Taylor Swift makes Grammy Awards history with nominations, wins
The war in Gaza loomed over the joyful ceremony hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, with a tribute to victims of the Hamas-led massacre at a music festival
Pop sensation Taylor Swift made Grammy Awards history on Sunday night. Already having broken the record for most nominations in the song of year category, she also became the first artist to win the Album of the Year award.
The 34-year-old singer won the honors for the fourth time with her album "Midnights," and her hit song "Anti-Hero" managed to best music legends such as Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand who previously held the record streaks which Swift broke.
Another star making headlines for her first Grammy Awards win, despite being a household name for many years. Miley Cyrus's song "Flowers" won both the Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Women were the biggest winners of Grammy Awards 2024, with SZA and Phoebe Bridgers taking home the awards in several categories, including pop duo/group performance for the two.
On her own, SZA won the categories R&B Song and Progressive R&B album, as well as leading the number of nominations with nine total. Phoebe Bridgers, through her all-girl band Boygenius won three awards (Rock Song, Rock Performance and Alternative album) in seven total nominations.
The Israel-Hamas war also loomed over the musical night, with TikTok singer-influencer Montana Tucker putting her support for Israel on full display on the red carpet. The granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, Tucker donned a large yellow ribbon across the front of her gown emblazoned with the words "Bring them home now," a symbol of solidarity with the hostages.
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Host Trevor Noah notably left the conflict out of his opening monologue. The comedian, who hails from South Africa, hosted the awards show for the fourth consecutive year. Noah has been outspoken against Israel during previous rounds of fighting in Gaza.
CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. used his speech to pay tribute to both sorrowful notes and the connecting harmony. “Music must always be our safe space — when that is violated, it strikes at the very core of who we are."
“We felt that at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. We felt that at the Manchester Arena in England. We felt that at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. And on October 7th, we felt that again when we heard the tragic news from the Supernova Music Festival for Love, that over 360 music fans lost their lives, and another 40 were kidnapped."
“Let us all agree that music must remain the common ground upon which we all stand together in peace and harmony,” the executive emphasized. “Because music has always been one of humanity’s great connectors. Think about it: Every song that we’re honoring or hearing tonight moved someone, no matter where they were from or what they believed. It connected them to others who were moved in the same way.”
“As individuals, they sound really good, but together, they achieve something beautiful they could never do apart,” Mason concluded. “These musicians of Palestinian, Israeli and Arab descent are here playing together. Now is the time for us, for humanity, to play together and to come together with empathy and with love.”
Former Eurythmics frontwoman Annie Lennox, used her time on stage to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. During a tribute to late singer Sinead O'Connor, Lennox proclaimed “Artists for ceasefire! Peace in the world!” The erstwhile political activist recently organized a group of artists who signed a letter calling on President Biden to pressure Israel into a ceasefire in its war against the Hamas terror group.