The 65th Grammy Awards 2023 kicked off with Trevor Noah as host for the third year in a row. His opening monologue was followed by a dynamic performance by Bad Bunny. The biggest music awards show was at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
I’m lucky enough to be back as your host tonight
This year, Beyoncé leads the pack with nine Grammy nominations including record, song and album of the year.
“Harry Styles is here tonight, everybody,” Noah continued.
I mean, what can you say about this man that hasn’t been said? … Women throw their panties at this man … he puts them on and he looks better in them than they do
READ MORE: It’s Grammys Weekend on Smile FM
Local spice at the Grammys
Bringing Mzanzi flare to the LA stage was the SA trio who bagged a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance. Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman were recognized in the Global Music Category for their hit song Beyethe. Kellerman said during his acceptance speech:
Thank you so much. This is such a beautiful moment on the road to sharing South African music and culture with the world
Bantwini said:
I just want to say, we are coming from Africa, South Africa. And this moment right here to anybody who’s in Africa just proves and affirms that every dream is valid
Zikoda sang a portion of Jerusalema when taking the mic. She thanked God in a Twitter post:
Look at God!!! From Hammarsdale to the world! 🌍
I never imagined that God would take me to such heights and platforms!
I want to give a special shoutout to my fans 💚🙏🏽@wouterkellerman, @tholsi_pillay, @zakesbantwini @sibo_the_zulu @fraserselwyn 👗 @gertjohan #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/gFPSArX49B
— Nomcebo Zikode (@Nomcebozikode) February 5, 2023
This is both Zikode’s and Bantwini’s first Grammy Award. And is Kellerman’s fourth Grammy Award. This also marks the tenth time a Grammy will be coming home to South Africa. At last year’s celebration, DJ Black Coffee won an award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for Subconsciously.
READ MORE: A Fresh Cuppa Black Coffee: Local DJ wins first Grammy Award
Queen B continues her reign-a-ssance
Beyoncé broke the record for the most Grammy Award wins of all time! She collected her 32nd trophy at the ceremony. Queen B makes history for Best Dance/Electronic Album with her seventh studio album, Renaissance.
Beyoncé overtakes Hungarian-British conductor George Solti. Solti holds a record a 31 awards – and it stood for more than 20 years. During her acceptance speech she thanked her husband and children. Along with her parents and late uncle Jonny, who helped make her stage costumes before her fame.
I’m trying not to be too emotional
Beyoncé accepts her 32nd #Grammy as she breaks the record for the most wins of all time. https://t.co/2B9c9dS1WD pic.twitter.com/5yfLlJXSv2
— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2023
Davis has (E)GOT four in the bag
Viola Davis is the 18th person to achieve an EGOT – Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards. She completed her collection by winning the Best Audio Book award for her autobiography Finding Me.
Davis won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars in 2016. Her role in How to Get Away with Murder earned her an Emmy Award, and her theatre work garnered two Tony Awards. She was the featured actress in King Hedley II (2001) and the lead actress in a the play, Fences (2010).
Davis scored the prize at the Grammy’s premiere ceremony – it mostly recognizes technical and genre categories.
Album of the Year Award done in Styles
British pop sensation, Harry Styles won the biggest award of the evening – the trophy for Best Album. However, not everyone felt Styles was deserving of the award, especially on an evening that saw Beyoncé make history.
renaissance really deserved aoty 😭
— 𝖏𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖉 is in the lavender haze (@jarzzgo) February 6, 2023
Someone yelled ” BEYONCÈ ” while harry was giving his speech lmao 😭#GRAMMYs #AOTY #Beyonce pic.twitter.com/mVYCia5fal
— Summer Renaissance King (@ffinnscarter) February 6, 2023
Styles collected the top prize for his third album Harry’s House. Earlier in the evening, Styles told the audience that the album was one of the ‘greatest experience’ of his life.
