Beyoncé and Kim Petras both made Grammys history in Los Angeles last night. Beyoncé scooped her 32nd Grammy award, which is more than anyone else in history.
In total, Beyoncé, 41, took four awards last night. “Break My Soul” won Best dance/electronic recording; Renaissance won Best Dance/Electronic Music Album; “Plastic Off the Sofa” won Best traditional R&B performance; and “Cuff It” won Best R&B song.
Delayed in traffic, the singing superstar actually turned up late to the ceremony at the Crypto.com Center. She missed the red carpet and her first award. Niles Rogers picked it up on her behalf.
However, she was present to accept her next, record-breaking award from James Corden. It was for her latest album, Renaissance.
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Beyoncé gave an emotional acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much. I’m trying not to be too emotional. And I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank god for protecting me. Thank you, god. I’d like to thank my uncle Jonny, who’s not here. But he’s here in spirit.”
Beyoncé gives acceptance speech at the #Grammys for Renaissance: “I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre.” pic.twitter.com/t6t4Jk5r7x
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 6, 2023
Beyoncé’s Uncle Jonny was gay. She has said he introduced her to the house music that inspired Renaissance.
Related: Who was Moi Renee, the late drag queen sampled on Beyoncé’s new album?
“I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me,” she continued. “I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching.
“I’d like to thank the queer community for your love. And for inventing this genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys. Thank you.”
Other big winners on the night included Brandi Carlile (three awards) and Bonnie Raitt (three awards including Song of the Year for “Just Like That”), Harry Styles (Album of the Year for Harry’s House), Adele (Best Solo Pop Performance for “Easy On Me”) and Lizzo.
Viola Davis won her first Grammy for narrating her audiobook. This makes Davis an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards).]
Sam Smith and Kim Petras
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their mega-hit, “Unholy”.
They also turned in one of the most talked about performances of the evening. They showed up on the red carpet with Drag Race alum Violet Chachki and Gottmik. All then took part in the devilish performance, which included Smith wearing satanic horns against a background of flames.
Looks like the #GRAMMYs just got a little unholy… ⛓😈 @kimpetras @samsmith @gottmik @VioletChachki pic.twitter.com/hq17k9tp4n
— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) February 5, 2023
Smith and Petras were introduced by Madonna. She praised the “rebel” artists who are “forging a new path and taking the heat for it all.”
“You guys need to know, all you troublemakers out there need to know that your fearlessness does not go unnoticed,” the 64-year-old added. “You are seen, you are heard, and most of all you are appreciated.”
Related: Sam Smith’s new video is way too queer and horny for people offended by queer, horny things
Accepting their award, Petras, 30, gave a speech acknowledging its significance.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, to cheers. Smith is also the first out, non-binary artist to win a grammy.
“I just want to thank all of the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open before me so I could be here tonight,” Petras said. “Sophie, my friend who passed away two years ago, who told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”
“Sam [Smith] graciously wanted me to accept this award, because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award.” Watch Kim Petras’ acceptance speech from the #Grammys: pic.twitter.com/jQ52Sq0t6f
— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2023
Petras also went on to thank Madonna “for fighting for LGBTQ rights, so much, I don’t think I could be here without Madonna.”
omg i’m a tranny with a grammy …
— kim petras (@kimpetras) February 6, 2023
Although Petras and Smith’s win proved a milestone for trans visibility, another award winner proved a sore point for many in the LGBTQ+ community. Dave Chappelle won Best Comedy Album for his controversial Netflix standup special The Closer. Many have blasted the show as transphobic.
We suspect one gay person particularly disappointed by Chappelle’s win was fellow nominee Randy Rainbow. The queer comic did his best to enjoy the evening anyway.
I lost to Chappelle. Let’s party. #Grammys pic.twitter.com/VxZRozIdqh
— Randy Rainbow (@RandyRainbow) February 6, 2023
Check out all the Grammy winners below.
Album of the Year: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Record of the Year: Lizzo – About Damn Time
Song of the Year: Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Best New Artist: Samara Joy
Best Pop Solo Performance: Adele – Easy on Me
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Pop Vocal Album: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album: Beyoncé – Renaissance
Best Rock Performance: Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
Best Rock Song: Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Beyoncé – Plastic Off the Sofa
Best R&B Song: Beyoncé – Cuff It
Best Progressive R&B Album: Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Best Country Solo Performance: Willie Nelson – Live Forever
Best Country Album: Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Samara Joy – Linger Awhile
Best Música Urbana Album: Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Best Americana Performance: Bonnie Raitt – Made Up Mind
Best American Roots Song: Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Best Americana Album: Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording: Viola Davis – Finding Me
Best Comedy Album: Dave Chappelle – The Closer
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Jack Antonoff
Best Remixed Recording: Lizzo – About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
SDR94103
looking through her history she has done next to nothing for the gay community. She’s thanking you for your money which you give to her. Wise up, twinks.
ShiningSex
well she has worked with gay musicians, dancers, designers, etc. so she has done something. That being said, her music is god awful like most of what our community tends to like.
ShiningSex
Good for her to thank her main following, but her music still sucks
frenchy
Agreed! She has not invented a thing in black music — not everyone can be Janet Jackson. #ripoff
JTinToronto
She doesn’t give a crap about the queer community. She’s doing damage control for performing in Dubai, one of the most homophobic places on the planet. Her integrity went out the window when 24 million dollars went into her bank account for the one hour Dubai show. She is NOT an ally, she is a money sucking fraud. By performing in Dubai she supported a homophobic regime. That makes her a homophobe. She’s kissing the queer community’s ass now so that she can keep making money off of us.
BEARY FLINTSTONE
Have you seen America????? She isn’t making money off of the queer community!
hamoboy
I don’t even particularly care for Beyonce and this is the stupidest take I’ve ever seen. Did you see how many gay people there were in the crowd living their best lives? Beyonce is a pop star, and she did what pop stars do, sell. IDK what kind of standard you’re expecting of her, but “selling out” is one of the stupidest accusations to launch against a pop star whose literal job is to sell albums, tickets and merch.
inoroutdoor
Thanks “queer community” after recently performing for a few $million in a country where homosexuality is illegal is hypocritical at best. Pathetic if a better description. But like so many “”superstars”” it’s only about the money. What does she do for the queer community? african-american community? or anyone but herself and her family.
hamoboy
Homosexual people also live in countries where it is illegal. They don’t stop existing because of their government’s ignorance, nor because of your ignorance.
graphicjack
Disappointed ABBA didn’t get at least 1 Scammy out of their 4 nominations. They have had one of the most successful pop careers or all time and many of these newbies have been influenced by their artistry. A shame the academy didn’t reward their first new music in 40 years, which was amazingly one of the best selling albums of the year. They deserve a lifetime achievement award if they are going to be looked over in main award categories.
gregg2010
She actually needs to thank all the song writers who write her music and she the takes credit for it. It’s horrible stuff, but the gay community eats it up.
Claytonisahobo
Not sure what all you Drama Queens are squealing about. I am not a huge Beyonce fan by any means, but her album was the best album I’ve heard in a long long time.
cuteguy
Bey hates queers bc she performed in Dubai. Just like David Beckham hates the lgbtq community by supporting Qatar during World Cup and promoting it. Bad karma for both hypocrites