62nd Grammy Awards: Billie’s Clean Sweep
• It was a family affair for the talented Billie Eilish and her brother/producer/collaborator Finneas at Sunday’s 62nd Grammy Awards — Billie pulled off a clean sweep of Grammy’s “Big Four” General Field awards — winning Best New Artist, Song Of The Year & Record of The Year (for “Bad Guy”) and Album Of The Year for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? In doing so, Billie became just the second artist in Grammy history to sweep the four major Grammy categories — Christopher Cross did it for the first (and last) time back in 1981.
Billie also won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Grammy host Alicia Keys, the 2002 Best New Artist Grammy winner, joined with last year’s Best New Artist winner Dua Lipa to pass the torch to Billie, who, at the age of 18, became the youngest Best New Artist winner since Mariah Carey in 1991. During the pre-show ceremony, Finneas won Grammys for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Billie’s album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Certified force-of-nature Lizzo, who opened the show with an amazingly high-energy performance (complete with bonus flute solo!) won Grammys for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jerome,” Best Urban Contemporary Album for Cuz I Love You (Deluxe), and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Truth Hurts.”
Despite the outwardly festive atmosphere surrounding the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, the mood on the red carpet and inside Staples Center — the home of the Los Angeles Lakers — was decidedly dampened by the tragic Sunday morning death of Laker’s legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash. After Lizzo’s opening set, host Alicia Keys took a moment at the outset to pay tribute to Bryant, bringing out Boyz II Men for a heartfelt a capella version of “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday.” High in the rafters of Staples Center, spotlights illuminated Bryant’s two retired jersey numbers: 24 and 8.
More Grammy Highlights
In addition to the performances — notably Demi Lovato‘s emotional return to the stage and Camilla Cabello‘s heartfelt tribute to her tearful father; Tyler, The Creator with Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men; Lil Nas X’s crazy rotating stage performance of “Old Town Road” featuring special guests BTS, Mason Ramsey, Diplo, Billy Ray Cyrus and NAS; Usher, Sheila E. & special guest FKA Twigs performed a Grammy Salute to Prince, and the late Nipsey Hussle was honored with a tribute by Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled, John Legend, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch and YG. Hussle won a posthumous Grammy for Best Rap Performance for “Racks In The Middle,” and Best Rap/Sung Performance went to “Higher” with DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend. Tyler, The Creator won Best Rap Album for Igor.
Nearly 50 years into her storied career, the legendary Tanya Tucker won her first-ever Grammy Awards — Best Country Album for While I’m Livin’ and Best Country Song for “Bring My Flowers Now,” along with fellow co-writers Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth. “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus won Grammys for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video.
Other multiple winners included Gary Clark Jr., who won Grammys for Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Contemporary Blues Album for This Land, The Chemical Brothers won for Best Dance Recording for “Got To Keep On,” and Best Dance/Electronic Album for No Geography, and for KING & Country won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Burn The Ships and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “God Only Knows.”
Esperanza Spaulding, who won the coveted Best New Artist Grammy in 2011 returned to the Grammy winner’s circle, taking home her fourth Grammy — Best Jazz Vocal Album victory for 12 Little Spells. Best New Artist nominee Rosalía won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album for El Mal Querer, and former First Lady Michelle Obama was the winner for Best Spoken Word Album for Becoming.
We would be remiss if we didn’t give a shout-out to the talented Ellen K, who was once again the voice of The Grammys. The complete list of 2020 Grammy winners is posted at Grammy.com. [Billie Eilish photo: iPhone screen grab]
