This year’s Grammys, the most prestigious music award show, aired on April 3, just a week after the controversial Oscars Ceremony. The celebration was supposed to take place in February, but had been rescheduled for two months later due to the rise in the omicron variant.

The host of the 2022 Grammy Awards, comedian Trevor Noah, kicked off the show with sarcastic quips about celebrities, not sparing Will Smith’s infamous slap at the Oscars. The ceremony was spiced up by talented performers such as Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Bruno Mars and Billie Eilish. The winners of the Big Four Grammy Awards were presented on the main stage and their reactions were streamed online.
The most prestigious award of all – Album Of The Year – went to “We Are” by Jon Batiste who was nominated in a total of 11 categories. Batiste beat out artists like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Kayne West, Billie Eilish and Justin Bieber, walking out with the most awards won this year. This unexpected turn of events shocked millions of fans who have never even heard Batiste’s name before.

Unlike Swift’s “Evermore” or Bieber’s “Justice”, “We Are” is a R&B/Soul album, unfamiliar to most pop listeners. Nevertheless, it is hard to deny Batiste’s incredible vocals and songwriting skills which indeed contributed to his success. Batiste, however, wasn’t the only person to win multiple awards that night. 19-year-old Olivia Rodrigo received 3 Grammys – for Best New Artist, Best Solo Pop Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. As one of the performers, she also made her debut on the Grammy stage.

R&B group Silk Sonic took home 4 awards, including the highly regarded Record of The Year for their song “Leave the Door Open” featuring Bruno Mars. The ceremony was highlighted by a rare appearance from Joni Mitchel who won Best Historical Album and gave a short speech as she accepted the trophy.

Awards in other categories were presented earlier that night and included trophies for performances and productions in specific music genres. The awards for Best Country Album and Best Rap Album went to “Starting Over” by Chris Stampleton and “Call Me If You Get Lost” by rapper Tyler, the Creator. Singer and songwriter Jack Antonoff, known to have worked with stars like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde or Lana Del Ray, received his first Grammy for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Antonoff, however, wasn’t the only one to receive their first ever trophy.
Doja Cat and SZA took home an award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and gave emotional speeches which touched many people’s hearts. Kanye West (now legally known as Ye), although not present at the ceremony, won two awards – Best Rap Song and Best Melodic Rap Performance. The artist was banned from performing at this year’s Grammys due to his “concerning online behavior” and controversy with ex-wife Kim Kardashian.

Rock band Foo Fighters was awarded with 3 trophies, just a month after their drummer Taylor Hawkins’ unexpected death. Singer Billie Eilish paid tribute to the artist by wearing a t-shirt featuring his photo while performing her single “Happier Than Ever” at the ceremony. That emotional and heartbreaking performance was given the biggest round of applause of the night.

Other artists such as BTS, Lil Nas X, John Legend or Carrie Underwood also contributed to the success of the show, making the Grammy Awards a night of strong performances. The incredible vocals, heartwarming tributes, touching speeches and humorous quips from the host made the ceremony truly compelling to watch. The Grammy Awards, just as the Oscars Ceremony, will indeed go down in history as an unforgettable event.