Grammys 2019: Lady Gaga and Cardi B rock the music awards

Lady Gaga led a historic ladies night at the Grammys, winning three awards, and kicking off with a girl power squad who included Michelle Obama. Despite pulling out, Ariana Grande watched from afar.

Lady Gaga led a historic ladies night at the 2019 Grammys, winning three awards, rocking out on stage and kicking off the proceedings with a girl power squad which included Michelle Obama.

Gaga, who was once more celebrated for arriving at the Grammys in an egg than her musical excellence, won two awards for Shallow, the song she recorded with Bradley Cooper for A Star Is Born and another for Joanne from her previous solo record.

Meanwhile, Cooper was picking up another trophy for the song at the BAFTAs in London.

Gaga assumed her pop persona to perform Shallow, swapping her gown for a beaded catsuit and thrashing around her hair and her body despite the song’s gentle acoustic rhythm in its first half.

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US singer-songwriter Lady Gaga rocks out at the Grammys. Picture: AFP

Lady Gaga performs onstage during the Grammys. Picture: Getty

“I am so proud to be a part of a movie that addresses mental health issues; it’s so important,” a teary Gaga said as she accepted the best pop/group performance gong.

Many artists gave the Grammys a wide berth this year from Ariana Grande, who hit out at organisers for lying about her withdrawing from the performances, to another history-making artist Childish Gambino.

Lady Gaga accepts the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with "Shallow" during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. Picture: AFP

The music alter-ego of actor Donald Glover, Childish Gambino’s political anthem This Is America was the first rap track to win Song Of The Year and also picked up Record of the Year, Best Video and Best Rap/Sung Performance.

Cardi B performs onstage during the 61st Grammys. Picture: Getty

But equally groundbreaking was Cardi B picking up Best Rap Album — the first female solo artist to do so — from a male-dominated field.

The typically outspoken artist who shares all of her opinions on social media was uncharacteristically tongue-tied when it came to accepting her trophy.

With her newly-reunited husband Offset at her stage, the emotional rapper told him “Baby, I can’t breathe” before confessing her “nerves are so bad.”

Cardi B performs onstage during the Grammys. Picture: Getty

She then revealed the pressure she felt when racing to finish her Invasion of Privacy debut record after discovering she was pregnant with her baby girl Kulture.

“I want to thank my daughter,” she said. “I’m not just saying thank you because she’s my daughter. It’s because, you know, when I found out I was pregnant, my album was not complete,” she said.

Drake accepts the Best Rap Song award for 'God's Plan' onstage. Picture: Getty

“We was like, ‘We have to get this album done so I could shoot the videos while I’m still not showing. It was very long nights.”

One of the night’s most controversial moments came when Grammys hater Drake appeared from backstage to collect Best Rap Song for God’s Plan.

His speech was cut short as Drake told his peers and aspiring artists they don’t need awards. Hip hop, rap and r&b artists have long battled to be taken seriously by the Grammys academy when it comes to being recognised in the major “pop” categories including Song, Record and Album of the Year.

Katy Perry, Dolly Parton, and Kacey Musgraves perform onstage during a tribute to Parton at the Grammys. Picture: Getty

“ … my point is you’ve already won if you have people singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. Look, if there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you, you already won,” Drake said before the broadcast switched to a commercial.

Miley Cyrus and Shawn Mendes perform onstage. Picture: Getty

Other female artists who picked up major awards including country star Kacey Musgraves, who won Album of the Year, St Vincent, who won Best Rock Song, Dua Lipa, who won Best New Talent from an eclectic and female-dominated field and rising r&b artist H.E.R.

Ricky Martin and Camila Cabello perform onstage. Picture: Getty

Grande won her first Grammy, with Sweetener voted the Best Pop Vocal Album. She posted several shots of her lying on the floor wearing a Zac Posen gown he made for her to wear to the awards.

She refused to attend after negotiations with organisers about her performance at the awards broke down and they lied about why.

pic.twitter.com/ariM69M3iA

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) February 11, 2019

Janelle Monae performs onstage in a knockout performance. Picture: Getty

Most of the performances at this year’s awards were lacklustre. Katy Perry was singled out for criticism of her live vocals as she sang Here You Come Again during the Dolly Parton tribute while Anthony Kiedis was struggling to stay in tune when the Post Malone and Red Hot Chili Peppers collaboration.

US singer Jennifer Lopez performs in the best medley of the night. Picture: Getty

US singer Jennifer Lopez performs with a number of costume changes. Picture: AFP

Standouts included JLo during the Motown tribute, Dua Lipa teaming with St Vincent to sing a mash-up of their songs One Kiss and Masseduction and Miley Cyrus who sang with Shawn Mendes and then her godmother Dolly Parton.

GRAMMY WINNERS 2019: THE FULL LIST

Album of the Year

Invasion Of Privacy - Cardi B

By The Way, I Forgive You - Brandi Carlile

Scorpion - Drake

H.E.R. - H.E.R.

Beerbongs & Bentleys - Post Malone

Dirty Computer - Janelle Monáe

WINNER: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves

Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By (Various Artists)

Record of the Year

I Like It - Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin

The Joke - Brandi Carlile

WINNER: This Is America - Childish Gambino

God’s Plan - Drake

Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Rockstar - Post Malone featuring 21 Savage

The Middle - Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

Best New Artist

Chloe x Halle

Luke Combs

Greta Van Fleet

H.E.R.

WINNER: Dua Lipa

Margo Price

Bebe Rexha

Jorja Smith

Best Rap Album

WINNER: Invasion Of Privacy - Cardi B

Swimming - Mac Miller

Victory Lap - Nipsey Hussle

Daytona - Pusha T

Astroworld - Travis Scott

Best R&B Album

Sex and Cigarettes - Toni Braxton

Good Thing - Leon Bridges

Honestly - Lalah Hathaway

WINNER: H.E.R. - H.E.R.

Gumbo Unplugged (Live) - PJ Morton

Best Rap Song

WINNER: God’s Plan - Drake

King’s Dead - Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake

Lucky You - Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas

Sicko Mode - Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee

Win - Jay Rock

Best Country Album

Unapologetically - Kelsea Ballerini

Port Saint Joe - Brothers Osborne

Girl Going Nowhere - Ashley McBryde

WINNER: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves

From A Room: Volume 2 - Chris Stapleton

Song of the Year

All The Stars - Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)

Boo’d Up - Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

God’s Plan - Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

In My Blood - Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)

The Joke - Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)

The Middle - Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)

Shallow - Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)

WINNER: This Is America - Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Fall In Line - Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart - Backstreet Boys

S Wonderful - Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

Girls Like You - Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B

Say Something - Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton

The Middle - Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

Best Pop Vocal Album

Camila - Camila Cabello

Meaning of Life - Kelly Clarkson

WINNER: Sweetener - Ariana Grande

Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes

Beautiful Trauma - P!nk

Reputation - Taylor Swift

Best Pop Solo Performance

Colors - Beck

Havana - Camila Cabello

God Is A Woman - Ariana Grande

WINNER: Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?) - Lady Gaga

Better Now - Post Malone

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Boi-1da

Larry Klein

Linda Perry

Kanye West

WINNER: Pharrell Williams

Best Rap Performance

Be Careful - Cardi B

Nice for What - Drake

WINNER (TIE): King’s Dead - Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake

WINNER (TIE): Bubblin - Anderson .Paak

Sicko Mode - Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee

Best Rap/Sung Performance

Like I Do - Christina Aguilera featuring Goldlink

Pretty Little Fears - 6lack Featuring J. Cole

WINNER: This Is America - Childish Gambino

All the Stars” - Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Rockstar - Post Malone featuring 21 Savage

Best R&B Song

WINNER: Boo’d Up - Ella Mai

Come Through and Chill - Miguel Featuring J. Cole and Salaam Remi

Feels Like Summer - Childish Gambino

Focus - H.E.R.

Long as I Live - Toni Braxton

Best R&B Performance

Long As I Live - Toni Braxton

Summer” - The Carters

Y O Y” - Lalah Hathaway

WINNER: Best Part, H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar

First Began - PJ Morton

Best Rock Album

Rainier Fog - Alice in Chains

Mania - Fall Out Bo

Prequelle - Ghost

WINNER: From the Fires - Greta Van Fleet

Pacific Daydream - Weezer

Best Rock Song

Black Smoke Rising - Greta Van Fleet

Jumpsuit - Twenty One Pilots

Mantra - Bring Me the Horizon

WINNER: Masseduction - St. Vincent

Rats - Ghost

Best Rock Performance

Four Out of Five - Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: When Bad Does Good - Chris Cornell

Made an America - The Fever 333

Highway Tune - Greta Van Fleet

Uncomfortable - Halestorm

Best Tradition Pop Vocal Album

Love Is Here To Stay - Tony Bennett & Diana Krall

WINNER: My Way - Willie Nelson

Nat ‘King’ Cole & Me - Gregory Porter

Standards (Deluxe) - Seal

The Music...The Mem’ries...The Magic! - Barbra Streisand

Best Country Song

“Break Up in the End” - Cole Swindell

“Dear Hate” - Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill

“I Lived It” - Blake Shelton

WINNER: “Space Cowboy” - Kacey Musgraves

“Tequila” - Dan + Shay

“When Someone Stops Loving You” - Little Big Town

Best Country Solo Performance

“Wouldn’t It Be Great?” - Loretta Lynn

“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” - Maren Morris

WINNER: “Butterflies” - Kacey Musgraves

“Millionaire” - Chris Stapleton

“Parallel Line” - Keith Urban

Best Urban Contemporary Album

WINNER: Everything Is Love - The Carters

The Kids Are Alright - Chloe x Halle

Chris Dave and the Drumhedz - Chris Dave and the Drumhedz

War & Leisure - Miguel

Ventriloquism - Meshell Ndegeocello

Best Alternative Music Album

Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino - Arctic Monkeys

WINNER: Colors - Beck

Utopia - Björk

American Utopia - David Byrne

Masseduction - St. Vincent

Best Pop Vocal Album

Camila - Camila Cabello

Meaning Of Life - Kelly Clarkson

WINNER: Sweetener - Ariana Grande

Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes

Beautiful Trauma - P!nk

Reputation - Taylor Swift

Best Dance Recording

“Northern Soul” - Above & Beyond featuring Richard Bedford

“Ultimatum” - Disclosure (featuring Fatoumata Diawara)

“Losing It” - Fisher

WINNER: “Electricity” - Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson

“Ghost Voices” - Virtual Self

Best Rock Song

“Black Smoke Rising” - Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)

“Jumpsuit” - Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)

“MANTRA” - Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me The Horizon)

WINNER: “Masseduction” - Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)

“Rats” - Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

WINNER: EVERYTHING IS LOVE - The Carters

The Kids Are Alright - Chloe x Halle

Chris Dave And The Drumhedz - Chris Dave And The Drumhedz

War & Leisure - Miguel

Ventriloquism - Meshell Ndegeocello

Best Jazz Vocal Album

My Mood Is You - Freddy Cole

The Questions - Kurt Elling

The Subject Tonight Is Love - Kate McGarry with Keith Ganz & Gary Versace

If You Really Want - Raul Midón with The Metropole Orkest Conducted By Vince Mendoza

WINNER: The Window - Cécile McLorin Salvant

Best Gospel Album

One Nation Under God - Jekalyn Carr

WINNER: Hiding Place - Tori Kelly

Make Room - Jonathan McReynolds

The Other Side - The Walls Group

A Great Work - Brian Courtney Wilson

Best Latin Pop Album

Prometo - Pablo Alboran

WINNER: Sincera - Claudia Brant

Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Vol. 2 - Natalia Lafourcade

2:00 AM - Raquel Sofía

Vives - Carlos Vives

Best Americana Album

WINNER: By The Way, I Forgive You - Brandi Carlile

Things Have Changed - Bettye LaVette

The Tree Of Forgiveness - John Prine

The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone - Lee Ann Womack

One Drop Of Truth - The Wood Brothers

Best Comedy Album

Annihilation - Patton Oswalt

WINNER: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation - Dave Chappelle

Noble Ape - Jim Gaffigan

Standup For Drummers - Fred Armisen

Tamborine - Chris Rock

Best Song Written For Visual Media

All The Stars - Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA), Track from Black Panther

Mystery Of Love - Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens), Track from Call Me By Your Name

Remember Me - Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel featuring Natalia Lafourcade), Track from Coco

WINNER: Shallow - Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper), Track from A Star Is Born

This Is Me - Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble), Track from The Greatest Showman