2024 Grammys highlights: Taylor Swift makes Grammy Awards history, Jay-Z calls out Beyoncé snub, Celine Dion stuns crowd
80-year-old Joni Mitchell performed at the Grammy Awards for the first time and Miley Cyrus won her first awards
The 2024 Grammy Awards proved to be an eventful night, from Taylor Swift making Grammys history and Joni Mitchell's first ever performance at the ceremony, to a rare appearance from Celine Dion and Miley Cyrus getting her first two Grammys.
SZA went into the awards show with the most nominations, nine in total, and ended up winning awards for Best R&B Song, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (with Phoebe Bridgers) and Best Urban Contemporary Album.
'Mind blown': Taylor Swift makes Grammys history
The final award of the night, Album of the Year, went to Swift for her album Midnights.
This is the fourth time Swift has won that specific award, the most wins in that category in Grammys history.
"I get to work with one of my best friends, who is not only one of my best friends, but also a once-in-a-generation producer. That's Jack Antonoff. I am so lucky," Swift said to start her acceptance speech.
She went on to thank Lana Del Rey, who was also on stage.
"I think so many female artists would not be where they are and would not have the inspiration they have if it weren't for the work that she's done," Swift said. "I think she's a legacy artist, a legend in her prime right now. I'm so lucky to know you and to be your friend."
“For me, the award is the work. All I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much. It makes me so happy. It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award too. All I want to do is keep doing this. So thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I love so much. Mind blown."
Celine Dion makes a surprise appearance to present Album of the Year at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/oNT4zmBTyk
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Celine Dion surprises Grammys audience
But before Swift got her Album of the Year win, Canadian legend Celine Dion made a surprise appearance to present her with the award.
This is a rare public appearance for Dion, who is currently battling Stiff Person Syndrome.
"When I say that I’m happy to be here, I really mean it, from my heart," Dion said at the Grammys. "Those who have been blessed enough to be here, the Grammy Awards, must never take for granted the tremendous love and joy that music brings to our lives, and to people all around the world."
Meryl Streep arrives fashionably late to the #Grammys -- just as host Trevor Noah was talking about her. pic.twitter.com/o3CCB1PTp0
— Variety (@Variety) February 5, 2024
Trevor Noah's opening monologue interrupted by Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift
Follow an opening performance from Dua Lipa, host Trevor Noah introduced the show, but a few celebrities were seemingly late to get to their seats.
Noah was speaking about Meryl Streep being present for the event (nominated for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling, which she lost to Michelle Obama) and how she was going to be sitting with her daughter Grace Gummer, and Grummer's husband, Mark Ronson. And at that moment, Streep ran into the room.
But she wasn't the only star that made a mid-monologue entrance. Swift walked in shortly after, with Jack Antonoff.
"I say the names and they pop out," Noah said.
#Grammys host Trevor Noah says it's unfair Taylor Swift is criticized when the NFL cuts to her during Chiefs games: "Just let her live!" Swift laughs along. https://t.co/Imoq8xmhBH pic.twitter.com/8Oi5wviPSG
— Variety (@Variety) February 5, 2024
The host also made a quip about Swift at the Kansas City football games to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
“I think it’s so unfair how NFL fans have been complaining about the cameras cutting to Taylor Swift, like she’s controlling the cameras at the games. Let her live," Noah said.
"In fact tonight, on Taylor's behalf, I’m going to give her a break. Every time they mention Taylor Swift, I’m going to get revenge. Every time someone says Taylor Swift, I'm going to cut the cameras to someone who played football. That’s what I'll do."
Then the camera promptly shifted to Terry Crews, who used to be an NFL football player.
Taylor Swift announces new album 'The Tortured Poets Department'
Relatively early in the evening, winning the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, Swift used her acceptance speech as an opportunity to reveal she's been working on a new album.
All’s fair in love and poetry... New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Out April 19 🤍https://t.co/WdrCmvLHyA
📷: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/CCPhmSZ2UD— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) February 5, 2024
Swift's upcoming album, titled "The Tortured Poets Department," will be released on April 19.
Jay-Z calls out Beyoncé snub
Jay-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the Grammys, accepting the award with his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, by his side.
While accepting the award, Jay-Z also made a statement about how his wife, Beyoncé, should have won the Album of the Year award in the past. Beyoncé has 32 Grammys Awards, the artist with the most Grammys of all time.
"I don't want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone, but never won Album of the Year," Jay-Z said. "So even by your own metrics, that doesn't work."
"Some of you will go home tonight and feel like you've been robbed, some of you may get robbed. Some of you don't belong in the category. When I get nervous I tell the truth. But outside of that, we've got to keep showing up. ... Forget the Grammys, you've got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve."
Joni Mitchell performs at the 2024 #GrammyAwards pic.twitter.com/reHS0khwGg
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Joni Mitchell's first Grammys performance
For the first time in her life, 80-year-old Joni Mitchell performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony, alongside Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Sistastrings, Lucius, Blake Mills and Jacob Collier.
Taking to the stage, singing "Both Sides Now" from a chair, Mitchell received a standing ovation and applause from the crowd.
The performance came to an end with Noah bringing out Mitchell's latest award for Best Folk Album.
Mark Ronson presents with his mother-in-law Meryl Streep at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/mueXlmJarX
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Meryl Streep and son-in-law Mark Ronson share a sweet moment
We would like to request that Streep is present for every single Grammy Awards ceremony moving forward, sharing an incredibly sweet moment with her son-in-law Ronson, to present the award for Record of the Year, which went to Miley Cyrus.
"I am so unbelievably honoured to be here tonight, with you Mark, to present the most important award of the night, the best album of the year," Streep said to audience.
"No, sorry ... it's for best record of the year," Ronson cut in to say.
"That's what I said. Best album is a record, so a record is an album," Streep said in response.
Ronson went on to explain that those are different awards, and this award is also different than the one for best song, which is a songwriter's award.
"That's the one you lost," Streep said, giving Ronson a supportive kiss on the cheek.
Miley Cyrus wins for the first time
While Cyrus has been incredibly popular for years, the artist finally won her first Grammy, taking home two awards.
Cyrus won the award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
"This award is amazing, but I really hope that it doesn't change anything, because my life was beautiful yesterday," Cyrus said in her Record of the Year acceptance speech. "Not everyone in the world will get a Grammy but everyone in this world is spectacular."
The singer also performed her song "Flowers" at the Grammys, and called out the audience for not singing along.
"Why you acting like you don't know this song?" Cyrus said.
Billy joel performs at the 2024 #GrammyAwards pic.twitter.com/6CXDvyasEs
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Billy Joel's new single
The famed Billy Joel also performed at the 2024 Grammy Awards, taking the stage to play his new song "Turn the Lights Back On."
This was his first performance at the event since 2002.
Joel also closed out the ceremony, heading back to the piano to play "You May Be Right."
U2 Performs at the Sphere in Las Vegas during the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/JV6I6YskaT
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
U2 give a hypnotizing performance from the Sphere in Las Vegas
A performance of "Atomic City" from U2 at the Grammys took place at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with impressive visuals. It was the first time TV cameras have captured a performance inside the Sphere.
It was easily the most visually impressive performances of the night, but it may make you feel a bit queasy.