected this bold look.
Taylor Swift arrived at the carpet looking flawless in a flower-detailed Oscar de la Renta minidress. The spring-ready ensemble was complemented with pink Christain Louboutin heels and a simple, dewy makeup look.
Perhaps one of the most talked about looks of the night was Harry Styles's Gucci black leather suit during his performance of “Watermelon Sugar”. Complete with a green feather boa, this look gave us all of the Mick Jagger vibes. Of all of Styles’ ensembles of the night, this one surely took everyone’s breath away.
The night’s Song of the Year winner, H.E.R., looked gorgeous in a velvet, embellished robe and pants ensemble by Dundas. This 70’s inspired look made boho look luxurious.
Despite the circumstances, this year's Grammys ceremony brought us some unforgettable performances, historic wins, and some stellar fashion moments. If you ask me, I kind of hope this is how they do the show from now on! Most years, the production seems messy and chaotic, but for once, it was clean, organized, and fun to watch.
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