The Grammys 2024 ceremony was eventful, to say the least.
Taylor Swift made history once again, winning best album for the fourth time for Midnights – while in sharp contrast to the glitz and glamour on stage, rapper Killer Mike was detained by police after picking up three gongs at the ceremony.
There was a standing ovation for one star who made a rare public appearance to present one of the night’s biggest prizes, plus a Grammys dressing down from the most awarded rapper in the ceremony’s history.
Aside from the big wins and the controversy, here is what everyone is talking about following the biggest night in music.
Celine Dion makes rare appearance amid health issues
Celine Dion urged stars at the Grammys never to ‘take it for granted’. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
For the past few years, Celine Dion has been living with a rare and incurable neurological condition known as stiff person syndrome, forcing her to cancel a Las Vegas residency in 2021 and a tour in 2022.
So the Grammys audience was delighted to see the star present the award for album of the year, giving her a standing ovation as she walked into the room.
Dion, 55, was helped on stage to present the prize some 27 years after she picked it up herself from Diana Ross and Sting. Swift, who went on to win the award, was among those on their feet as the music icon entered the room.
“Thank you all, I love you right back. When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart,” Dion said.
“Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take it for granted, the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives and to people all around the world.”
Dion, best known for hits including My Heart Will Go On, Because You Loved Me and It’s All Coming Back To Me Now, has sold more than 250 million albums and won five Grammys during her 40-year career.
Jay-Z calls out Grammys for Beyonce album snubs
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Jay-Z calls out the Grammys
At the ceremony last year, it was another woman making history – with Beyonce becoming the most decorated artist ever as she won her 32nd award. However, she missed out on the album of the year prize yet again.
So this year, husband Jay-Z – who has also picked up a fair few Grammys in his time – took to the stage with their daughter, Blue Ivy, and used his acceptance speech to call out the organisers.
The 54-year-old, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said he was honoured to collect the Dr Dre global impact award, but encouraged the Recording Academy voters to “get it right”.
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Referencing Beyonce’s achievements, he said: “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year. Think about that. Most Grammys, never won album of the year, that doesn’t work.
“Some of you will go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed, some of you may get robbed, some of you don’t belong in the category.”
He then added: “When I get nervous, I tell the truth.”
The rapper was later filmed drinking out of his Grammy award as he celebrated his win.
SZA’s wins and emotional shout-out to Swift
Like all good Swifties would, SZA namechecked the star in her own speech. Pic: AP
She went into the ceremony as the most nominated artist of the night and went on to take home three out of nine – best RnB song for Snooze, best progressive RnB album for SOS, and the best pop duo prize with Phoebe Bridgers for their track Ghost In The Machine.
SZA, real name Solana Rowe, was emotional as she ran on to the stage to hug fellow singer Lizzo, who presented one of her awards, saying they had been friends since 2019 when they were performing in small rooms together.
And like any other fan girl would, she took the opportunity to give a shout-out to the woman of the night.
“I’m just really overwhelmed, you don’t really understand I came really, really far and I can’t believe this is happening and it feels really fake,” the 34-year-old said on stage. “Hi Taylor, I love you.”
She also joked: “I’m not an attractive crier.”
Sinead O’Connor and other artists remembered.
Annie Lennox paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
An emotional in-memoriam segment was led by Stevie Wonder, who duetted For Once In My Life alongside a video of the late Tony Bennett, who appeared on-screen.
Other artists remembered included Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Buffett, Shane MacGowan, Burt Bacharach and Andy Rourke, while an emotional Annie Lennox sang Nothing Compares 2 U in memory of Sinead O’Connor.
“Artists for ceasefire, peace in the world,” Lennox told the audience, fist in the air, as she finished the performance.
Miley Cyrus ‘forgets her underwear’
Miley Cyrus took home two awards. Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
Going into the ceremony, Miley Cyrus had never won a Grammy. By the end, she had picked up two – including the prestigious record of the year prize for Flowers, beating stars including Swift, SZA, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.
“This award is amazing, but I really hope that it doesn’t change anything, because my life was beautiful yesterday,” she said in her speech.
“Not everyone in the world will get a Grammy but everyone in this world is spectacular, please don’t think that this is important. Even though it is important…”
Then, in typical Cyrus stile, she joked: “I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten underwear. Bye!”
Joni Mitchell makes debut performance at 80
Joni Mitchell performed for the first time. Pic: AP
Among the other notable performances of the night was Joni Mitchell, who sang at the awards ceremony for the first time at the age of 80.
The Canadian-American singer-songwriter delivered an emotional rendition of Both Sides Now from an armchair, alongside Brandi Carlile on the guitar, after she won in the best folk category for her 2023 live album, Joni Mitchell At Newport (Live).
Mitchell, who picked up a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2002, is making a gradual return to live appearances after suffering a brain aneurysm in March 2015.
Swift tells fans a secret
Taylor Swift had a surprise for fans. Pic: Reuters
Well, you can’t list the Grammys talking points without mentioning her, can you?
History-making aside, Swift also took the opportunity to announce details of a new album, titled The Tortured Poets Department, while picking up the gong for best pop vocal album for Midnights.
Following similar announcements at previous awards shows, her fanbase – Swifties – had been speculating online about whether the singer-songwriter would announce new music.
She didn’t disappoint, revealing her 11th studio record will be released on 19 April.
“I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I have been keeping from you for the last two years,” Swift told the crowd.
“Which is that my brand new album comes out April 19, it’s called The Tortured Poets Department, I’m going to go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you, I love you.”
The cover of the album features a black-and-white photo of Swift lying on a bed in a black top and shorts.
Meryl Streep is late
Oscar winner Meryl Streep was a little late to arrive, but she’s Meryl Streep, she can do what she likes.
Here she is interrupting host Trevor Noah’s speech.
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Meryl Streep interrupts opening speech
The Hollywood A-lister was attending with son-in-law and producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson to present the record of the year prize, won by Miley Cyrus.
Speaking about the song of the year prize – which Ronson was up for as a producer and songwriter of Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night – Streep joked on stage: “That’s the one you lost.”
Billie Eilish praises Barbie
Finneas, left, and Billie Eilish won the song of the year award for What Was I Made For? Pic: AP/Chris Pizzello
After the furore over Barbie director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie missing out on Oscar nominations, singer-songwriter Billie Eilish used her Grammys acceptance speech to praise the filmmaker.
Eilish, 22, won the song of the year prize for her ballad What Was I Made For?, from the film’s soundtrack, beating competition from the likes of Swift, Cyrus, Lana Del Rey and Olivia Rodrigo – and Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night, also from the movie.
After taking to the stage alongside her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell, the star described her fellow nominees as “incredible artists” and her brother as her “best friend in the world”.
Praising Gerwig, she said: “Thank you to Greta Gerwig for making the best movie of the year.”
Eilish also performed the track during the ceremony dressed as the 1965 Barbie Poodle Parade doll, donning black sunglasses and a pink head scarf, while O’Connell played the piano.
