Taylor Swift Makes History at the Grammys with Record Win and Album Announcement

Taylor Swift has made history at the 2024 Grammys by smashing the record for most Grammy wins and announcing her new album. The 34-year-old artist won the prestigious Album of the Year for her latest release, ‘Midnights,’ making it her fourth win in this category. With this achievement, Swift has become the first artist to win four Album of the Year Grammys, surpassing the previous record holders Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, and Frank Sinatra. Celine Dion presented Swift with the award.

In her acceptance speech, Swift expressed her surprise and gratitude, thanking her producer Jack Antonoff and her friend Lana Del Rey. She described Del Rey as a “legacy artist” and “a legend in her prime right now.” Swift humbly acknowledged that while winning the award was a significant moment, she finds joy in the work itself and hopes to continue creating music that makes her happy. She also revealed that she would be releasing a new album soon.

Miley Cyrus, who had already won a Grammy for her song ‘Flowers’ in the Pop Solo Performance category, took home the prestigious Record of the Year. Cyrus expressed her gratitude for the award but emphasized that she hoped it would not change her beautiful life. In true Miley Cyrus fashion, she closed her acceptance speech with some humor, jokingly mentioning that she may have forgotten to wear underwear.

The Best New Artist award went to Victoria Monét, who had a breakout year with her soulful track ‘On My Mama.’ Monét shared her gratitude for finally being recognized as the Best New Artist after fifteen years of hard work. She also revealed that she had recorded the song shortly after giving birth to her daughter and it had helped her cope with postpartum depression.

Joni Mitchell, the legendary singer-songwriter, made history by performing at the Grammys for the first time ever. The 80-year-old icon also won the Grammy for Best Folk Album. Escorted by Brandi Carlile, Mitchell delivered a moving rendition of her classic song ‘Both Sides Now.’ The performance received a standing ovation from notable attendees such as Meryl Streep, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Dua Lipa.

A standout moment of the night was Jay-Z’s acceptance of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Alongside his daughter Blue Ivy, Jay-Z used the opportunity to call out the Grammy institution for its past failings. He urged them to “get it right” and acknowledged the historical oversight of his wife, Beyoncé, who holds the record for the most Grammys but has never won Album of the Year. Jay-Z’s bold speech also included some truth bombs directed towards artists who may not deserve their nominations.

The Grammys paid tribute to several late artists throughout the evening. Stevie Wonder and Tony Bennett performed a heartfelt duet on stage, Annie Lennox delivered a touching rendition of Sinead O'Connor‘s ‘Nothing Compares 2U,’ and Jon Batiste and Jam and Lewis honored the late record executive Clarence Avant. Oprah celebrated Tina Turner‘s legacy, and Fantasia Barrino took the stage to honor her.