Feb 03 2025 3 mins
Beyoncé finally got her crowning glory of Best Album of the Year at the 67th Grammy Awards—something that has eluded her illustrious career for decades. “Cowboy Carter” added to her collection of Grammys, I think it was number 36. The singer, who was visibly surprised, dedicated her award to Linda Martel, the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry. And by the way, Ms. Martel, who’s 83, is featured on several of “Cowboy Carter” songs, and it makes Beyoncé the first Black woman to win Album of the Year since 1999, when Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” took the title.
Now, while accepting her award for Best Rap Album, Doechii—who is only the third woman to win the honor—thanked God and her mom, Celicia Moore, whom she brought up on stage with her to share the moment. Doechii delivered a powerful message to all of the little Black girls out there, saying they could do whatever they dream of.
This year’s Grammy telecast, of course, was shifted after the L.A. fires to a fundraiser. And by the end of the show, America had raised more than $7 million for many of the people suffering after the Eaton and Palisades fires.
And now for some of the stuff you probably didn’t see: that Associated Press reporter who dissed music legend Babyface. In the middle of her interview, she saw Chappell Roan and left Babyface mid-sentence. She didn’t apologize until after the clip went viral.
And by now, you may have seen Kanye West’s wife, who left little to the imagination by going completely naked underneath a sheer minidress. They left after a few minutes on the carpet—hey, nudity is against the law in L.A.!
And then there’s Kendrick Lamar, who had a great night with five wins, including Song and Record of the Year.
But one of the best moments for me was the tribute to the late Quincy Jones, led by Stevie Wonder, who was joined by a student choir from Pasadena Waldorf School and Palisades High School—both severely damaged by the wildfires. The tribute included Cynthia Erivo and Herbie Hancock, who I’ve got to say set a whole new standard for live performances, along with Jacob Collier, Janelle Monáe, and Lainey Wilson.
Yes, it was a great night for the City of Angels, and music’s biggest night did not disappoint. Now, we were on the red carpet and backstage in the press room—virtually—kind of an interesting setup. We’ll have several clips that you can check out. You don’t want to miss them, and that’s of course at @aurnonline.
And don’t forget to follow me on social media at @TanyaHollywood.
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