On February 4, 2024, the 66th annual Grammy awards were held to show off various talented musicians and others who are involved in the music industry. The trophies replicate what is called a “gramophone”, which is a record player. Each year, nominations honoring various artists from many musical categories are announced to the public. Many eager fans root for their favorite artist in hopes that they will win and be noticed by the academy. There are a total of 94 categories. These categories include, Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Song Of The Year, and Producer Of The Year. This year, the Grammys have introduced three new categories which were, Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording. Fans tune in yearly to not only see if their favorite artist won in any categories, but to also see their performances. Performers like Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, and Sza, sang their most popular songs and took over the Grammys’ stage. Miley Cyrus’ performance was special because it was her first time winning a Grammy, let alone performing at the Grammys, over her well over twenty year musical career. Winners included; Taylor Swift who won Album of the Year for “Midnights,” Victoria Monét for Best New Artist, “This Is Why,” by Paramore for Best Rock Album, and “Snooze,” by Sza for Best R&B Song. Many artists were showcased and praised for their achievements during this three and a half hour long ceremony. However, many Lana Del Rey fans were left upset when she wasn’t awarded a single Grammy. Lana Del Rey’s album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” was nominated for Album of the year along with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Sza, Boygenius, Jon Batiste, and more. Many fans were very upset especially that Lana didn’t win in this category because she has never won a single Grammy. Her lyrics and beats are so unique. With many of her songs viral across many social media platforms and many walking down the aisle to her songs to get married, fans were annoyed over the fact that Lana Del Rey has never got honored at this ceremony.
Another aspect to award shows, so prestigious as the Grammys, are what the celebrities are wearing. Red carpet appearances occur before the actual award ceremony begins. The press gathers with many flashing cameras to see what high end brand each star is wearing. Whether it be Versace, Chanel, Miu Miu, or Gucci, celebrities are expected to show up in glamor and expense. As usual, a lot of talk regarding these outfits are posted across Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and other news outlets. Halle Bailey had one of my favorite outfits of the night. She wore a brown, bedazzled Gucci dress paired with elegant silver jewelry. Olivia Rodrigo wore a vintage Versace dress from the 1995 spring collection. Originally worn by Linda Evangelista, Rodrigo paired it with a red lip and loose curls. Many reports found the dresses and tuxedos to be boring with no personality. Compared to previous Grammys. in the 90s and early 2000s, gowns and suits have become conforming and basic. Nonetheless, it is still exciting to gather on the couch with friends or family and rate the outfits.
Overall, the 2024 Grammy Awards were successful. Miley Cyrus won her first Grammy, artists performed their top hits, and others won honorable awards. Although some artists like Lana Del Rey were snubbed, the night was notable. This is the 66th year the Grammys are being held to honor and showcase new and returning musicians to the world. Well over 16 million people tune in to watch the Grammys each year. This event is clearly something that attracts the eyes of many Americans and it will presumably last for many more years to come.
