A take a look at one of the best behind-the-scenes moments from the sixty fourth annual Grammy Awards.
Grammy night time is a wrap!
After a scaled-back, COVID-safe personal ceremony final 12 months and an omicron-inspired rescheduling from the present’s authentic date this 12 months, the business confirmed up in full drive for the sixty fourth annual Grammy Awards. Hosted for the primary time in Las Vegas, Billboard was positioned on the crimson carpet, backstage within the media room, and within the viewers to deliver you all the inside track behind this 12 months’s telecast. (All occasions in PT.)
Midday: The press, publicists and different backstage personnel are starting to file in for the Grammy Premiere Ceremony. Faintly from the media middle, Billie Eilish may be heard rehearsing “Happier Than Ever,” which was nominated for each report and music of the 12 months.
12:38 p.m.: A rendition of Sly and the Household Stone’s “Dance to the Music” kicks off the pre-show ceremony, carried out by among the exhibits’ nominees, together with Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, jazz artist Nnenna Freelon and folks singer Madison Cunningham.
1 p.m.: In one of the best rating soundtrack for visible media class, the Grammys encounter a uncommon tie, with Queens Gambit and Soul each taking dwelling awards. This marked the most-nominated musician this 12 months, Jon Batiste‘s, first award of the day.
1:15 p.m.: The creators of the TikTok phenomenon The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical come backstage to speak to reporters in regards to the unlikely success of their challenge, primarily based on the favored Netflix present. “We love taking pre-existing tales,” Abigail stated. “They encourage us. We are able to’t inform you an excessive amount of, however preserve a glance out for extra,” she says, teasing a possible new adaptation challenge.
1:35 p.m.: Chris Stapleton wins the primary award for nation music: finest nation solo efficiency. Donning a straw cowboy hat, Stapleton makes his option to the stage to just accept his award from presenter Arlo Parks. He says that regardless that “it says it’s a solo efficiency, it’s not. All my producers and engineers, they're those who make this occur. … I’m shocked each time after I get one thing like this.”
1:50 p.m.: From backstage, Justin Bieber is heard doing a closing run-through of “Peaches” earlier than tonight’s occasion.
2:04 p.m.: Los Lobos singer Cesar Rosas stops by the media room to reply questions on his band’s win for finest Americana album with Native Sons. “The report was our love letter to the town of Los Angeles. It has impressed us since we have been younger.”
2:22 p.m.: Joni Mitchell, utilizing a cane and the assistance of her bodily therapist to return to the stage, makes a shock look on the pre-tel present to just accept the award for finest historic album. “I didn’t count on this!” says the singer, songwriter and visible artist of the win for Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967). “Oh, everybody at Rhino that made the package deal so stunning. Thanks.” On Friday, Mitchell was honored as Recording Academy MusiCares Particular person of the 12 months for her lifetime of labor.
2:32 p.m.: Jon Batiste dances onto the stage in a sequined silver and yellow go well with to just accept his award for finest music video. “I hope…any bondage and darkness in your life can be reworked to pleasure” when watching his music video, he says.
2:37 p.m.: The members of RÜFÜS DU SOL come backstage to speak about their win for finest dance/digital recording. “We love quite a lot of the artists in that class: James Blake, Bonobo…The seconds main as much as [winning] felt like an eternity. We're nonetheless shocked.”
3:40 p.m.: The viewers gasps as presenter Jimmy Jam pronounces the second tie of the day for finest R&B efficiency with “Depart the Door Open” by Silk Sonic and “Choose Up Your Emotions” by Jazmine Sullivan each taking dwelling the prize.
3:59 p.m.: After lacking the announcement on the ceremony, St. Vincent comes backstage to talk on her second win for finest various album, for Daddy’s Residence. “I came upon I received this whereas I used to be on the crimson carpet, and Jack [Antonoff, who produced the album] simply received too!” she says (extra on that beneath). When requested what it’s like profitable in a usually male-dominated class a number of occasions, St. Vincent says, “In 2015 I used to be the primary feminine artist in 20 years to win…however simply since then it looks as if there’s been this entire simply multitude of wonderful ladies nominated, whether or not it’s Fiona Apple or Japanese Breakfast. I’m glad to know occasions are altering.”
4:15 p.m.: Jack Antonoff, winner of producer of the 12 months, non-classical, comes backstage visibly surprised by the win. Recognized for his prolific work, producing for Taylor Swift, Clairo, Lorde, St. Vincent and extra, Antonoff defined that he chooses his tasks primarily based on a “feeling in my intestine…clearly the literal stuff too although. It's a must to love what somebody does, it's important to love their voice, their timbre, the best way they write, the best way they suppose.”
4:23 p.m.: Fortunate Daye, contemporary off his win for finest progressive R&B album for Desk for Two, tears up whereas speaking backstage with reporters. “I actually put my life into this shit. The obstacles I confronted… It’s overwhelming. I really feel good, although. I really feel alive.” He additionally touches on the impression that rising up in New Orleans has on his work, calling it a “gumbo pot of influences.”
4:34 p.m.: The duo Brothers Osbourne cease backstage a number of hours after their Grammy win. T.J. Osbourne, who got here out as homosexual in 2021, spoke about what it’s been prefer to see fan response to his story. “I felt this unbelievable embrace… Particularly seeing the crowds once we come out and carry out, seeing individuals who really feel the power to be whoever they're there.”
5:24 p.m.: The press room is visibly wowed by Silk Sonic‘s “Depart the Door Open” win for music of the 12 months, which many believed would go to Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license.”
6:20 p.m.: Bonnie Riatt is the primary artist of the telecast to return backstage to speak to press. A lifetime achievement award recipient this 12 months, Raitt is requested about feminine artists she loves within the scene immediately and about going to the Billboard Ladies in Music occasion with a lot of immediately’s A-list ladies musicians. “I’ve by no means seen a greater crop of latest artists. I imply, throughout all genres. I feel ladies are kicking it… Like Olivia, Taylor, Billie Eilish, Adele. I imply many of the female and male artists are actually exhibiting up with much more good authorized recommendation and, you recognize, self controlling their very own careers, which I feel is actually nice.” She provides: “I’m so blown away by a lot extra consciousness and savvy artists have now.”
6:43 p.m.: Child Keem celebrates his win for finest rap efficiency for “Household Ties.” When he enters the press room, all smiles, the rapper says the very first thing he needs to do is “simply to speak to my household. I couldn’t picture this 5 years in the past. I’m positive it’s simply as shocking to them as it's for me.” As an artist from Las Vegas, with Keem profitable his first Grammy the one and solely time the awards have taken place in Sin Metropolis, “seems like some form of magic. It doesn’t even really feel actual, you recognize? Simply to carry this award within the metropolis that I grew up in and it’s so necessary for the town, like this implies lots so I’m gonna take this very severe.”
6:55 p.m.: After profitable a number of Grammys, Chris Stapleton takes a victory lap backstage. “Its a unbelievable feeling. That’s quite a lot of what we do that for. To be collectively in a room the place everyone can sort of be collectively… It actually hasn’t gotten outdated. You actually achieve an appreciation for what you’ve misplaced… the communion.”
7:16 p.m.: Jazmine Sullivan — contemporary off her wins for finest R&B efficiency and finest R&B album — joins the press room to speak in regards to the expertise. “I’ve by no means executed this earlier than, I don’t know what I’m doing,” she laughs. The songstress has been nominated 15 occasions whole, however tonight marked her first two wins. Sullivan tells reporters she’d like to “do a movie” primarily based on her now Grammy-winning album Heaux Tales. “I talked about it with Issa Rae. She’s tremendous busy although, so hopefully, we are able to get in and begin throwing some concepts round as a result of, like I stated, the thought of Heaux Tales is so large. [A film] may go so many various methods, and I'd like to get into that subject subsequent.”
8:08 p.m.: Your entire press room lets out a collective “wow” to the announcement of Silk Sonic profitable report of the 12 months.
8:25 p.m.: One other shocker for the press room with Jon Batiste’s album of the 12 months win. Most assumed Olivia Rodrigo would fare higher within the Huge 4 classes, however solely one in all her three wins — finest new artist — was from these high prizes.
8:27 p.m.: When Carrie Underwood, winner of finest roots/gospel album, is requested what it means to win for her album My Savior, she instantly begins to cry. “This is likely one of the most necessary our bodies of labor I’ve ever been part of. That is one factor that I’ve wished to do, actually, my entire profession. I’ve wished to make this album, and I bought to, and this simply means the world to me.”
8:32 p.m.: SZA comes by the press room to speak about her win for “Kiss Me Extra” and what’s subsequent for her music. When requested if her extremely anticipated subsequent album might be prepared quickly, she reveals: “Sure…It’s in all probabilitymymostunisexchallengebut,ifthatmakessense. It’s for everybody.” And what did she like about working with Doja Cat on the newly Grammy-winning “Kiss Me Extra”? “She’s a star… I feel she’s so masterful…I’ve simply been in a position to study from her.” SZA additionally defined what occurred along with her ankle that left her on crutches for the ceremony, saying that she fell away from bed the day earlier than. She laughed, “Every thing superior in my life has at all times include one thing very random.” Hobbling out of the room with a full smile, she needs everybody nicely, saying, “Y’all keep blessed!”
8:40 p.m.: After profitable 5 awards, together with album of the 12 months, Jon Batiste comes backstage to speak in regards to the large day. “I actually don’t do it for the awards,” he explains. “I actually consider that music is one thing that’s so subjective… but it surely was such a full circle second as a result of [Lenny and I] performed collectively after I was 16. So it simply felt it was surreal.” Together with his sensational, high-energy efficiency of “Freedom,” he says, “My focus was to essentially give therapeutic and provides to some pleasure some good outdated black pleasure to the world.” He provides that he “wasn’t ready” to win the album of the 12 months trophy due to his give attention to the efficiency and of his members of the family within the viewers.
8:58 p.m.: H.E.R. rolls in after the ceremony in a surprising sequined indigo go well with and gushes about performing with Lenny Kravitz: “I used to be having so a lot enjoyable. I watched Lenny rising up, enjoying with Prince. I’d examine actually all his movies of his performances, and he’s one of many the explanation why he wished to play guitar to have this full-circle second and carry out with him. I used to be puzzled.”
This story first appeared on Billboard.com.