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Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift win big at the 58th annual Grammys

The 58th annual Grammy Awards took place on Feb. 15, and for the first time in Grammys history, TV stations in Pacific and Mountain Time zones had the option to air the show live. 
Opening the show, Taylor Swift sang a rendition of her song “Out Of the Woods” that then led into LL Cool J, emcee for the fifth year in a row, introducing some of the artists that would be performing later on in the show. LL Cool J even brought us back to some remarkable performances that have graced the Grammy stage such as Lady Gaga and Elton John or Imagine Dragons with Kendrick Lamar.
One thing to always count on from the Grammys is the unexpected collaborations, and this year was no different. Luke Bryan, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Tyrese Gibson and Meghan Trainor came together to celebrate Lionel Richie. Despite the odd set up, it came together beautifully with each performer signing their own version of Richie’s top hits such as “Easy” and “Hello.” The best part of the whole segment was when Richie came on stage and performed with all of them, bringing the whole room to its feet.
Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt performed a beautiful duet together but were later overshadowed by The Weeknd’s acoustic performance of “In the Night,” proving that he deserves the seven nominations. Adele also had a stellar performance of “All I Ask.” Unfortunately, the microphone had a glitch right in the beginning. Kendrick Lamar’s delivered rousing renditions of “The Blacker The Berry” and “Alright” off his Grammy-nominated sophomore album, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” It was a strong performance that left me wanting more. Lamar ended the night with a total of five Grammys.
Other notable performances of the night were Ellie Goulding and Andra Day’s mashup. Best New Artist nominees Tori Kelly and James Bay shared a moving performance. Justin Bieber, Skrillex and Diplo also had a great high-energy performance of their hit, “Where Are U Now,” that also won Best Dance Recording. This is also Bieber’s first Grammy win.
Another tribute of the night was the Eagles band members and Jackson Browne paying homage to the late Glenn Frey by playing the band’s hit song, “Take It Easy.” Lady Gaga paid tribute to the late David Bowie. Gaga sang a mashup of Bowie’s biggest hits while wearing outfits that mimicked the icon. Gaga is simply the only person that could’ve pulled this performance off. The whole segment was spotless; Gaga did an amazing job capturing the essence of Bowie in just three minutes.
The hip-hop, historical musical about Alexander Hamilton, “Hamilton” took center stage to perform the musical’s opening number, “Alexander Hamilton.” Later on in the evening, Hamilton took home the award for Best Musical Theater Album, and while receiving the award, the creator and lead actor Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped his acceptance speech.
Another jaw dropping moment was when Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry introduced the world to their rock group, the Hollywood Vampires, for their first television performance. The band also paid homage to the late Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer of Motorhead.
Rihanna was scheduled to perform at the Grammys but cancelled last minute due to illness. Rihanna was going to perform “Kiss it Better” off of her new album, “Anti.”
Taylor Swift won Album of the Year with “1989.” Swift is the first woman to have won Album of the Year twice. Ed Sheeran also took home his first two Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. Meghan Trainor took home the award for Best New Artist and accepted it through tears and a moving speech that thanked her parents and the academy. The last award of the night, Record of the Year, went to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars for “Uptown Funk.”  

The winners are listed below:

Record of the Year: “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Album of the Year: “1989” by Taylor Swift
Song of the Year: “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Best New Artist: Meghan Trainor
Best Pop Solo Performance: “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern” by Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap
Best Pop Vocal Album: “1989” by Taylor Swift
Best Dance Recording: “Where Are U Now” by Skrillex and Diplo feat. Justin Bieber
Best Dance/Electronic Album: “Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U” by Skrillex and Diplo
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: “Sylva” by Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest
Best Rock Performance: “Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
Best Metal Performance: “Circle” by Ghost
Best Rock Song: “Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
Best Rock Album: “Drones” by Muse
Best Alternative Music Album: “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes
Best R&B Performance: “Earned It” by The Weeknd from “Fifty Shades of Grey”
Best Traditional R&B Performance: “Little Ghetto Boy” by Lalah Hathaway
Best R&B Song: “Really Love” by D’Angelo and The Vanguard
Best Urban Contemporary Album: “Beauty Behind the Madness” by The Weeknd
Best R&B Album: “Black Messiah” by D’Angelo and The Vanguard
Best Rap Performance: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “These Walls” by Kendrick Lamar feat. Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat
Best Rap Song: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap Album: “To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Country Solo Performance: “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town
Best Country Song: “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town
Best Country Album: “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton
Best New Age Album: “Grace” by Paul Avgerinos
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: “Cherokee” by Christian McBride
Best Jazz Vocal Album: “For One to Love” by Cecile McLorin Salvant
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: “Past Present” by John Scofield
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: “The Thompson Fields” by Maria Schneider Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz Album: “Made in Brazil” by Eliane Elias
Best Gospel Performance/Song: “Wanna Be Happy?” by Kirk Franklin
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: “Holy Spirit” by Francesca Battistelli
Best Gospel Award: “Covered: Alive In Asia (Live)” by Israel & NewBreed
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: “This Is Not A Test” by Tobymac
Best Roots Gospel Album: “Still Rockin’ My Soul” by The Fairfield Four
Best Latin Pop Album: “A Quien Quiera Escuchar” by Ricky Martin
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: (TIE) “Hasta La Raiz” by Natalia Lafourcada and “Dale” by Pitbull
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano): “Ralidades” by Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Tropical Latin Album: “Son De Panama” by Ruben Blades feat. Roberto Delgado and Orchestra
Best American Roots Performance: “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” by Mavis Staples
Best American Roots Song: “24 Frames” by Jason Isbell
Best Americana Album: “Something More Than Free” by Jason Isbell
Best Bluegrass Album: “The Muscle Shoals Recordings” by The Steeldrivers
Best Blues Album: “Born to Play Guitar” by Buddy Guy
Best Folk Album: “Bela Flack and Abigail Washburn” by Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
Best Regional Roots Music Album: “Go Go Juice” by Jon Cleary
Best Reggae Album: “Strictly Roots” by Morgan Heritage
Best World Music Album: “Sings” by Angelique Kidjo
Best Children’s Album: “Home” by Tim Kubart
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling): “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety” by Jimmy Carter
Best Musical Theater Album: “Hamilton”
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me”
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: “Birdman”
Best Song Written for Visual Media: “Glory” performed by Common and John Legend from “Selma”
Best Instrumental Composition: “The Afro Latin Jazz Suite” by Arturo O’Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Feat Rudresh Mahanthappa
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Pentatonix
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: “Sue (Or In A Season of Crime)” by Maria Schneider
Best Recording Package: “Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Taxes Playboys” by Asleep At the Wheel
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: “The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)” by Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood and Jack White
Best Album Notes: “Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced” by Joni Mitchell
Best Historical Album: “The Basement Tapes Complete: The bootleg Series Vol. 11” by Bob Dylan and The Band
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Jeff Bhasker
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: “Uptown Funk (Dave Aude Remix)” by Dave Aude
Best Surround Sound Album: “Amused to Death” by Roger Waters
Best Engineered Album, Classical: “Ask Your Mama” by George Manahan and San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
Best Orchestral Performance: “Shostakovich: under Stalin’s Shadow – Symphony No. 10” by Boston Symphony Orchestra
Best Opera Recording: Ravel
Best Choral Performance: “Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil”
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: “Filament” by Eighth Blackbird
Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L’Arbre Des Songes
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: “Joyce & Tony – Live From Wigmore Hall”
Best Classical Compendium: “Paulus: Three Places of Enlightenment”
Best Contemporary Classical Composition: “Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances”
Best Music Video: “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar
Best Music Film: “Amy”
Best Comedy Album: “Live At Madison Square Garden” by Louis C.K.

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