Grammy Awards 2018: All the best performances, nominees and winners
BRUNO Mars may have won the most Grammys but everyone was talking about Rihanna’s incredible performance during the awards.
BRUNO Mars has beaten Kendrick Lamar to the top Grammy Award, leaving Jay-Z totally empty-handed at the ceremony where his wife Queen Bey stunned onlookers.
Mars stunned the crowd with his performance with Cardi B and won Album of the year, Record of the year, Song of the year, best R & B album, best R & B performance and best R & B song in New York City.
Earlier, Lamar won Best Rap Album from one of his idols, Jay-Z.
He paid tribute to the music mogul and referenced the Twitter stoush which erupted with President Donald Trump after Jay-Z called the American leader a “superbug” for his recent comments describing African countries as “s...holes”.
“Jay for President,” Lamar said with a grin as he closed his acceptance speech.
Lamar picked up best rap album, best rap performance and best music video. He also opened the awards show with U2 and Dave Chappelle.
RIHANNA’S SEXY DANCING STUNS THE CROWD
While Mars may have won the most Grammys but everyone was talking about Rihanna’s incredible dance performance during the awards show.
Rihanna was said to have “seduced” the Grammys with her performance of Wild Thoughts alongside DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller.
The pop icon dominated the stage with her smooth South African-inspired dance moves in a low-cut pink dress.
It nearly came off at one point as she led the entire troupe of backup dancers in choreography that had nearly everyone in the room up and cheering them on.
Rihanna used Gwara gwara dance moves that fans lapped up across the world.
QUEEN BEY’S JAWDROPPING OUTFIT
Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy snuck into the Madison Square Garden ceremony halfway through to take up their front row seats next to man-of-the-moment Jay-Z.
Sporting a dramatic satellite dish-style hat and an equally statement-making gown with a modesty-protecting panel draped between her legs, Queen Bey kept it cool behind dark shades.
Fans were quick to notice she wore two rings sporting large rocks on her left hand but neither was on her ring finger.
The rings were almost eclipsed by sparkling chandelier earrings which stretched beyond her shoulders.
While mum and dad did the classic all-black awards costume, Blue rocked up in a bright white trench dress.
When Camila Cabello was onstage, Blue Ivy clearly was not a fan and viewers caught her reaction which was posted to social media.
Blue 💙 #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/Rj7NR7jLUy
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey_Legion) January 29, 2018
Hillsong Worship picked up Australia’s only Grammy this year, winning Best Contemporary Christian music performance/song category for What A Beautiful Name.
Other Australian nominees didn’t fare as well with Sia’s Never Give Up from the Lion soundtrack missing out to Broadway king Lin Manuel Miranda who won for his Moana theme How Far I’ll Go.
Sydney duo Mansionair, who collaborated on the Odesza’s Line Of Sight, were trumped by LCD Soundsytem, who last week cancelled their scheduled February tour of Australia.
And Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were also left empty handed, missing out on the Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for Lovely Creatures: The Best Of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds.
Posthumous Grammys were also handed out to actress Carrie Fisher, singer Leonard Cohen and engineer Tom Coyne, who worked on Mars’ 24K Magic album.
The Rolling Stones picked up the third Grammy of their career — for best traditional blues album for Blue & Lonesome.
See what happened in our highlights below.
P!NK’S BEHIND THE SCENES MEET-UP WITH RIRI
She did not win, even though she had hopes. But singer P!nk made the most of the night being an amazing mum to her daughter Willow, by letting her meet one of her favourite singers, Rihanna. Her husband Carey Hart posted a photo on Instagram saying: - "I thought for sure mama @pink had the Grammy in the bag tonight, but it didn’t happen. But, she made the night VERY memorable for Willz!!! Willz has been a fan of @badgalriri for a long time, and mama got an intro for her. Major mom points tonight."
MILEY AND ELTON STUN WITH DUET
No stranger to sharing a Grammys stage with respected younger peers including Eminem and Ed Sheeran in the past two decades, Sir Elton John was clearly enamoured with his special guest on Tiny Dancer.
Wearing an old Hollywood-style burgundy gown, Miley Cyrus joined him for the second verse of the much-loved song with John unable to hide a beaming smile at the talented vocalist.
Cyrus tweeted during the ceremony: “Sir Elton John, I can’t thank you enough for giving me the honor of performing with you tonight at The Grammys! I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent with you over the years & will cherish each second of your kindness.let’s kick ass and keep fighting for an end to the AIDS epidemic!”
KESHA MAKES VIEWERS CRY
Kesha had the audience in tears with the emotionally powerful performance of her comeback hit Praying.
Backed by a choir and flanked by Rihanna, Cyndi Lauper, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello and Julia Michael, all wearing white, the vulnerable singer was embraced in a group hug when she finished the performance, undoubtedly one of the Grammys most compelling moments.
She was introduced by the forthright and defiant Janelle Monae who brought #TimesUp to the fore of the 2018 awards.
Her speech was supported by P!nk, who applauded the singer with her daughter Willow also clapping with her mum when Monae stated “We come in peace but we mean business.”
“We say Times Up for pay inequality, times’ up for discrimination, time’s up for harassment, and time’s up for the abuse of power. Because you see it’s not just going on in Hollywood, or in Washington, it’s right here as well,” Monae said.
Kesha remains in an ongoing legal battle with her former producer Dr Luke after fighting for the past few years to extricate herself from his label amid allegations he caused her “emotional distress” during their working relationship.
Praying was influenced by her experiences of alleged sexual harassment and abuse.
BRUNO MARS WINS, SHOWS OFF HIS FINESSE
Old school showman Bruno Mars has now got four gongs. He and breakout rap star Cardi B combined for one of the most electric and colourful performances of the 2018 ceremony.
Think an explosion of Wiggles meets Willy Wonka brightness with a Michael Jackson worthy Moonwalk.
Their Finesse set was big on choreography with Mars leaving much of the vocal heavy lifting to his bandmates while he busted moves worthy of the Jackson 5 in their heyday.
Meanwhile, Cardi B who was the rapper on everyone’s best-of lists with her Bodak Yellow hit last year, proved a live powerhouse on the mic with her rapid fire delivery.
Ahead of her scene-stealing moment on stage, Cardi B won quote of the night on the red carpet.
Responding to host Guiliana Rancic about how she was feeling, the unfiltered rapper said: “I’m feeling good, I’m feeling nervous, overwhelmed—everything!
“Butterflies in my stomach and vagina!”
P!NK’S DRESSED DOWN ACT
P!nk swapped her multi-coloured feathered gown for a white T-shirt and jeans for her emotionally-charged performance of her power pop ballad Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.
The singer and her gorgeous daughter Willow both rocked the red carpet with white roses to show their solidarity for the #TimesUp movement.
P!nk won millions of hearts last year when she dedicated her Video Vanguard speech to her daughter and promoting positive body image and self-esteem.
ED SHEERAN WINS, BUT WHERE IS HE?
Ed Sheeran added Best Pop Solo Performance to his Grammys account with Shape Of You winning Best Pop Solo Performance from his four female co-nominees Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, P!nk and Lady Gaga.
Sheeran isn’t at the awards and was believed to have been disappointed when his Divide record didn’t make the Album of the Year cut.
He did pick up Best Pop Vocal Album earlier in the night.
Congrats Best Pop Solo Performance winner @EdSheeran - "Shape Of You" #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/aNHP9skq7l
— Recording Academy (@RecordingAcad) January 29, 2018
LAMAR PICKS UP ANOTHER AWARD
The winner of the first of the televised awards in the performance-heavy main ceremony was Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna for Loyalty.
The pair of pop culture heavyweights shared a mutual admiration society on stage with Humble chart-topper Lamar paying tribute to her vocal performance.
“She came through and gassed me on that record; she gassed me on my own song. This record belongs to her,” he said.
One of the most prolific vocal guests in pop history was equally admiring of the respected rapper who collected three Grammys before the telecast.
“Thank you Kendrick for giving me such a great opportunity to be on this record. I am honoured to do this with you,” she said.
LADY GAGA’S SNEAKY GRAMMY DROP
Lady Gaga’s angel-wigged piano rivalled her own voluminous pink gown with Royal wedding-worthy train for her performance of songs from her Joanne album with producer Mark Ronson.
While she has built a reputation for outrageous awards performances, her 2018 Grammys star turn focused on her musicianship and vocal powers on Million Reasons.
Gaga struck the first #metoo note at the Grammys, saying “Time’s Up” as she segued from the track Joanne into Million Reasons.
A large number of nominees and performers sported white roses on the red carpet in support of the Time’s Up campaign, following the lead of the acting community at recent award ceremonies.
GRAMMY NOMINEES
Album of the year
Childish Gambino, Awaken, My Love!
Jay-Z, 4:44
Kendrick Lamar, Damn.
Lorde, Melodrama
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic - WINNER
Record of the year (for performers)
Childish Gambino, Redbone
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, Despacito
Jay-Z, The Story of O.J.
Kendrick Lamar, Humble.
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic - WINNER
Song of the year (for writers)
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, Despacito
Jay-Z, 4:44
Julia Michaels, Issues
Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid, 1-800-273-8255
Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like - WINNER
Best new artist
Alessia Cara - WINNER
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA
Pop solo performance
Kelly Clarkson, Love So Soft
Kesha, Praying
Lady Gaga, Million Reasons
Pink, What About Us
Ed Sheeran, Shape of You - WINNER
Country album
Kenny Chesney, Cosmic Hallelujah
Lady Antebellum, Heart Break
Little Big Town, The Breaker
Thomas Rhett, Life Changes
Chris Stapleton, From a Room, Volume 1 - WINNER
Rap album
Jay-Z, 4:44
Kendrick Lamar, Damn - WINNER
Migos, Culture
Rapsody, Laila’s Wisdom
Tyler the Creator, Flower Boy
Rap/sung collaboration
6 Lack, Prblms
Goldlink feat. Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy, Crew
Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé, Family Feud
Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna, Loyalty - WINNER
SZA feat. Travis Scott, Love Galore
Comedy album
Dave Chappelle, The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas - WINNER
Jim Gaffigan, Cinco
Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Before Seinfeld -
Sarah Silverman, A Speck of Dust
Kevin Hart, What Now?
MORE GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS
Pop vocal album
WINNER: Ed Sheeran, ÷ (Divide)
Rap song
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, Humble.
Rap performance (single or track)
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, Humble.
R & B album
WINNER: Bruno Mars, 24K Magic
Urban contemporary album
WINNER: The Weeknd, Starboy
R & B song
WINNER: Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like
Traditional R & B performance
WINNER: Childish Gambino, Redbone
R & B performance
WINNER: Bruno Mars, That’s What I Like
Best contemporary Christian music performance/song
WINNER: What A Beautiful Name, Australia’s Hillsong Worship
Traditional pop vocal album
WINNER: Various artists, Tony Bennett Celebrates 90
Pop duo/group performance
WINNER: Portugal. The Man, Feel It Still
Music video
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, Humble.
Alternative music album
WINNER: The National, Sleep Well Beast
Rock album
WINNER: The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding
Rock song
WINNER: Foo Fighters, Run
Metal performance
WINNER: Mastodon, Sultan’s Curse
Rock performance (single or track)
WINNER: Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker
Country song
WINNER: Chris Stapleton, Broken Halos
Country solo performance
WINNER: Chris Stapleton, Either Way
Country duo/group performance
WINNER: Little Big Town, Better Man
Score soundtrack for visual media
WINNER: La La Land
Compilation soundtrack for visual media
WINNER: La La Land
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