Beyonce got tearful as she thanked her husband, children, and late gay uncle as she broke the all time record for most wins ever with 32 at the 65th Grammy Awards after arriving fashionably late to a night where Adele and Lizzo also won big but it was Harry Styles.
The 41-year-old A-lister had missed her previous wins and even the star-studded red carpet but she did not miss the milestone moment where she took home her 32nd gold gramophone trophy at the gala event held at the Crypto.com Center in Los Angeles, California.
She tried to stop her tears as she expressed her gratitude toward her loved ones as she said: ‘Thank you so much. I’m trying not to be too emotional. And I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank god for protecting me. Thank you, god. I’d like to thank my uncle Jonny, who’s not here. But he’s here in spirit.’
She looked gorgeous as ever as she sported a dazzling silver dress and finished her speech by saying: ‘I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching.
‘I’d like to thank the queer community for your love. And for inventing this genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys. Thank you.’
Beyonce had previously dedicated her album Renaissance to her late gay uncle Johnny as she called him her ‘godmother’ and ‘the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album.’
Earlier in the night the 41-year-old A-lister was not in attendance at the event as she was announced as the winner of Best R&B Song bringing her to total of 31 wins and tying the original record.
Host Trevor Noah explained Beyonce’s absence as he said: ‘So, for real, Beyonce is on her way. But you know the upside of hosting the Grammys in L.A. Is that everyone can be here. The downside of hosting in L.A. Is the traffic.’
Music legend Nile Rodgers ended up accepting the honor on Beyonce’s behalf as he was one of the writers on the hit track alongside Nova Wav, Morten Ristorp, Raphael Saadiq and The-Dream.
The Queen Bey beat out stiff competition including: Jazmine Sullivan – Hurt Me So Good, Mary J. Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous, Muni Long – Hrs & Hrs, and PJ Morton – Please Don’t Walk Away.
Beyonce did eventually show up about half an hour later as host Trevor place her shiny new gold gramophone trophy on her table and said: ‘Welcome back to the Grammys, everybody. You know, when you equal a record, there’s no way you get to hold your Grammy in your hand and celebrate that.
‘And the queen is officially in ladies and gentlemen, Beyonce Knowles. Thank you so much. I was shocked to find out that traffic could stop you. I thought you traveled through space and time, but I’m glad that you could be with us right.’ She also earned two more even before the telecast began as she won Best Traditional R&B Performance for Plastic Off The Sofa and Best Dance/Electronic Recording for Break My Soul before the awards show aired live coast-to-coast.
The wins put her at 31 Grammys throughout her storied career which leaves her tied with late orchestral conductor Sir Georg Solti, who won 31 in total before he passed in 1997, and one to earn the all-time record.
Grammy Awards 2023 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
Album of the Year: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Record of the Year: Lizzo – About Damn Time
Song of the Year: Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Best New Artist: Samara Joy
Best Pop Solo Performance: Adele – Easy on Me
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Sam Smith & Kim Petras – Unholy
Best Pop Vocal Album: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Best Dance/Electronic Recording: Beyoncé – Break My Soul
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album: Beyoncé – Renaissance
Best Rock Performance: Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
Best Rock Song: Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Beyoncé – Plastic Off the Sofa
Best R&B Song: Beyoncé – Cuff It
Best Progressive R&B Album: Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar – The Heart Part 5
Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Best Country Solo Performance: Willie Nelson – Live Forever
Best Country Album: Willie Nelson – A Beautiful Time
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Samara Joy – Linger Awhile
Best Música Urbana Album: Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Best Americana Performance: Bonnie Raitt – Made Up Mind
Best American Roots Song: Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That
Best Americana Album: Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording: Viola Davis – Finding Me
Best Comedy Album: Dave Chappelle – The Closer
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Harry Styles – Harry’s House
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Jack Antonoff
Best Remixed Recording: Lizzo – About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
Beyonce – who led the nominees at the 2023 ceremony with nine – is also tied with her own husband rapper Jay-Z with 88 nominations total at the storied award show.
Despite a triumphant night, the Queen Bey was unable to secure a win in the elusive Album Of The Year category as she lost out once again on the biggest prize of the night to Harry Styles.
The 29-year-old British singer won for his album Harry’s House as he beat an impressive field of ten total including ABBA – Voyage, Adele – 30, Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti, Beyoncé – Renaissance, Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days, Coldplay – Music of the Spheres, Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Lizzo – Special, and Mary J. Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe).
The pop star was shocked as he accepted the top prize and said: ‘Um, man. I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me. At a lot of different times in my life, I listened to everyone in this category when I’m alone. And I think like on nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as bests in music.
‘I don’t think any of us sit in the studio thinking making decisions based on what is going to get us one of these. This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful. I’m going to pass it over to my collaborators who are — I’m just so this doesn’t happen to people like me very often. And this is so, so nice. Thank you very, very much.’
