"Freedom" artist Jon Batiste began and ended the 2022 Grammy Awards with a bang, taking house the night time's largest award of Album of the 12 months.
Batiste, who's the bandleader and musical director of the "Late Present with Stephen Colbert," nabbed the golden statue for his work on the 2021 studio album "WE ARE." He was essentially the most nominated artist in 2022, with 11 nods for his many musical initiatives, together with the animated movie "Soul."
"I consider this to my core, there isn't any finest musician, finest artist, finest dancer, finest actor," he stated, accepting his award in what gave the impression to be a state of shock. "The artistic arts are subjective they usually attain folks at some extent of their lives once they want it most. It is like a track or an album is made and it virtually has a radar to search out the particular person once they want it essentially the most."
Batiste is the primary Black artist to win Album of the 12 months in 14 years. In 2008, Herbie Hancock gained a Grammy for his work on "River: The Joni Letters."
"I really like you even when I do not know you! Good night time!" he stated on the finish of his speech.
Along with performing his hit track "Freedom," Batiste gained 4 Grammys earlier than the televised portion of the present even started.
The joyous celebration comes at time of creation throughout nice struggles, based on Batiste. Earlier this week, he and the love of his life, creator Suleika Jaouad, revealed in an unique interview with CBS Information that they had been secretly married. Jaouad, a luekemia survivor, additionally revealed that her most cancers had come again in an agressive type and required a bone marrow transplant.
Despite the fact that Batiste could not be with Jaouad following the transplant as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, the 2 determined to get married in a secret ceremony the night time earlier than her surgical procedure.
"It is an act of defiance," Batiste stated. "The darkness will attempt to overtake you, however simply activate the sunshine. Deal with the sunshine. Maintain onto the sunshine."