The 66th annual Grammy Awards finally gave women the spotlight they deserve.
Six years after women of the music industry were told they need to “step up” by then-president of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow if they wanted to be recognized, they proved their unparalleled talent and took centre stage at this year’s Grammys.
For the first time ever, all four of the Academy’s big awards were won by women—Miley Cyrus for Record of the Year, Billie Eilish for Song of the Year, Victoria Monét for Best New Artist, and Taylor Swift, who took home the trophy for Album of the Year for a record-setting fourth time.
Cyrus, with her dynamic and versatile artistry, emerged victorious in the highly competitive Record of the Year category for her song “Flowers,” which she later performed on stage.
Eilish, a global phenomenon, added another accolade to her illustrious career by securing the Song of the Year award for writing “What Was I Made For?” from the hit movie Barbie, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who Eilish graciously thanked in her speech.
In the category of Best New Artist, the spotlight shone brightly on Monét, who was accompanied by her two-year-old daughter and youngest Grammy nominee, Hazel. In her speech, Monét took the time to thank her single mother for raising her.
Karol G also made Grammy history as the first female artist to win Best Música Urbana Album for her blockbuster Mañana Será Bonito record. Phoebe Bridgers was another female artist who won big, ending the night with four Grammys, one for her collaboration with SZA and three with her boygenius bandmates, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker.
The ceremony featured prominent performances by women, with vibrant displays from Cyrus, SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Tracy Chapman, who sang her hit “Fast Car” which won her the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1989, and Joni Mitchell, who performed her 1968 song “Both Sides Now” nine years after an aneurysm impaired her speech.
Jay-Z was the only man to touch a Grammy. He was joined onstage by his daughter as the recipient of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and used his platform to call out the Academy for overlooking his wife, Beyoncé, for Album of the Year.
Swift, a name synonymous with chart-topping success, also made history by clinching the Album of the Year award for the unprecedented fourth time with her album Midnights. This remarkable achievement solidified her place in history, breaking ties with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder for the most Album of the Year awards.
This milestone highlights her enduring impact on the music industry and her ability to evolve creatively across genres, reflecting not only the longevity of her career but the industry’s recognition of artists who consistently push boundaries to redefine their craft. The presentation of the award by iconic Montreal superstar Celine Dion added an extra layer of significance to Swift’s achievement.
The sweeping success of these women at the Grammy Awards is a powerful statement against the backdrop of past challenges and gender disparities within the music industry.
The achievements of Cyrus, Eilish, Monét, Karol G, and Swift highlight the resilience, talent, and diversity women bring to the forefront of musical expression.
Beyond the individual victories, this groundbreaking moment at the Grammys sends a resounding message about the evolving nature of the music industry. It highlights a long-overdue shift towards inclusivity, recognition of diverse voices, and a departure from outdated norms which may have hindered the progress of female artists in the past.
Tags
Grammys, Music, Music Industry
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.