The 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

Pop Culture | Nithya Kunta | February 6th, 2023.

Last night, the 65th Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles, California. Viewers watched artists from all categories present and receive awards, perform, and celebrate a night full of music.

The night held countless memorable achievements for multiple artists. Harry Styles won best pop vocal album and the highly anticipated album of the year for Harry’s House, marking only his 2nd and 3rd Grammys. Bonnie Raitt won song of the year for “Just Like That”. Additionally, Lizzo won record of the year for “About Damn Time”, Adele won best pop solo performance for “Easy on Me”, and Samara Joy won best new artist. 

Some awards made history. By winning best dance/electronic music album for Renaissance, Beyonce broke the record for most Grammy wins of all time, with a total of 32 awards. Kim Petras is the first trans woman to win a Grammy in the best pop duo/group performance category, and Sam Smith urged the crowd to give her a standing ovation. Viola Davis earned the rare EGOT status (for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), making her the 3rd Black woman in history to achieve the honor. 

It was also a notable night for rap and hip-hop. Kenrick Lamar won best rap performance for “The Heart Part 5” as well as best rap album for Mr. Morales & The Big Steppers. In honor of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, the Grammys celebrated with several artists, including LL Cool J, Run DMC, Ice-T, Nelly, Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Lil Baby, and many more. Toward the end of the night, DJ Khaled performed his song “God Did”, along with Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy.

Viewers also enjoyed performances by Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Lizzo, Stevie Wonder, and more. Among these performances, the Grammys paid tribute with a segment honoring Loretta Lynn, Christine McVie, Takeoff, and other artists that lost their lives this past year.