Taylor Swift Makes History at Grammy Awards, Winning Album of the Year for the Fourth Time

Taylor Swift Makes History at Grammy Awards

By Mark Savage & Ian Youngs

BBC News

5 February 2024, 02:15 GMT
Updated 1 hour ago

Taylor Swift stole the show at this year’s Grammy Awards, becoming the first performer to win the prize for album of the year four times.

Taylor Swift achieved a historic milestone at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Swift’s latest album, “Midnights,” won the coveted Album of the Year award, making her the first performer to achieve this honor four times. The superstar surpassed the previous record of three wins held by notable artists such as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Frank Sinatra.

During the ceremony, Taylor Swift was presented with the award by Celine Dion, who surprised the audience with her unexpected appearance. Dion’s attendance also helped dispel concerns about her health. Swift also took the opportunity to announce a surprise new album, delighting her fans around the world.

The 2024 Grammy Awards witnessed other major winners, including Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish. Cyrus’ “Flowers” secured the Record of the Year award, while Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” won Song of the Year. Victoria Monét also received recognition as the Best New Artist of the year.

The evening at the Los Angeles ceremony highlighted the success of female artists, with R&B stars SZA and Victoria Monét, as well as the all-female indie supergroup Boygenius, receiving multiple awards. Legendary music icons Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell also delivered rare and poignant performances, adding to the powerful female presence of the night.

Amongst the male artists, Killer Mike took home three rap trophies, solidifying his place as the top male winner of the evening. However, his success was overshadowed by an incident backstage, which resulted in him being “booked for misdemeanor battery,” as confirmed by the LA police.

• Album of the year – Taylor Swift, “Midnights”
• Record of the year – Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
• Song of the year – Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For?”
• Best new artist – Victoria Monét

The distinction between “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year” deserves clarification. While “Song of the Year” recognizes songwriters and their compositions, “Record of the Year” focuses on the technical aspects of the recording, including production, engineering, and performance.

Taylor Swift expressed her genuine happiness and gratitude during her acceptance speech after receiving the prestigious Album of the Year award. She thanked her fans and admitted that every aspect of creating music, such as finishing a song, rehearsing, or preparing for a show, fills her with joy. Swift considers the work itself to be the ultimate reward, deeply moved by the happiness it brings not only to herself but also to the fans who voted for her.

Amid the celebration, Celine Dion shared the stage to present Taylor Swift with the Best Album award. Dion’s appearance reassured the audience, easing concerns about her health.

In her remarkable career, Taylor Swift has previously won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. In 2010, her album “Fearless” claimed the honor, followed by “1989” in 2016, and “Folklore” in 2021.

Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” won Best Pop Vocal Album, but interestingly, Swift herself did not receive the prizes for Song of the Year or Record of the Year. Billie Eilish’s contribution to the Barbie film soundtrack, “What Was I Made For?,” won the Song of the Year title this time, outshining Swift’s “Anti-Hero.” Notable tracks by SZA, Miley Cyrus, and Olivia Rodrigo were also contenders in this category.

Accepting the award alongside her brother and co-writer, Finneas, Billie Eilish expressed her disbelief and gratitude. She acknowledged the incredible talent of her fellow nominees and emphasized her joy at being recognized in the company of such remarkable artists.

In addition to winning Song of the Year, Billie Eilish’s winning streak continued as her Barbie album contribution won the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The Barbie album, a project spearheaded by producer Mark Ronson, also picked up the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Miley Cyrus made a significant impact at this year’s Grammy Awards by scooping up her first-ever Grammy Award. Cyrus’s hit, “Flowers,” not only won Record of the Year but also secured the award for Best Pop Vocal Performance. In an electrifying performance at the ceremony, Miley Cyrus altered the lyrics of her song to jubilantly announce her victory, exclaiming, “I just won my first Grammy!”

In her poignant acceptance speech, Miley Cyrus shared the allegorical tale of a boy pursuing a butterfly. When the boy finally stopped chasing and stood still, the butterfly landed on his nose. She eloquently related this story to her winning song, “Flowers,” expressing her own achievement and calling it her personal butterfly.

The Grammy nominations heavily favored SZA, with a total of nine nominations. SZA shone throughout the night, winning three distinguished awards. Her performance at the ceremony featured a thrilling recreation of the “Crazy 88” fight scene from Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill,” inspired by her hit song of the same name, which earned her the Best R&B Song award.

SZA’s on-stage captivating performance included a cohort of sword-wielding female dancers playfully vanquishing a horde of male dancers, symbolizing her song’s comical story of moving on from an ex-lover.

Two legendary music icons delivered spine-tingling moments at the ceremony. Tracy Chapman, who had been in semiretirement since 2009, joined country singer Luke Combs on stage, revitalizing her classic hit “Fast Car” with beautiful harmonies. Additionally, Joni Mitchell captivated the audience with her first-ever Grammy performance at the age of 80, delivering a mesmerizing rendition of her timeless classic “Both Sides Now.”

Joni Mitchell’s live album, capturing her triumphant return to the stage in 2022 after a brain aneurysm, earned her the Grammy for Best Folk Album. These remarkable artists demonstrated the power of their music and female resilience, leaving a profound impact on the audience.

In addition to the major awards, the Grammy’s “‘premiere ceremony” showcased other notable victories. Boygenius, an all-female indie supergroup, received multiple awards for their debut album “The Record,” which combines 1970s California rock harmonies with heartfelt lyrics about love and friendship.

Kylie Minogue, a music icon with a remarkable career, claimed her second-ever Grammy Award. Minogue’s “Padam Padam” earned her the Best Pop Dance Recording award, marking a significant milestone in her career, almost two decades since her first Grammy win.

Moreover, South African singer Tyla entered the history books by winning the first-ever award for Best African Performance at the Grammy Awards, further highlighting the diverse and global reach of the music industry.