Grammys 2022: Six biggest talking points, from Louis CK’s shock win to Zelensky’s surprise appearance
Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic and Olivia Rodrigo among the winners on music’s biggest night
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2022 Grammys took place tonight (3 April), with winners on the biggest night in music including Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic and Olivia Rodrigo.
The ceremony, which was originally set to happen in January, took place in Las Vegas, marking the first ceremony since changes to the nomination process were announced.
Jon Batiste was the most-nominated artist ahead of the ceremony with 11 nods. In the end he won five, including the prestigious Album of the Year award for We Are.
Other big winners on the night included Silk Sonic, the R&B superduo composed of singer Bruno Mars and rapper and singer Anderson .Paak, who took home the Grammy for Song of the Year for their single “Leave The Door Open”. Mars celebrated by lighting up a cigarette on stage, leading fans to ask: “Can I bum a smoke?”
Doja Cat and SZA won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the collaboration “Kiss Me More”, with Doja Cat almost missing the award as she rushed back to the stage from the toilets. “I have never taken such a fast p*** in my whole life,” she joked. “Thank you everybody. I really appreciate it.”
Earlier on, Lady Gaga received a standing ovation from the audience after her performance of “Do I Love You” from her joint album with Tony Bennett, Love for Sale.
Other memorable moments on the night included a video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a shock win for comedian Louis CK, fashion designer Donatella Versace appearing on stage with Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish performing in a T-shirt bearing the image of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died suddenly on 25 March in Colombia, aged 50.
After last week’s eventful Oscars, however, our correspondent Roisin O’Connor found the whole thing majorly dull.
See a full list of 2022 Grammy winners here.
Joni Mitchell makes a rare on stage appearance alongside Bonnie Raitt, with Raitt helping a faltering Joni to read her introduction to “extraordinary artist” Brandi Carlile. Carlile performs a thrilling version of her 2021 single “Right On Time”.
As well as performing and winning Best New Artist, Olivia Rodrigo also made a cameo appearance alongside BTS earlier in the night. Here’s the story:
BTS fans go wild for Olivia Rodrigo cameo in Grammys performance
‘Hang it in the Louvre,’ one person said about a photo of V and Rodrigo
Rap legend Nas has taken over the Grammys with a medley of classic hits, looking slick in a well-tailored suit.
Ludacris is here to present the 2022 Grammy for Best Rap Performance to... Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar for “family ties”! Lamar isn’t at the Grammys, so Baby Keem accepts it alone in his home town - using his speech to thank “the women that raised me”.
Chris Stapleton, fresh from winning Best Country Album earlier in the night, is back onstage to sing 2020 single “Cold” while bathed in suitably chilly blue light.
Many people have been wondering why Ariana Grande isn’t at the Grammys this year. Well, here’s your answer:
Why isn’t Ariana Grande at the Grammys this year?
Singer shared a message to fans on Instagram ahead of this year’s ceremony
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a surprise appearance in a pre-recorded message, in which he tells the Grammys audience: “The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in endless silence.” After telling viewers to fill their social media with the truth about the ongoing war, he urges: “Fill the silence with your music!”
Zelenskyy’s appearance proceeds John Legend’s performance of new song “Free”, on which is he joined by Ukrainian singer Mika Newton, from Burshtyn, and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, from Donbas, who fled Ukraine just days ago. It’s a moving, poignant moment.
Tony Bennett appears via pre-recorded video message to introduce Lady Gaga’s performance from their recent Grammy-nominated album Love for Sale. Gaga is on show-stopping form, crooning backed by a swooning orchestra as video footage of her and Bennett plays behind her.
Billy Porter is here dressed in a stunning pink ensemble to present the Grammy for Best R&B Album to... Jazmine Sullivan for Heaux Tales. She says the project was a “safe space for black women to tell their stories, to learn from each other, laugh with each other and not be exploited at the same time.”
Jared Leto is here, quoting David Bowie’s promise that “I don’t know where I’m going from here but I promise it won’t be boring.” Leto lives up to that promise by wearing furry cow print cuffs. He awards the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album to Olivia Rodrigo for Sour. She thanks her mum and dad for their encouragement - more sweet than sour!
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