Taylor Swift Makes History with Fourth Album of the Year Win at 2024 Grammy Awards
Taylor Swift has once again made history at the 2024 Grammy Awards, securing her fourth Album of the Year win. This remarkable achievement solidifies her status as one of the greatest artists of our time. Swift’s album, Midnights, which took the world by storm in 2023, was honored with the prestigious award, making her the first artist to win Album of the Year four times.
Swift’s previous wins in this category came in 2010 for Fearless, 2016 for 1989, and 2021 for Folklore. While mixing and mastering engineers Tom Coyne, Serban Ghenea, and John Hanes have previously won the award, Swift is the first artist to accomplish this feat.
In her acceptance speech, Swift expressed her gratitude and love for her craft. She said, “I would love to tell you that this is the best moment of my life, but I feel this happy when I finish a song or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love or when I’m shot-listing a music video, or when I’m rehearsing with my dancers or my band or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show. 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.”
However, Swift didn’t stop there. She managed to upstage herself by announcing the release of her new album, Tortured Poets Department, during the ceremony. Fans can look forward to its release on April 19th.
The night was not only historic for Taylor Swift but also for other talented artists. Miley Cyrus celebrated her first Grammy Awards win, taking home Record of the Year for her hit song “Flowers.” She also won Best Pop Solo Performance for the same track. SZA, known for her soulful R&B music, earned three Grammy Awards as a solo artist. She won Best Progressive R&B Album for SOS, Best R&B Song for “Snooze,” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Ghost in the Machine,” her collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers.
Speaking of Bridgers, she quietly had the biggest night statistically, winning four Grammys. This makes her the artist with the most wins this year. She shared one of the awards with SZA and won three with Boygenius.
The Recording Academy also showed its love for Billie Eilish and Finneas, awarding them Song of the Year for their hit song “What Was I Made For?” from the Barbie soundtrack. Victoria Monét, a rising star in the music industry, secured the coveted Best New Artist prize and also won Best R&B Album for Jaguar II.
The 2024 Grammys were a celebration of female artists. With seven out of the eight Album of the Year nominees being women, it was evident that the night belonged to the girls. Karol G, Lainey Wilson, and Coco Jones all received their first-ever Grammy wins in various categories.
The ceremony was not without its challenges. Outside the Crypto.com arena, protesters gathered to raise support for Palestine. Inside, Killer Mike, who had just won three Grammys as a solo artist, was detained after an alleged physical altercation. Despite these incidents, the show went on.
Trevor Noah returned as the host for the fourth consecutive year, bringing his unique blend of humor and enthusiasm to the stage. The performances stole the show, with Dua Lipa, SZA, Burna Boy, and Miley Cyrus delivering unforgettable moments on stage.
The night also featured special appearances by Tracy Chapman, who made her first live TV performance in nine years, and Joni Mitchell, who made her long-overdue Grammy performance debut. The “In Memoriam” segment paid tribute to legendary artists such as Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor, and Tina Turner.
As for the awards themselves, notable winners included Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Fred Again.., who all received double wins in their respective categories. Zach Bryan, Lil Durk, Peso Pluma, and Tyla celebrated their first Grammy wins. Producer of the Year, Non-Classical went to Jack Antonoff for the second year in a row. Even the Beatles scored a Grammy for Best Music Video.
Jay-Z was honored with the Recording Academy’s Global Impact Award and used his speech to address the Academy’s relationship with hip-hop and Black artists. He called for the Academy to “get it right” and acknowledged the need for more inclusivity and recognition.
Overall, the 2024 Grammy Awards were a night to remember. The triumphs of Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, SZA, and other talented artists showcased the incredible talent and diversity within the music industry. It was a celebration of music’s power to inspire and unite people from all