The Highlights of the 2021 Grammy Awards, and the Women That Stole the Spotlight

The 2021 Grammy’s event marked the 63rd anniversary of the event’s debut, and was yet another big music event that fell victim to this year-long pandemic. However, the Grammy’s managed to maintain the integrity of its stellar performances and honoring the talented artists of this past year while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Additionally, many female artists shined during this Grammy’s event by breaking records and sweeping the floor with awards. If you were unable to catch the event on your TV, EAR is here to bring you the main highlights of the night. 

Harry Styles Kicks Off the Night with ‘Watermelon Sugar’

Inside the intimate five-stage venue, Harry Styles kicks off the night with a laid back rendition of his hit song ‘Watermelon Sugar’. Donning a two piece suit and feather boa (which he pulled off very well), the 26-year-old singer started the event with good vibes and sheer joy in performing

Beyonce Makes Grammy History

To no one’s surprise (except maybe Beyonce herself), the talented music industry veteran made Grammy history by breaking the record for the most wins by a female artist. Early in the night, host Trevor Noah announced that she had tied the record with her and Megan Thee Stallion’s joint Grammy win for Best Rap Performance of ‘Savage’. However she was officially the record breaking artist with her Grammy for ‘Black Parade’ in the category Best R&B Performance.

Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B’s Show Stopping Performances

The sparkles, the bright lights, the colors, and the dancing, all came together for Megan Thee Stallion’s performance of ‘Savage’ and ‘WAP’, and Dua Lipa’s performance of ‘Levitating’ ft. DaBaby and ‘Don’t Start Now’. Although many of the words had to be censored for CBS-friendly viewing, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B still put on a show stopping performance, with more cardio than most of us have done all year. 

Dua Lipa also stole the show with her purple sparkling outfit and choreography. First starting as a big ball gown for her performance of Levitating that transformed into a sparkly trench coat to a two piece body suit for Don’t Start Now, the singer radiated confidence and beauty as she showed her dance moves across the floor of the stage.

DaBaby’s Twist on ‘Rockstar’

DaBaby’s gospel twist on ‘Rockstar’ took all of us by pleasant surprise and gave us something we didn’t know we needed until now. From the gospel choir dressed in court judge robes, to the violin, to Anthony Hamilton’s vocals, DaBaby and Roddy Rich managed to create a show stopping performance without falling into the overly flashy trope of most awards show performances.

Taylor Swift Becomes the First Woman to Win Album of The Year Three Times

With her album win for folklore, Taylor Swift comes back to the Grammy’s spotlight after her last two albums left the event empty handed. Not only that, she joins Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon on the list of artists that have won Album of the Year three times. She also made history by being the first female artist on that list.

Billie Eilish Becomes the First Solo Artist This Century to Win Record of The Year Twice in a Row

Billie Eilish never fails to produce a hit record, but does fail to see how deserving she is of the title. At just eighteen years old, the young pop singer became the first solo artist to win Record of the Year twice in a row with her record ‘everything i wanted’. However, in her acceptance speech, she didn’t give herself too much credit and claimed that fellow nominee Megan Thee Stallion should have won for ‘Savage’. While Eilish may not feel as deserving of the reward, her undeniable talent certainly caught the ears of the Academy.

Overall, the 63rd annual Grammy’s wasn’t without its challenges. However, despite the situation, the event felt personal and intimate, rather than watching a conference call on the screen. On top of that, the music industry saw history being made by the many amazing women at this event, as we came together to honor yet another year of talented artists and amazing music.