Grammy Awards 2024: women take the spotlight

The so-called weaker sex dominated the most popular categories at the recent Grammy Awards 2024 on February 4th in Los Angeles. Among the winners of this prestigious award honoring the best musical talents across the Atlantic, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, SZA, Barbie…

The 66th edition of the Grammy Awards took place this Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Former host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, hosted the ceremony for the fourth consecutive year, while songwriter Justin Tranter chaired the Grammy Premiere Ceremony earlier in the day at the Peacock Theater. “We are not just celebrating the notes and melodies. We pay tribute to the driving force behind these creations,” said Tranter.

A total of 94 trophies were awarded during the evening in as many categories, including three new ones. The Best African Music Performance went to Water by Tyla, the Best Pop Dance Recording to Padam Padam by Kylie Minogue, and the Best Alternative Jazz Album to The Omnichord Real Book by Meshell Ndegeocello.

Female artists take center stage

Céline Dion presented the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift for “Midnights,” setting a new record as it is her fourth Grammy in this category, surpassing Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon. “I would like to tell you that this is the best moment of my life, but I feel this happiness when I finish a song or when I work with my dancers. For me, the reward is the work,” said the singer. She also won the Best Pop Vocal Album award and surprised the audience during her acceptance speech by announcing the release of her next album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” scheduled for April 19th. Her post on Instagram following the announcement has already garnered over 10 million likes.

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Women continue to make their mark. Singer SZA is the most celebrated artist this year with 9 nominations and 3 trophies (Best Progressive R&B Album, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best R&B Song), while the movie Barbie received 11 nominations and won awards for Best Original Score for Visual Media for “Barbie The Album”, Song of the Year, and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell. During her acceptance speech, Billie Eilish congratulated Barbie’s director, Greta Gerwig, for “making the best film of the year.” She took the main stage with her brother, Finneas, performing their song from the Barbie soundtrack while sporting a look inspired by Barbie from 1965.

The title of Best New Artist was also won by a woman, Victoria Monét, who walked the red carpet with her two-year-old daughter in her arms.

Miley Cyrus won her first two Grammys for “Flower”, named Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. “My life was beautiful yesterday. So please, don’t think this is important. Even though it’s very important,” she joked in her fourth outfit of the evening before expressing her gratitude and adding, “I think I haven’t forgotten anyone, except maybe my underwear.”

Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, was among the winners for Best Spoken Word Album with “The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times”, following her first Grammy win in 2020 for her memoir “Becoming”.

According to a study by the “Annenberg Inclusion Initiative,” only 13.9% of nominees in major categories were women from 2012 to 2022. This year, they represent 24% of all nominees across categories and dominate the major categories.