66th Annual Grammys: Triumphs, Tensions, and Turnarounds

On February 4, 2024 The Recording Academy held its 66th annual Grammys. The Grammy's acknowledge artists, producers, songs, and albums from the past year during the biggest award show in music, but this does not come without some drama. 

First, let’s look at some of the biggest winners from this year. Miley Cyrus’s track “Flowers” led her to win her first Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Solo Pop Performance. Taylor Swift took home the coveted Album of the Year for “Midnights” and “Best Pop Vocal Album.” Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for “What Was I Made For?”

Meanwhile, Victoria Monét took the academy by storm by winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Album for “Jaguar II.” Sza and Phoebe Bridgers were awarded “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for their track “Ghost in the Machine”. 

Though there were many big winners this year, there was, of course, drama surrounding the event. Travis Scott performed his massive hit song “FE!N” (ft. Playboi Carti) at the event, during which he said “They slept on me ten times."

This is a direct callout to the Academy, as Travis Scott has been nominated ten times throughout his career, but has not taken home a single Grammy. It was believed by many fans that he would win “Best Rap Album."

However, that award, along with “Best Rap Performance” and “Best Rap Song”, went to Killer Mike for his album “Michael” with the song “Scientists and Engineers."

At the end of his performance Travis wrecked some of the stage set, some believed this was planned while others think it was in retaliation to his Grammys snubs. 

Directly following his wins, Killer Mike was placed in police custody and was walked out of the event in handcuffs. It was later found out that he was placed under arrest as a result of an alleged physical altercation that happened prior. He has since been released on zero bail. 

Lastly, many fans are not happy with Taylor Swift after the event. One of the main reasons for this upset was because many believed her to have snubbed the surprise announcer, Celine Dion, during her acceptance of “Album of the Year."

Many fans watched and noticed that Swift did not seem to acknowledge Dion when she went up to receive her award, some even saying it was intentional. After this event Taylor and Celine posed for a photo backstage seemingly squashing the alleged drama. 

The Grammys always take the country by storm, and there is never a lack of conversation after the monumental show and 2024 was not immune to the “Grammys Takeover."