Commentary: Women seize the Grammys spotlight, and big prizes
Kacey Musgraves holds her four awards -- including for album of the year for “Golden Hour”-- at the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Last year the show was roundly critized for leaving women out of the top categories.
As the host of the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Alicia Keys did a bit in which she recalled one of her previous experiences at music’s most prestigious awards show. The year was 2005, she said, and the R&B singer badly wanted to win song of the year for her tune “If I Ain’t Got You.”
Well, that didn’t happen.
But evidently the guy who won that night, John Mayer, shared Keys’ opinion that she deserved the award — so he broke his Grammy into two pieces and gave her one, which she pulled out all these years later to show the audience.
Nobody was asking women to settle for half a Grammy this time.
Female artists took many of the biggest prizes at the 61st Grammy Awards, held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, including album of the year, which went to Kacey Musgraves for her psychedelic country disc “Golden Hour,” and best new artist, which went to the dance-pop singer Dua Lipa.
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Cardi B, the delightfully straight-talking New York MC, became the first solo female rapper to win the award for rap album with her smash “Invasion of Privacy.” Other winners included H.E.R., who took R&B album with her self-titled debut, and Ariana Grande, whose “Sweetener” was named the year’s best pop vocal album.
Cardi B accepts the Grammy for rap album — the first solo female artist to win the award.
The results represented a remarkable shift from 2018, when the Grammys were roundly — and justly — criticized for shutting women out of several major categories, despite the fact that women have reliably been the ones moving pop’s needle in recent years.
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Recording Academy President Neil Portnow made matters worse after last year’s show when he suggested that women should “step up” if they wanted to be recognized — as though the systemic barriers women face were merely a trick of the mind, and failure to surmount them merely a lack of gumption.
The academy’s chosen winners this year — and its chosen performers and honorees — can be taken as evidence of an attempt at damage control. The recent dearth of female winners and Portnow’s clumsy phrasing — along with the Grammys’ long-established blind spot when it comes to hip-hop — have done serious harm to the show’s reputation among young hitmakers.
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Last week Grande went public with her beef with the Grammys’ executive producer, Ken Ehrlich, over what she said was his lack of respect for a performance she’d planned to give. (As a result, she sat out Sunday’s ceremony.)
And though he was nominated for album of the year with his soundtrack to the Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther,” Kendrick Lamar also opted not to appear. Also notably absent was Childish Gambino, who had several important wins for “This Is America,” his viral rap hit about gun violence and racial terror.
Along with the awards, Sunday’s performances — the vast majority by women and people of color — at times seemed to scream, “Hey, we get it!” But the night, hosted by Keys with low-key warmth and enthusiasm, never felt cynical. It simply seemed more in line with pop as it exists today than the ceremony has for years.
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In the middle of the group, Derek Ali, left, and Ludwig Goransson, right, accept the record of the year award for “This Is America” at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Yolanda Adams, Fantasia Barrino and Andra Day perform onstage during a tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Outgoing Grammys executive Neil Portnow speaks at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dua Lipa won new artist at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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St. Vincent, left, and Dua Lipa perform onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Travis Scott performs at the 61st Grammy Awards as performers climb makeshift fences onstage at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Travis Scott, center, performs onstage the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Lopez and Smokey Robinson perform onstage during the Motown tribute at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Lopez performs during the Motown salute during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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V, Jungkook, Jimin, Suga, Jin, RM, and J-Hope of BTS speak at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Brandi Carlile performs at the 61st Grammys Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cardi B, left, accepts the award for rap album at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Leon Bridges and Charlie Wilson at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey are Chloe X Halle and performed “Where Is the Love?” at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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H.E.R. won the award for R&B at the 61st Grammy Awards
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dan + Shay give it their all in a performance at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Keys performs onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga performs “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga performs onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga performs “Shallow” onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Diana Ross performs during at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Diana Ross performs during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick introduces his grandmother, Diana Ross, at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Canadian rapper Drake accepts the award for rap song for “God’s Plan” at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cardi B performs at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cardi B performs at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cardi B performs onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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H.E.R. performs onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian and Kacey Musgraves accept country album honor for “Golden Hour” onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dolly Parton, center, performs with Jimi Westbrook, left, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Philip Sweet onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Maren Morris, left, Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus perform onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Katy Perry, left, and Kacey Musgraves at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Host Alicia Keys speaks at the 61st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
(Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Lady Gaga, left, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez speak at the beginning of the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Flea and Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers perform with Post Malone onstage during the at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Camila Cabello performs on stage at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ricky Martin, left, and Camila Cabello perform “Havana” at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ricky Martin, Camila Cabello and J Balvin perform onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ricky Martin, Camila Cabello and J Balvin perform onstage at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Shawn Mendes performs onstage during at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Miley Cyrus performs onstage during at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Miley Cyrus and Shawn Mendes perform onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
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Miley Cyrus, left, and Shawn Mendes perform onstage during at the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga emotionally accepts the pop duo/group performance for “Shallow.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Janelle Monáe performs onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Janelle Monáe performs onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves performs during the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Fatoumata Diawara preforms the 61st Grammy Awards premiere ceremony at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Randy Shropshire / Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
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Questlove presents an award at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Tori Kelly accepts the award for gospel album for “Hiding Place” at the 61st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
(Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Brandi Carlile accepts the award for Americana album for “By The Way, I Forgive You” onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards pre-telecast show in Los Angeles.
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Aida Cuevas, left, Natalia Lafourcade and Angela Aguilar perform “La Llorona” at the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Buddy Guy accepts the award for traditional blues album for “The Blues Is Alive And Well” onstage during the 61st Grammy Awards pre-telecast show.
Camila Cabello opened the show with a colorful rendition of her song “Havana” that featured cameos by Ricky Martin, Young Thug, Arturo Sandoval and J Balvin (the last of whom held a newspaper headlined “Build bridges not walls”).
Janelle Monáe did a medley of songs from her “Dirty Computer” — a futuristic account of love defined as broadly as possible — while accompanied by dancers wearing anatomically inspired outfits.
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“Let the vagina have a monologue,” she said.
H.E.R., shredding on an electric guitar, did a beautiful rendition of her song “Hard Place” that felt suffused with confidence in her own vision. She wasn’t hurrying for anyone.
Onstage later to accept her rap album trophy, the outspoken and verbally dexterous hip-hop star was speechless for once and admitted that her nerves were getting the best of her. With a grin, she added, “Maybe I need to start smoking weed” — a line that exemplified the authentic goofball charm that’s endeared her to so many over the last two years.
Another sign of progress for the Grammys: The awards for record and song of the year went to Childish Gambino — also known as the actor Donald Glover — for his searing track “This Is America.” The latter represented the first time a hip-hop track has won song of the year — an absurdity, given how long rap has dominated the Top 40, but a welcome achievement nonetheless.
And the show — long scorned for pairing young up-and-comers with past-their-prime veterans for performances proudly referred to as “Grammy moments” — also did better balancing old and new.
Miley Cyrus and Shawn Mendes, both in their 20s, performed his “In My Blood” together, while Lipa joined St. Vincent — as opposed to, y’know, Judy Collins — to mash up a couple of their tunes.
Even the inevitable tributes to aging icons felt fresher than usual, in large part because Dolly Parton and Diana Ross took control of their own salutes, singing with real gusto (if not always a clear sense of pitch, as in Ross’ case).
Keys, in a lovely sequence that had her playing two pianos at the same time, paid tender homage to some of her favorite songs, which had to have been the first time Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” and “Lucid Dreams” by the rapper Juice WRLD were in such close proximity.
Host Alicia Keys performs on dueling pianos during the 61st Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Not everything worked, of course.
One dreadful Grammy moment had Post Malone jamming with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which did nothing for either act. And a celebration of Motown Records — the label that arguably laid the groundwork for black American pop — was fronted for some reason by … Jennifer Lopez.
