By Billie Eder and Robert Moran
Beyonce Knowles-Carter made history on Monday when she became the most awarded artist in Grammys history, after winning four awards for her album Renaissance.
The achievement put Beyonce ahead of the late conductor Georg Solti who previously held the record with 31 wins, and Quincy Jones the next-closest with 28.
Beyonce accepts her 32nd Grammy Award for her album Renaissance.Credit: AP
“Thank you so much. I’m trying not to be too emotional,” she said after her fourth win of the evening, for best dance/electronic album, thanking her husband Jay-Z and her three young children who she said were watching from home.
She also thanked her late Uncle Johnny, who she said had introduced her to much of the music which Renaissance, a collection of songs that traversed the history of Black and queer club music, paid homage to.
“I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing this genre,” she said. “God bless you.”
The 65th Grammy Awards were a history making night, with German singer-songwriter Kim Petras becoming the first transgender woman to win in best pop duo/group performance for her song Unholy with non-binary artist Sam Smith.
Petras thanked “all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me” along with her mother who “believed that I was a girl.”
Kim Petras thanked “all the incredible transgender legends before me”.Credit: AP
But as with all awards shows, it wasn’t without its whispers, chaos and controversy.
Despite Beyonce’s record-breaking feat, the singer - the most nominated on the night, with nine nominations, and heavily tipped to sweep the awards’ top prizes - left the ceremony without any wins in the major categories, following upsets in song of the year, record of the year and album of the year.
Lizzo was the surprise winner for record of the year, winning for her hit single About Damn Time.
But no one was more shocked than blues singer Bonnie Raitt when she took home the award for song of the year, a category where she was also up against the likes of pop-heartthrob Harry Styles for his song As It Was and decorated-rap artist Kendrick Lamar for his track The Heart Part 5.
“I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say,” the 73-year-old said of winning for her track Just Like That. “I don’t write a lot of songs, but I’m so pleased you appreciate this one.”
Lamar had his time in the sun though, with the Compton-born artist picking up three awards, including rap album of the year for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
Likewise, Styles didn’t go home empty-handed, with the pop singer winning the night’s top prize, album of the year, for Harry’s House which also picked up pop vocal album of the year.
“I think on a night like tonight, it’s important to remember there’s no such thing as a ‘best [album]’,” he said onstage following his shock album of the year win.
The ceremony was split into a pre-show where most of the awards were handed out – including a win in the best jazz instrumental album category for Perth-via-NYC bassist Linda May Han Oh, Australia’s sole success – and a telecast that leaned heavily on live performances from artists including Styles, Bad Bunny, Lizzo and others.
A special 50th anniversary of hip-hop performance, curated by The Roots’ Questlove, was one of the night’s saving graces, jam-packed with superstars from every decade in what was a jaw-dropping mega-performance.
Missy Elliott performs ‘Lose Control’ during th 50 years of hip-hop performance.Credit: AP
Hip-hop legends LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were among the stellar line-up which performed hit after hit from across the decades and movement.
Early on actress Viola Davis became the 18th person in history to “EGOT” – win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award – after picking up the Grammy Award for best audiobook, narration and storytelling recording for her memoir Finding Me.