06 Jan Beyoncé’s Performance and the Biggest Hits at the 2023 Grammys
2:26 min read
Los Angeles, February 5, 2023. Beyoncé sits in the Crypto.com Arena knowing she’s making history-no matter the outcome. Four Grammys in a single night push her to 32 total wins, more than any artist in the Recording Academy’s history. Yet Album of the Year still goes to Harry Styles. One night, two stories.
Key Takeaways
- Beyoncé wins 4 Grammys and reaches 32 total wins-an all-time record
- Album of the Year goes to Harry Styles for “Harry’s House”-a controversial call
- Lizzo takes Record of the Year for “About Damn Time”
- Adele and Sam Smith win in major categories as well
The Record and What It Means
32 Grammys. Georg Solti had held the record for decades with 31-a classical conductor barely known outside music circles. Now it belongs to a woman whose eighth solo album is a love letter to Black dance music. Her four wins that night: Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Dance/Electronic Recording. All genre-specific categories. None of the headline awards.
Harry Styles and the Album Prize
“Harry’s House” is a solid pop record. Bright, well-crafted, produced by Kid Harpoon with a knack for sticky melodies. That it beat “Renaissance”-the album critics and fans talked about most all year-for Album of the Year sparked the now-familiar Grammy debate. The Recording Academy has form when it comes to playing it safe. “Renaissance” was too niche, too Black, too dancefloor. That’s one reading. The other: Harry Styles simply had more votes.
Other Winners
Lizzo took Record of the Year for “About Damn Time”-a track that defined summer 2022. Adele won Best Pop Solo Performance for “Easy On Me.” Kendrick Lamar claimed Best Rap Album for “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” the year’s most technically accomplished album-and the second year running without a Grammy for Album of the Year. Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Unholy.” Petras became the first openly transgender woman to win in that category.
The Show
Trevor Noah hosted for the third time. Bad Bunny opened with high-energy set that cemented Latin music’s place on the Grammy map. Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson paid tribute to Berry Gordy and the Motown legacy. The night’s most moving moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2023 Grammys?
The big winners at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards 2023: Harry Styles (Album of the Year), Lizzo (Record of the Year), Beyoncé (4 Grammys, new all-time record with 32 total wins), Kendrick Lamar (Best Rap Album), Sam Smith & Kim Petras (Best Pop Duo).
How many Grammys does Beyoncé have in total?
Following the 65th Grammy Awards 2023, Beyoncé holds the all-time record with 32 Grammy wins. She surpassed the previous record held by Georg Solti (31 Grammys), a classical conductor.
Why didn’t Beyoncé win Album of the Year?
Voting by Recording Academy members favored Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House” over Beyoncé’s “Renaissance.” Critics and fans saw this as another example of the Academy favoring commercial, accessible pop albums over more ambitious artistic works.
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