Beyoncé has broken the record for most Grammy wins of all time after securing four prizes for her 2022 album ‘Renaissance’.
The hitmaker surpassed classical musician Georg Solti’s record of 31 Grammys as she collected the award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for her seventh solo LP.
She also took home Best Dance/Electronic Recording for Break My Soul, Best Traditional R&B Performance for Plastic Off The Sofa and Best R&B Song for Cuff It.
In an acceptance speech, she said: “Thank you so much, I’m trying not to be too emotional and I’m trying to just receive this night.
“I wanna thank God for protecting me, thank you God. I’d like to thank my uncle Johnny who’s not here. But he’s here in spirit. I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me.
“I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching. I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and inventing the genre. God bless you.”
Going into the ceremony, Beyoncé led the nominations with nine nods – ahead of Kendrick Lamar, Adele and Harry Styles.
Elsewhere during the awards show, Harry Styles took the Album of the Year prize for ‘Harry’s House’, with the former One Direction star downplaying the win in his acceptance speech.
“On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music,” said the singer. “I don’t think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what is going to get us one of these.”
He added: “This doesn’t happen to people like me very often, and this is so, so nice.”
‘Harry’s House’ also won Best Pop Album, with Jennifer Lopez presenting the singer-songwriter with the accolade. “This album from start to finish has been the greatest experience of my life,” he said. “From making it with two of my best friends to playing for people has been the greatest joy I could have asked for.”
Bonnie Raitt landed a surprise victory with ‘Song of the Year’ for Just Like That, while Adele’s Easy on Me scored Best Pop Solo Performance. Sam Smith received Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Unholy with Kim Petras, who marked a milestone while accepting the prize.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, before thanking late transgender pop artist Sophie for “kicking these doors open” and Madonna “for fighting for LGBTQ rights”.
Dedicating the award to her mother, Kim added: “I grew up next to nowhere in Germany and my mother believed me, that I was a girl. I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
The show also saw Viola Davis become the 18th person to achieve the EGOT – winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award – having won Best Audio Book for her autobiography ‘Finding Me’.
“I wrote this book to honour the six-year-old Viola,” said the star. “To honour her life, her joy, her trauma, everything.”
Sunday’s show was attended by big name stars including Adele, Taylor Swift, JAY-Z, Shania Twain and Stevie Wonder, with performances from Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile, among others.
The in memoriam section gave an emotional send-off to stars like Olivia Newton-John, Irene Cara, David Crosby and Jeff Beck and included a number of tribute performances.
Kacey Musgraves played a heartfelt version of Coal Miner’s Daughter in memory of “Queen of Country” Loretta Lynn, and Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie was honoured with a performance of her signature hit, Songbird, by Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Album of the Year
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Best New Artist
Samara Joy
Record of the Year
Lizzo – About Damn Time
Song of the Year
Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Best Pop Solo Performance
Adele – Easy on Me
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Beyoncé – Renaissance
Best Rap Album
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Best Musica Urbana Album
Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Country Album
Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time
Best R&B Song
Beyoncé – Cuff It
Best Pop Vocal Album
Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Best Global Music Performance
Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode – Bayethe
Best Country Solo Performance
Willie Nelson – Live Forever
Best R&B Performance
Muni Long – Hrs & Hrs
Best Rap Performance
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Best Metal Performance
Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Tony Iommi – Degradation Rules
Best Rock Performance
Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
Best Rock Album
Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9
Best Alternative Music Album
Wet Leg – Wet Leg
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Beyoncé – Plastic Off the Sofa
Best Progressive R&B Album
Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
Best R&B Album
Robert Glasper – Black Radio III
Best Rap Song
Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Best Comedy Album
Dave Chappelle – The Closer
Best Folk Album
Madison Cunningham – Revealer
Best Country Song
Cody Johnson – ‘Til You Can’t