The 66th Grammy Awards were filled with many memorable moments, but the standout highlight was the remarkable achievement of female artists in the music industry. They secured wins in the Big Four categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. It will forever be marked as a historical night for women in entertainment, highlighting their exceptional and phenomenal contributions to the industry. Female artists are continuing to break barriers, shatter perceptions and excel in their respective fields.
From Taylor Swift walking away with, yet again, Best Album of the Year to our very own local and international music sensation, Tyla, winning Best African Performance for “Water” and Victoria Monet who took home the title as Best New Artist. Here are our favorite wins of the evening. Well done, Ladies! You deserved it!
Best African Performance:
South African female artist Tyla has now become a household name, making history as the youngest South African to win a Grammy award at 22 years old. Last night, at the 66th annual Grammys, she took home the Best African Performance Award for her single 'Water.' She was the first South African artist to gain 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify and peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The amapiano-inspired offering continues to to gain success as a hit on multiple streaming platforms. In an interview with Revolt, she expressed her excitement, saying, “It’s so thrilling. I’m delighted that people are loving the sound coming from home. So yeah, I’m excited to see where it goes from here.”
Best Album of the Year:
It wouldn’t be an award ceremony if Taylor Swift didn’t snag a few big awards. 2022 and 2023 were the years for the Midnight artist, with Midnight ranking as the best-selling album of 2022, and second best-album of 2023 and the second-most consumed album of both years. Spending a total of six weeks atop the Billboard 200. As always, she gave the boss girl energy.
Best R&B Song and Best Progressive R&B Album:
Echoing its history making success on the Billboard 200, SZA’s sophmore album SOS spent 10 total weeks atop Billboard 200 albums chart. Snooze hit the benchmark for being the only song to spend the entirety of 2023 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her career has grown rapidly and magnificently exploded over the last couple of years. SZA accepted the Grammy for Best R&B Song and Best Progressive R&B Album for Snooze. Her visble excitement yet surprise left her speechless when she picked up the award.
Record of the Year:
It was a historical and meaningful evening for Miley Cyrus as she took home her first ever Grammy, for Record of the Year for her single Flowers. She took home not just one but TWO Grammys for her hit single, Flowers. Not to mention, Cyrus expressed greater excitement and celebrity starstruck when receiving the award from Mariah Carey for Best Pop Solo Performance. The moment when two iconic female artists were within reach of each other is one we'll cherish. Miley was overfilled with joy nd excitement, fully embracing the momentous win, as she sang “I just won my first Grammy” in her performance of Flowers.
Song of the Year & Best Song Written for Visual Media:
It might not have been a night of celebration for Barbie after the release of the Oscar nominations or at the Golden Globes. However, the single "What Was I Made For?" featured in the $1.4 billion box-office film made headlines at this year's Grammys. Billie Eilish picked up two Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Song Written for a Visual Media. Barbie's subtle nods to feminism and women empowerment mirror the achievements of the phenomenal female artists who broke barriers and made history last night. In total, this marks Billie’s 9th Grammy to date, and we’re struggling to keep up.
Best New Artist & Best R&B Album:
A truly heartfelt moment for Victoria Monét, as she not only received seven Grammy nominations but also clinched the coveted Grammy for Best New Artist. This achievement solidifies her success after headlining a sold-out tour, securing the No. 1 spot on a Billboard chart with her single 'On my Mama,' and being recognized as the second-most nominated artist of the year. Victoria Monét crafts moving narratives that touch on the various themes of love, heartache, sexuality, empowerment, and friendships. She breaches the gap between herself and the listener, making her in-touch with her audience’s experiences and more relatable.
With more than a decade of industry experience and a 15-year pursuit of a Grammy, Monét serves as a powerful reminder to never give up on our dreams. As she graciously accepts her Grammy, she is visibly moved by the recognition, a testament to her unwavering dedication to the art.
Best Pop Dance Recording:
Kylie Monogue’s Summer hit Padam Padam, was her first to reach Top 10 U.K. hit as a lead artist since 2010, and her first appearance in the chart’s top tier of any kind since 2011. Reportedly, its made Minogue the first woman over 50 to make BBC’s playlist as a lead artist.
Best R&B Performance:
Coco Jones has risen to the top in some of this year’s most competitive categories, joining forces with SZA and Victoria Monet. She secured the Grammy for Best R&B Performance with her chart-topping ballad “ICU,” surpassing notable artists such as Chris Brown, Robert Glasper, Alex Isley, SiR, Victoria Monet, and SZA. In a recent write-up, Billboard expressed, “She aims to kick down doors and usher in a whole new generation of fearless Black women right alongside her,” a sentiment we wholeheartedly agree with.
“Every time I sing ‘ICU,’ I find a new way to make it iconic because I don’t want the next girl to struggle as I struggled to get here,” she remarked in her interview with Billboard. “We’re all talented. It should be easier. So that’s what I gotta do. I’m gonna kill it every time so that it will be easier one day.”
Best Música Urbana Album:
Colombian sensation, Karol G, makes history not only by snagging her first ever Grammy for Mañana Será Bonito , but also being the first woman to win the Best Musica Urbana Album category. Wow! These ladies are making tidal waves in the music industry. Karol G’s album , Mañana Será Bonito, debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 200, making it the first all-Spanish language album by a female artist to hold an impressive distinction.
