NEW YORK (AP) – With the pandemic disrupting live performances, Taylor Swift made up for a year off the road with a set of three songs at the Grammy Awards, where she could make history as the first woman to win the album of the year 3 times.
She sang “cardigan” and “august” from her nominated album “folklore”, as well as “willow” from “evermore”. She was accompanied by collaborators who helped make the albums, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, who were also nominated alongside Swift for the main award.
Swift won the album of the year with his albums “Fearless” and “1989.” Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon are some of the artists who have won the album of the year three times. Several producers or engineers have also won the award three times, and the only person to win the award four times is mastering engineer Tom Coyne, who died in 2017.
Silk Sonic, also known as Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, also performed, bringing an R&B vibe back to the show with their new single, “Leave the Door Open”. Dua Lipa proved her pop star status with a performance of her hits “Don’t Start Now” and “Levitating”, where she was accompanied by DaBaby, who was a star during her own performance of her rap hit with a guitar touch “Rockstar”, launching the song for an exceptional live performance with R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a skilled violinist and supporting singers.
Other artists included Bad Bunny, HAIM, Black Pumas, Billie Eilish and Harry Styles, who won the best solo pop performance with the hit “Watermelon Sugar”.
“To everyone who made this album with me, thank you very much,” said Styles, the first member of One Direction to win a Grammy.
Presenter Trevor Noah kicked off the program by telling jokes about the coronavirus pandemic and the year 2020. He was live in downtown Los Angeles, with participants wearing masks and sitting, socially distant, at small round tables.
Megan Thee Stallion, who is about to perform, won the evening’s first television award: best new artist. Silent and shocked, she stopped in front of the microphone while the audience applauded. She thanked the other nominees, God and her mother, who died in 2019.
“I know she is here with me in spirit,” she said.
Megan Thee Stallion won the best rap performance for “Savage” during the pre-ceremony, sharing the victory with Beyoncé and helping the pop star to win her 26th Grammy, getting close to Alison Krauss’ record of 27 victories.
Beyoncé, the main candidate of this year, with nine nominations, also won the best music video for “Brown Skin Girl”, sharing the award with daughter Blue Ivy Carter, who also lives a historic night: at the age of 9, she is the second youngest to win a Grammy. Leah Peasall was 8 years old when The Peasall Sisters won the album of the year on the 2002 show for her participation in the film T Bone Burnett produced “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack.
Other Beyoncé nominations include song and album of the year, best R&B performance and best rap song.
While Beyoncé must have a historic night, history can repeat itself and she can be prevented from winning a major award – a common occurrence for R&B and rap artists throughout Grammy history. Of his 26 victories, only one went to one of the four great Grammys, song of the year. She lost album of the year three times and record of the year five times.
Jay-Z has never won a major award, and he and his wife join a list of mostly black artists who have restricted themselves to victories in the rap and R&B categories, including Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Drake , Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and more.
This year, The Weeknd was the one that was scorned. Despite having the biggest hit of 2020 with “Blinding Lights” and a best-selling multi-hit album, he didn’t win any nominations. He has won three Grammys so far – only in the R&B categories – but he has promised to boycott the Grammys because he doesn’t agree with the way the Recording Academy selects its winners.
Still, Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” could become the second hip-hop song to win the record of the year.
Cardi B, BTS, Post Malone, Chris Martin, Lil Baby, John Mayer, Maren Morris and Doja Cat will also perform.
During the pre-show, Fiona Apple and Kaytranda were also twice winners on Sunday. John Prine and Chick Corea both won posthumously. Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Dan + Shay, James Taylor, HER, Beck, Brandi Carlile, Burna Boy, Tiffany Haddish and Rachel Maddow also won Grammys.
Artists competing with Swift for the album of the year include Coldplay, Post Malone, Dua Lipa, Jhené Aiko, HAIM, Black Pumas and Jacob Collier, who won a victory during the pre-ceremony.
___
Follow the full coverage of the Grammys AP at www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards