Queer highlights of the Grammys 2022
Here’s our recap of the Grammys, in case you missed it.
The 64th Grammy Awards were presented on Sunday April 3rd in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. Hosted by Trevor Noah, the Recording Academy handed out 86 awards honoring who they consider to be the best and brightest of the music industry, despite what the listening public may or may not think about it.
Jon Baptiste was the big winner of the night winning five Grammys, including Album of the Year for We Are. Silk Sonic cleaned up with four trophies including record and song of the year for “Leave the Door Open”.
Notably lacking were high profile wins for queer arts with the exception of Best Country Duo Performance going to Brothers Osbourne for “Younger Me”. TJ Osbourne made headlines last year by becoming the only openly gay country artist on a major music label. To see him and his brother take home a Grammy for a song that is about coming out is a major achievement.
Brandi Carlisle won none of the four Grammys she was nominated for but blew us all away with her performance of “Right on Time” last night. She started at the piano, ending up center stage on the guitar all the while singing pitch perfect and filling the arena with her soulful and powerful voice.
Lil Nas X similarly was shut out of all five categories he was nominated for but managed to put on a showstopping performance of some of his biggest hits. He put on a medley of “Dead Right Now”, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Industry Baby” (with Jack Harlow). It was a pure pop spectacle reminiscent of Michael Jackson with respect to costuming, theatricality, choreography and even crotch-grabbing. The sets, the projections, the costume changes; it was perfection! He is a bonafide superstar.
Gay icon Lady Gaga gave a breathtaking and heartfelt performance honoring her friend, jazz legend, Tony Bennett and walked away with the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal for Love for Sale, her latest joint venture with Bennett.
Billy Porter was on hand to present the award for Best R&B album and dazzled in a ruffled fuchsia couture Valentino number. Laverne Cox served as the ‘hostess with the mostess’ for E!’s red carpet preshow. Michelle Zauner of the pop group Japanese Breakfast was in attendance for nominations in the best new artist and best alternative album categories. The queens of Rupaul’s Drag Race LIVE! were in the audience as were Halsey and Ben Platt. It was a star-studded affair for sure and queer representation was plentiful.
Below is a list of nominees and winners. For the full list be sure to head to the Grammys official website HERE.
Record Of The Year
Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s), if other than the artist.
- I Still Have Faith In You
ABBA
Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, producers; Benny Andersson & Bernard Löhr, engineers/mixers; Björn Engelmann, mastering engineer - Freedom
Jon Batiste
Jon Batiste, DJ Khalil, Kizzo & Autumn Rowe, producers; Russ Elevado, Kizzo & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Michelle Mancini, mastering engineer - I Get A Kick Out Of You
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Dae Bennett, producer; Dae Bennett & Josh Coleman, engineers/mixers; Greg Calbi & Steve Fallone, mastering engineers - Peaches
Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
Louis Bell, Josh Gudwin, HARV, Shndo & Andrew Watt, producers; Josh Gudwin & Andrew Watt, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer - Right On Time
Brandi Carlile
Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Brandon Bell & Tom Elmhirst, engineers/mixers; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer - Kiss Me More
Doja Cat Featuring SZA
Rogét Chahayed, tizhimself & Yeti Beats, producers; Rob Bisel, Serban Ghenea, Rian Lewis & Joe Visciano, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish
FINNEAS, producer; Billie Eilish, FINNEAS & Rob Kinelski, engineers/mixers; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer - Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Lil Nas X
Omer Fedi, Roy Lenzo & Take A Daytrip, producers; Denzel Baptiste, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Roy Lenzo, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer - drivers license
Olivia Rodrigo
Daniel Nigro, producer; Mitch McCarthy & Daniel Nigro, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer - Leave The Door Open **WINNER**
Silk Sonic
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II & Bruno Mars, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Charles Moniz, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
Album Of The Year
Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s).
- We Are **WINNER**
Jon Batiste - Love For Sale
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)
Justin Bieber - Planet Her (Deluxe)
Doja Cat - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish - Back Of My Mind
H.E.R. - Montero
Lil Nas X - Sour
Olivia Rodrigo - Evermore
Taylor Swift
- Donda
Kanye West
Song Of The Year
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- Bad Habits
Fred Gibson, Johnny McDaid & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Ed Sheeran) - A Beautiful Noise
Ruby Amanfu, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Alicia Keys, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry & Hailey Whitters, songwriters (Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile) - drivers license
Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo, songwriters (Olivia Rodrigo) - Fight For You
Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.) - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) - Kiss Me More
Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Carter Lang, Gerard A. Powell II, Solána Rowe & David Sprecher, songwriters (Doja Cat Featuring SZA) - Leave The Door Open **WINNER**
Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic) - Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Denzel Baptiste, David Biral, Omer Fedi, Montero Hill & Roy Lenzo, songwriters (Lil Nas X) - Peaches
Louis Bell, Justin Bieber, Giveon Dezmann Evans, Bernard Harvey, Felisha “Fury” King, Matthew Sean Leon, Luis Manuel Martinez Jr., Aaron Simmonds, Ashton Simmonds, Andrew Wotman & Keavan Yazdani, songwriters (Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon) - Right On Time
Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
Best New Artist
This category recognizes an artist whose eligibility-year release(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.
- Arooj Aftab
- Jimmie Allen
- Baby Keem
- FINNEAS
- Glass Animals
- Japanese Breakfast
- The Kid LAROI
- Arlo Parks
- Olivia Rodrigo **WINNER**
- Saweetie
Best Pop Solo Performance
For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.
- Anyone
Justin Bieber - Right On Time
Brandi Carlile - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish - Positions
Ariana Grande - drivers license **WINNER**
Olivia Rodrigo
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.
- I Get A Kick Out Of You
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Lonely
Justin Bieber & benny blanco - Butter
BTS - Higher Power
Coldplay - Kiss Me More **WINNER**
Doja Cat Featuring SZA
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new traditional pop recordings.
- Love For Sale **WINNER**
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Til We Meet Again (Live)
Norah Jones - A Tori Kelly Christmas
Tori Kelly - Ledisi Sings Nina
Ledisi - That’s Life
Willie Nelson - A Holly Dolly Christmas
Dolly Parton
Best Pop Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new pop vocal recordings.
- Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)
Justin Bieber - Planet Her (Deluxe)
Doja Cat - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish - Positions
Ariana Grande - Sour **WINNER**
Olivia Rodrigo
Best Rock Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- All My Favorite Songs
Rivers Cuomo, Ashley Gorley, Ben Johnson & Ilsey Juber, songwriters (Weezer) - The Bandit
Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon) - Distance
Wolfgang Van Halen, songwriter (Mammoth WVH) - Find My Way
Paul McCartney, songwriter (Paul McCartney) - Waiting On A War **WINNER**
Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett & Pat Smear, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Best Rock Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rock, hard rock or metal recordings.
- Power Up
AC/DC - Capitol Cuts – Live From Studio A
Black Pumas - No One Sings Like You Anymore Vol. 1
Chris Cornell - Medicine At Midnight **WINNER**
Foo Fighters - McCartney III
Paul McCartney
Best R&B Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- Damage
Anthony Clemons Jr., Jeff Gitelman, H.E.R., Carl McCormick & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.) - Good Days
Jacob Collier, Carter Lang, Carlos Munoz, Solána Rowe & Christopher Ruelas, songwriters (SZA) - Heartbreak Anniversary
Giveon Evans, Maneesh, Sevn Thomas & Varren Wade, songwriters (Giveon) - Leave The Door Open **WINNER**
Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic) - Pick Up Your Feelings
Denisia “Blue June” Andrews, Audra Mae Butts, Kyle Coleman, Brittany “Chi” Coney, Michael Holmes & Jazmine Sullivan, songwriters (Jazmine Sullivan)
Best R&B Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.
- Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies
Snoh Aalegra - We Are
Jon Batiste - Gold-Diggers Sound
Leon Bridges - Back Of My Mind
H.E.R. - Heaux Tales **WINNER*
Jazmine Sullivan
Best Rap Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- Bath Salts
Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Michael Forno, Nasir Jones & Earl Simmons, songwriters (DMX Featuring Jay-Z & Nas) - Best Friend
Amala Zandelie Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Randall Avery Hammers, Diamonté Harper, Asia Smith, Theron Thomas & Rocco Valdes, songwriters (Saweetie Featuring Doja Cat) - Family Ties
Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Hykeem Carter, Tobias Dekker, Colin Franken, Jasper Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Latour & Dominik Patrzek, songwriters (Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar) - Jail **WINNER**
Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West & Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Jay-Z) - M Y . L I F E
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, Jermaine Cole & Jacob Dutton, songwriters (J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray)
Best Rap Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.
- The Off-Season
J. Cole - King’s Disease II
Nas - Call Me If You Get Lost **WINNER**
Tyler, The Creator - Donda
Kanye West
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.
- If I Didn’t Love You
Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood - Younger Me **WINNER**
Brothers Osborne - Glad You Exist
Dan + Shay - Chasing After You
Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)
Elle King & Miranda Lambert
Best Country Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- Better Than We Found It
Jessie Jo Dillon, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Maren Morris) - camera roll
Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves) - Cold **WINNER**
Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton) - Country Again
Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Thomas Rhett) - Fancy Like
Cameron Bartolini, Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins & Shane Stevens, songwriters (Walker Hayes) - Remember Her Name
Mickey Guyton, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram & Parker Welling, songwriters (Mickey Guyton)
Best Country Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new country recordings.
- Skeletons
Brothers Osborne - Remember Her Name
Mickey Guyton - The Marfa Tapes
Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall & Jack Ingram - The Ballad Of Dood & Juanita
Sturgill Simpson - Starting Over **WINNER**
Chris Stapleton
Best Jazz Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.
- Generations
The Baylor Project - SuperBlue
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter - Time Traveler
Nnenna Freelon - Flor
Gretchen Parlato - Songwrights Apothecary Lab **WINNER**
Esperanza Spalding
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.
- Jazz Selections: Music From And Inspired By Soul
Jon Batiste - Absence
Terence Blanchard Featuring The E Collective And The Turtle Island Quartet - Skyline **WINNER**
Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette & Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Akoustic Band LIVE
Chick Corea, John Patitucci & Dave Weckl - Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)
Pat Metheny
Best Orchestral Performance
Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.
- Adams: My Father Knew Charles Ives; Harmonielehre
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Nashville Symphony Orchestra) - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Manfred Honeck, conductor (Mendelssohn Choir Of Pittsburgh & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) - Muhly: Throughline
Nico Muhly, conductor (San Francisco Symphony) - Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 **WINNER**
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra) - Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra; Scriabin: The Poem Of Ecstasy
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor (Seattle Symphony Orchestra)
Best Opera Recording
Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists.
- Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle
Susanna Mälkki, conductor; Mika Kares & Szilvia Vörös; Robert Suff, producer (Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra) - Glass: Akhnaten **WINNER**
Karen Kamensek, conductor; J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James & Dísella Lárusdóttir; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus) - Janáček: Cunning Little Vixen
Simon Rattle, conductor; Sophia Burgos, Lucy Crowe, Gerald Finley, Peter Hoare, Anna Lapkovskaja, Paulina Malefane, Jan Martinik & Hanno Müller-Brachmann; Andrew Cornall, producer (London Symphony Orchestra; London Symphony Chorus & LSO Discovery Voices) - Little: Soldier Songs
Corrado Rovaris, conductor; Johnathan McCullough; James Darrah, David T. Little, Lewis Pesacov & John Toia, producers (The Opera Philadelphia Orchestra) - Poulenc: Dialogues Des Carmélites
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Karen Cargill, Isabel Leonard, Karita Mattila, Erin Morley & Adrianne Pieczonka; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
Best Music Video
Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.
- Shot In The Dark
AC/DC
David Mallet, video director; Dione Orrom, video producer - Freedom *WINNER**
Jon Batiste
Alan Ferguson, video director; Alex P. Willson, video producer - I Get A Kick Out Of You
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Jennifer Lebeau, video director; Danny Bennett, Bobby Campbell & Jennifer Lebeau, video producers - Peaches
Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
Colin Tilley, video director; Jamee Ranta & Jack Winter, video producers - Happier Than Ever
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish, video director; Michelle An, Chelsea Dodson & David Moore, video producers - Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X & Tanu Muino, video directors; Frank Borin, Ivanna Borin, Marco De Molina & Saul Levitz, video producers - Good 4 U
Olivia Rodrigo
Petra Collins, video director; Christiana Divona, Marissa Ramirez & Tiffany Suh, video producers
