The Grammy Awards, otherwise known as ‘Music’s Biggest Night’ have given us countless memorable moments over the decades, from Jennifer Lopez turning up in that Versace dress in 2000 (she treated us to another headline-making appearance in a reimagined version of it at Milan Fashion Week last year) to Lady Gaga arriving not in a limo, but in a giant egg in 2011. Last year saw Cardi B — wearing vintage 1995 Thierry Mugler — make history by becoming the first solo woman to win Best Rap Album.
This year, the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards were a more sombre occasion, with stars at the Staples Center appearing on stage below the retired jerseys of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier in the day.
Alicia Keys returned for a second year of hosting duties with aplomb, and her impromptu a cappella performance of ‘It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday’ with Boyz II Men proved a sincere tribute.
It also included triumphs for first-time Grammy winners. Lizzo kicked off the show by saying “tonight is for Kobe” as she took to the stage and Billie Eilish, who won five awards, is the first person to win each of the four biggest categories since Christopher Cross in 1981.
When and where were the Grammy Awards 2020 held?
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday 26 January 2020, and were broadcast live on CBS at 8pm ET/5pm PT in the US [1am GMT]. The event was held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, which has hosted the Grammys since 2000 (with the exception of 2003 and 2018). Only music released between 1 October 2018 and 31 August 2019 could be nominated for the Grammys 2020, which cut short the eligibility window by a month. This is because the Grammy Awards 2020 ceremony was moved forward by two week to avoid clashing with the 92nd Academy Awards ceremony on 9 February 2020.
Who hosted the Grammy Awards 2020?
Alicia Keys returned as the host in 2020, after presenting the Grammy Awards in 2019 when she became the first woman in 14 years to do so. Before that, the last woman to host was Queen Latifah in 2005.
Keys told Billboard in a statement: “Last year was such a powerful experience for me. Not only did I feel the love in the room, but I felt it from around the world and it confirmed the healing and unifying power of music.” Keys herself has won 15 Grammy awards.
Who were the winners of note at the Grammy Awards 2020?
Two of the biggest breakout stars of 2019, British Vogue cover star Lizzo and Billie Eilish, each received multiple nods in major categories this year, Lizzo racked up eight Grammy nominations in total, with six for Eilish, and six for another star who exploded in 2019, Lil Nas X. Eilish won five awards including best New Artist, Album Of The Year and Song Of The Year for Bad Guy, while Lizzo took home Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Tyler, the Creator was also a first time Grammy winner, accepting the Best Rap Album award for Igor, standing with his mother on stage to do so. Later backstage, he told Billboard of his interest to break out of those rap or urban categories and be recognized on a more mainstream level.
How are the Grammy Awards nominees and winners selected?
Members of the Recording Academy and record companies submit entries for all 84 categories of the Grammy Awards. These are screened for eligibility and category placement by 350 experts in various fields of music. Two rounds of ballots (first-round and final) are then sent to voting members, which determines the five nominees in each category and then the winners.
Ballots are monitored by independent accounting firm Deloitte, which keeps the voting results secret until the live televised Grammy Awards ceremony.
Who is invited to the Grammys?
Grammy nominees and their guests, guests of the Recording Academy and voting members are invited to attend the awards ceremony.
What is the dress code?
The Grammys specifies black or white-tie as the dress code, but guests have certainly pushed the boundaries over the years. Think Cher wearing a bikini-style top on the red carpet in 1974; Nicki Minaj’s Red Riding Hood-inspired look in 2012; and Cardi B wearing vintage Thierry Mugler in 2019.
Why are the Grammys so important?
The Grammys, which first began in 1959, is considered to be the music industry’s equivalent to the Oscars or the Emmy Awards. In the past, it has shone a spotlight on important issues in music; during the 2018 awards, for example, the hashtag #GrammysSoMale started trending on social media due to the lack of female representation across the major categories.
Who performed?
Stars such as Rosalía, Camila Cabello, Tyler, the Creator, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Usher, FKA Twigs and Lizzo took to the stage during the three-and-a-half hour broadcast, which showcased the year’s most celebrated artists. Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande both broke down in tears during their performances, which pulled from personal struggles and breakthroughs.
Grammy records over the years
Many people are unfamiliar with the artist who holds the most Grammys (most assume it to be Beyoncé). In fact, classical artist Georg Salti won 31 before his death in 1997. Quincy Jones and Alison Krauss are up there too, winning 28 and 27 respectively. Beyoncé has won 23 to date, and has been nominated the most in the Best Female Artist category (63 times). She and Adele are on a par when it comes to the most trophies scooped by a woman in one night (six apiece).
Source: British Vogue
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