Table of Contents
Music history was rewritten and records were broken at the 2022 Grammys last night.
Trevor Noah, who made his Grammy debut last year, returned to host the show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, which included memorable performances by Silk Sonic, Lady Gaga, Chris Stapleton, Billie Eilish, BTS, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Here’s a rundown of all the records set and broken during the Recording Academy’s 64th Grammy Awards.
YT
First winner of the Best Global Music Performance Grammy
Arooj Aftab (Pakistan/USA, b. Saudi Arabia) was the first ever winner of the Best Global Music Performance Grammy, a category introduced this year for the first time.
She won the award for her song “Mohabbat”, taken from her self-penned third studio album Vulture Prince (2021).
Clocking in at 7 min 42 sec, “Mohabbat” has won rave reviews from the US music press and was even selected by former US President Barack Obama for inclusion on his “Summer Playlist”, alongside tracks from Bob Marley, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and fellow Grammy winners Silk Sonic and Jay-Z.
Best Música Urbana Album
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny won for the second new Grammys category—the best música urbana album—making him the first winner of the Best Música Urbana Album.
His album El Último Tour del Mundo won out ahead of fellow nominees Rauw Alejandro, J Balvin, Karol G, and Kali Uchis.
Although the Best Música Urbana Album Grammy Award is new for both The Recording Academy and Bad Bunny alike, it isn’t the Latin rapper’s first Grammy win.
Following his first triumph last year in the Best Latin Pop category for his album YHLQMDLG, last night was the second time Bad Bunny took home a Grammy.
Most Grammy awards won by a rapper
Rapper Kanye West has matched Jay-Z as the rapper with the most Grammy Awards in history.
With 24 Grammy awards won, “Ye” and Jay-Z share the record title for the most Grammy awards won by a rapper.
Ye took a share of the spoils at the 64th Annual Grammys on 3 April 2022, winning Best Rap Song for “Jail”, featuring Jay-Z and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Hurricane”, featuring The Weeknd and Lil Baby.
West won his first Grammy in 2005 for the Best Rap Song for his song “Jesus Walks”. Last night’s win was the seventh time Ye took home an award for the category.
Jay-Z, who began the night as rap music’s most decorated individual with 23 awards, increased his tally to 24 as “Jail” won the Best Rap Song.
With 83 Grammy nominations, Jay-Z also holds the record for the most Grammy nominations while West, by comparison, has amassed 75 nominations.
Most Grammy nominations
With three nominations, Jay-Z (aka Shawn Carter) took his career total to 83.
In doing so, the rapper, producer and songwriter surpassed the achievement of Quincy Jones whose 80 Grammy nominations were awarded between 1961 and 2019.
Paul McCartney’s two rock nominations ahead of the 2022 ceremony took him ahead of Jones on 81 nominations and two behind Jay-Z.
The world-renowned rapper now holds record titles for the most Grammy nominations and the most Grammy nominations for a male artist.
YT
First songwriter to win consecutive Grammys for Song of the Year
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II became the first-ever songwriter to win back-to-back awards for Song of the Year.
In 2021, he picked up the accolade as a co-writer and producer on H.E.R.’s “I Can’t Breathe”.
D’Mile followed up his 2021 achievement last night with a co-writing credit on Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open”, which he also co-produced alongside Bruno Mars, making him the first songwriter to win consecutive Grammys for Song of the Year.
The producer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist has been contributing to R&B for more than a decade.
Dee’s first placement was a collaboration with Grammy award winning songwriters and artists Full Force for Rihanna’s debut album Music of the Sun.
Over the years, he has continued to land credits on albums from Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Usher, and more.
Most consecutive Grammy nominations for Song of the Year
Although H.E.R.’s “Fight For You” lost the Song of the Year category to Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open”, the R&B songstress not only won the Best Traditional R&B Performance award earlier in the evening, but the record title for the most consecutive Grammy nominations for Song of the Year as well.
Having scored eight nominations, H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed, aka Gabriella Wilson) matched Billie Eilish (2020-2022), Finneas O’Connell (2020-2022), Dianne Warren (1997-1999), Lionel Richie (1984-1986), and Lennon and McCartney (196-1967) with three consecutive Song of the Year nominations between 2020 and 2022.
The 24-year-old entertainer from Vallejo, California, was nominated for “Hard Place” in 2020, “I Can’t Breathe” in 2021, and “Fight For You” in 2022 ahead of yesterday’s Grammy awards show.
Most Grammy awards won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tony Bennett has dominated the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category at the Grammys since it was inaugurated in 1992.
The veteran entertainer collected his 14th trophy during yesterday’s ceremony for his work on Love For Sale – his second Jazz album collaboration with Lady Gaga.
This impressive achievement earned the American Songbook singer the record title for the most Grammy awards won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Following his 2016 Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Love For Sale is Bennett’s 61st and final studio album.
YT
Most consecutive Grammy nominations for Record of the Year (female)
Pop sensation Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell became the fifth and sixth individuals to notch up a consecutive hat-trick of Record of the Year nominations at the Grammys.
Eilish’s record hits “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted” took the awards in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
This year, the sultry singer’s Record of the Year nomination for “Happier Than Ever” earned her the record title for the most consecutive Grammy nominations for Record of the Year (female).
Previously, Post Malone, Steve Winwood, Roberta Flack, and Frank Sinatra had achieved three successive Record of the Year nods.
Most Grammy awards won for Best Alternative Music Album (female)
Tulsa-born singer, songwriter, and musician St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) has been officially recognized for earning the record title for the most Grammy awards won for Best Alternative Music Album (female) for her album Daddy’s Home.
The alternative music artist also won Best Alternative Music Album for her self-titled fifth studio set in 2015.
The Best Alternative Music Album category has never been won by a female performer more than once since it was inaugurated in 1991.
Despite multiple nominations for the likes of Tori Amos, Björk, and PJ Harvey, the only three solo female award-winners are Sinead O’Connor in 1991, and both St. Vincent and Fiona Apple in 2021.
Most Grammy awards won for Best Rock Album
Following the untimely death of their drummer Taylor Hawkins, American rock band Foo Fighters was not able to perform during last night’s ceremony.
The group’s album Medicine at Midnight earned the Seattle-born rock band the record title for the most Grammy awards won for Best Rock Album.
The award-winning album, which debuted last year as Foo Fighters celebrated its 25th anniversary, was nominated for three awards, including Best Rock Performance (for the song “Making a Fire”), Best Rock Song (for the song “Waiting on a War”), and Best Rock Album.
The Best Rock Album category was inaugurated at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995 and has recognized the alternative rock group a total of five times.
The band’s latest achievement follows their wins for There Is Nothing Left to Lose in 2001, One by One in 2004, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in 2008, and Wasting Light in 2012.
Most Grammy awards won for Best Country Album by a solo artist
Country singer and songwriter Chris Stapleton took home the Best Country Album award for Starting Over, becoming the artist with the most Grammy awards won for Best Country Album by a solo artist.
This was Stapleton’s third award for the category, having won for Traveller in 2016, and From a Room: Volume 1 in 2018.
Stapleton cleaned up in three of the Grammy’s four country music categories, scooping up trophies for the Best Country Song for his work on “Cold” and Best Country Solo Performance for “You Should Probably Leave” in addition to the Best Country Album.
Starting Over, which topped Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart in November 2020, features both tracks.
The 65th Grammy Awards show is scheduled for 31 January 2023. Don’t forget to save the date!