Grammy Awards: Taylor Swift presents Beyoncé with greatest nation album

A surprised expression shot throughout Beyoncé’s face as her newest report, Cowboy Carter, was named greatest nation album on the 67th Grammy Awards.

In a second laced with symbolism, the award was introduced by Taylor Swift – one other artist who has efficiently switched genres – and who’s Beyoncé’s competitors for the night time’s important prize, album of the yr.

“Wow, I actually was not anticipating this,” mentioned the star, thanking “the entire unimaginable nation artists” who had voted for the prize.

The popularity got here 5 months after Beyoncé was snubbed at the Country Music Awards – even after she grew to become the primary black girl to have a primary hit on the Sizzling Nation Songs chart, with Texas Maintain ‘Em.

That music can be nominated for Report of the Yr on the Grammys, the place Beyoncé faces competitors from the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and Chappell Roan.

That class additionally options The Beatles, nominated for Now And Then – the observe they reassembled from an previous John Lennon demo in 2023.

The music has already received greatest rock efficiency in an early “premiere ceremony”, the place the majority of the Grammys’ 94 awards are handed out.

The primary ceremony, on the Crypto.com area in Los Angeles, is doubling up as a fund-raiser for folks affected by the ferocious wildfires that swept the town final month.

The present opened with a particular efficiency by the native band Dawes, whose houses had been destroyed within the inferno, taking part in Randy Newman’s basic music I Love LA.

Later, Woman Gaga and Bruno Mars delivered a rousing model of California Dreamin’, initially by The Mamas & Papas, devoted to the primary responders who helped deal with the fires.

Comic Trevor Noah, who’s internet hosting the present, admitted that “just some weeks in the past, we weren’t certain that this present would even occur”.

“Fortunately, because of the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and regardless of all of the devastation, the spirit of the town has emerged,” he added, to beneficiant applause.

Squads of firefighters had been invited to the awards to honour their efforts; and so they walked the crimson carpet taking selfies with the most important stars in music.

Los Angeles native Billie Eilsh was the second artist on stage, taking part in her award-nominated music Birds Of A Feather towards a backdrop impressed by California’s pure magnificence.

“I really like you LA,” she mentioned because the music ended.

Noah later joked that winners whose speeches ran longer than one-and-a-half minutes could be compelled to donate $1,000 for each additional second they spoke.

As for the awards, Beyoncé arrived on the ceremony with probably the most nominations – 11 in whole.

She already has extra Grammys than every other artist in historical past, a haul of 32 trophies, however has by no means received the most important prize, album of the yr.

Successful greatest nation album indicators that she’s within the working for that prize on the fifth time of asking – however the class is stacked with equally-deserving data by Billie Eilish and four-time winner Taylor Swift.

British pop star Charli XCX can be within the working for Brat – which has already received three trophies, together with greatest dance/pop album.

Sabrina Carpenter is one other robust contender, having already received greatest pop vocal album for Quick ‘n’ Candy, and greatest pop solo efficiency for her flirtatious summer time anthem, Espresso.

Chappell Roan received greatest new artist, and used her speech to name for equitable pay and situations within the music business.

“I informed myself, if I ever received a Grammy and I obtained to face up right here in entrance of probably the most highly effective folks in music, I might demand that labels and the business profiting thousands and thousands of {dollars} off of artists, would provide a habitable wage and well being care, particularly to creating artists,” she mentioned.

“Labels, we obtained you, however do you bought us?”

The primary prize of the primary ceremony was greatest rap album, which went to Florida-born rapper Doechii, for her mixtape Alligator Bites By no means Heal.

She famous it was solely the third time a lady had received the class because it was launched in 1989, with a shout-out to her predecessors Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.

“There are such a lot of black girls on the market which might be watching me proper now, and I wish to inform you, you are able to do it,” she added.

“Something is feasible. Do not enable anyone to mission any stereotypes on you [or] inform you you can’t be right here, that you just’re too darkish, or that you just’re not sensible sufficient, or that you just’re too dramatic otherwise you’re too loud.

“You’re precisely who you’ll want to be to be proper the place you might be and I’m a sworn statement. Reward God.”