By DONNA BALANCIA
Lady Gaga, Diana Ross and Dolly Parton carried the GRAMMY Awards broadcast on CBS Sunday night, in one of the most lackluster awards shows on record.
“This Is America” by Childish Gambino, and country singer Kacey Musgraves were the big winners of the night with four statuettes each. “This Is America” won Record of the Year and Musgraves took home Album of the Year for Golden Hour.
Gaga was a multiple winner, coming away with Best Pop Solo Performance with Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Shallow” (with Bradley Cooper) and Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Bradley Cooper Joins Lady Gaga Onstage for ‘Shallow’ Duet in Las Vegas
‘This Is America’ by Childish Gambino and ‘Golden Hour’ by Kacey Musgraves Take Honors
“This Is America” by Childish Gambino won Song of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Video as well as Record of the Year; Kacey Musgraves won for Best Country Album with Golden Hour, Best Country Solo Performance with “Butterflies,” Best Country Song for “Space Cowboy” and Album of the Year.
H.E.R. made the point of telling the audience that her Best R and B Album-winning H.E.R. is really “just an EP.” She also won Best R and B Performance for “Best Part” featuring Daniel Caesar.
The late Chris Cornell won Best Rock Performance for “When Bad Does Good,” and his children were on hand to accept the award in his honor.
Read about Vicky Cornell’s Foundation work at California Rocker
Veterans Sting and Shaggy won Best Reggae Album for their terrific collaboration on 44/876.
Alicia Keys added a feminine and soft touch to the hosting duties, but overall the show came off as a little disorganized. And among the missing from the GRAMMYs were Taylor Swift, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Kanye West and Beyonce. Keys kept her cool despite more than a few gaffs during the broadcast.
There were innovative performances during the night.
Dolly Parton was honored and joined friends and fellow musicians who sang her songs on the GRAMMY Stage.
Read ‘Dolly Parton Honored at Press Club Gala’
In typical fashion, the gorgeous Janelle Monae and her excellent dance troupe stole the show, sporting the latest in latex with Monae and her lovely appearance giving viewers hope. Jennifer Lopez was an unusual pick to host the Motown celebration part of the show but put on a remarkably athletic show of dancing and singing. Worst speech goes to Cardi B., who recalled all the difficulties in making Invasion of Privacy, which won Best Rap Album.
Diana Ross was glorious in red and gave the audience a rare performance.
Read Harriet Kaplan’s Review of Diana Ross at The Hollywood Bowl
Dua Lipa, winner of Best New Artist, and St. Vincent did a great duet on “Masseduction,” which won Best Rock Song (Jack Antonoff and Annie Clark) and “One Kiss.”
Gaga tried to get the audience going by singing the GRAMMY Award-winning song “Shallow” (A Star Is Born) while shaking her thing in a flashy outfit. Post Malone teamed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and and Travis Scott rallied kids in a giant cage and crowd surfing. Chloe x Halle put on an amazing rendition of Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack’s “Where is the Love?”
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
- Colors, Beck
- Havana (Live), Camila Cabello
- God Is a Woman, Ariana Grande
- WINNER: Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?), Lady Gaga
- Better Now, Post Malone
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
- Fall In Line, Christina Aguilera ft. Demi Lovato
- Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Backstreet Boys
- ‘S Wonderful, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall
- WINNER: Shallow, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
- Girls Like You, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
- Say Something, Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton
- The Middle, Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
- Love Is Here to Stay, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall
- WINNER: My Way, Willie Nelson
- Nat ‘King’ Cole & Me, Gregory Porter
- Standards (Deluxe), Seal
- The Music…The Mem’ries…The Magic!, Barbra Streisand
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
- Camila, Camila Cabello
- Meaning of Life, Kelly Clarkson
- WINNER: Sweetener, Ariana Grande
- Shawn Mendes, Shawn Mendes
- Beautiful Trauma, P!nk
- Reputation, Taylor Swift
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
- WINNER: Everything Is Love, The Carters
- The Kids Are Alright, Chloe x Halle
- Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
- War & Leisure, Miguel
- Ventriloquism, Meshell Ndegeocello
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
- Be Careful, Cardi B
- Nice For What, Drake
- WINNER: King’s Dead, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake
- WINNER: Bubblin, Anderson .Paak
- Sicko Mode, Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee
BEST RAP/SUNG PERFORMANCE
- Like I Do, Christina Aguilera ft. Goldlink
- Pretty Little Fears, 6lack ft. J. Cole
- WINNER: This Is America, Childish Gambino
- All the Stars, Kendrick Lamar and SZA
- Rockstar, Post Malone ft. 21 Savage
BEST RAP SONG
- WINNER: God’s Plan, Drake
- King’s Dead, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake
- Lucky You, Eminem ft. Joyner Lucas
- Sicko Mode, Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee)
- Win, Jay Rock
BEST RAP ALBUM
- WINNER: Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B
- Swimming, Mac Miller
- Victory Lap, Nipsey Hussle
- Daytona, Pusha T
- Astroworld, Travis Scott
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
- Unapologetically, Kelsea Ballerini
- Port Saint Joe, Brothers Osbourne
- Girl Going Nowhere, Ashley McBryde
- WINNER: Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
- From A Room: Volume 2, Chris Stapleton
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
- Wouldn’t It Be Great?, Loretta Lynn
- Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, Maren Morris
- WINNER: Butterflies, Kacey Musgraves
- Millionaire, Chris Stapleton
- Parallel Line, Keith Urban
BEST COUNTRY DUO/PERFORMANCE
- Shoot Me Straight, Brothers Osborne
- Tequila, Dan + Shay
- When Someone Stops Loving You, Little Big Town
- Dear Hate, Maren Morris ft. Vince Gill
- Meant To Be, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line
BEST COUNTRY SONG
- Break Up in the End, Cole Swindell
- Dear Hate, Maren Morris ft. Vince Gill)
- I Lived It, Blake Shelton
- WINNER: Space Cowboy, Kacey Musgraves
- Tequila, Dan + Shay
- When Somebody Stops Loving You, Little Big Town
BEST R&B ALBUM
- Sex & Cigarettes, Toni Braxton
- Good Thing, Leon Bridges
- Honestly, Lalah Hathaway
- WINNER: H.E.R., H.E.R
- Gumbo Unplugged (Live), PJ Morton
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
- Long As I Live, Toni Braxton
- Summer, The Carters
- YOY, Lalah Hathaway
- WINNER: Best Part, H.E.R. ft. Daniel Caesar
- First Began, PJ Morgan
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
- WINNER: Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand, Leon Bridges
- Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight, Bettye LaVette
- Honest, MAJOR.
- WINNER: How Deep Is Your Love, PJ Morton ft. Yebba
- Made For Love, Charlie Wilson ft. Lalah Hathaway
BEST R&B SONG
–WINNER: Boo’d Up, Ella Mai
- Come Through and Chill, Miguel ft. J. Cole and Salaam Remi
- Feels Like Summer, Childish Gambino
- Focus, H.E.R.
- Long As I Live, Toni Braxton
BEST DANCE RECORDING
- Northern Soul, Above & Beyond
- Ultimatum, Disclosure
- Losing It, Fisher
- WINNER: Electricity, Silk City and Dua Lipa ft. Diplo and Mark Ronson
- Ghost Voices, Virtual Self
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
- Singularity, Jon Hopkins
- WINNER: Woman Worldwide, Justice
- Treehouse, Sofi Tukker
- Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, Sophie
- Lune Rouge, Tokimonsta
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR NON-CLASSICAL
- Boi-1da
- Lary Klein
- Linda Perry
- Kanye West,
- WINNER: Pharrell Williams
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
- APES***, The Carters
- WINNER: The Is America, Childish Gambino
- I’m Not Racist, Joyner Lucas
- Pynk, Janelle Monáe
- Mumbo Jumbo, Tierra Whack
BEST MUSIC FILM
- Life In 12 Bars, Eric Clapton
- Whitney, Whitney Houston
- Quincy, Quincy Jones
- Itzhak, Itzhak Perlman
- The King, Elvis Presley
BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
- The Emancipation Procrastination, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
- Steve Gadd Band, Steve Gadd Band
- Moderl Lore, Julian Lage
- Laid Black, Marcus Miller
- Protocol 4, Simon Phillips
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
- Four Out Of Five, Artic Monkeys
- WINNER: When Bad Does Good, Chris Cornell
- Made An America, The Fever 333
- Highway Tune, Greta Van Fleet
- Uncomfortable, Halestorm
BEST ROCK SONG
- Black Smoke Rising, Greta Van Fleet
- Jumpsuit, Twenty One Pilots
- Mantra, Bring Me The Horizon
- WINNER: Masseduction, St. Vincent
- Rats, Ghost
BEST ROCK ALBUM
- Rainier Fog, Alice In Chains
- Mania, Fall Out Boy
- Prequelle, Ghost
- WINNER: From the Fires, Greta Van Fleet
- Pacific Daydream, Weezer
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
- Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, Arctic Monkeys
- WINNER: Colors, Beck
- Utopia, Björk
- American Utopia, David Byrne
- Masseduction, St. Vincent
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
- Call Me By Your Name, (Various Artists) Luca Guadagnino, compilation producer; Robin Urdang, music supervisor
- Deadpool 2, (Various Artists) David Leitch & Ryan Reynolds, compilation producers; John Houlihan, music supervisor
- WINNER: The Greatest Showman, Hugh Jackman (& Various Artists) Alex Lacamoire, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul & Greg Wells, compilation producers
- Lady Bird, (Various Artists) Timothy J. Smith, compilation producer; Michael Hill & Brian Ross, music supervisors
- Stranger Things, (Various Arists) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer & Timothy J. Smith, compilation producers; Nora Felder, music supervisor
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
- All The Stars, Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA) Track from: Black Panther
- Mystery of Love, Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens) Track from: Call Me By Your Name
- Remember Me, Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel Featuring Natalia Lafourcade) Track from: Coco
- WINNER: Shallow, Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper) Track from: A Star Is Born
- This Is Me, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble) Track from: The Greatest Showman
BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
- Prometo, Pablo Alboran
- WINNER: Sincera, Claudia Brant
- Musas, Vol. 2, Natalia Lafourcade
- 2:00 AM, Raquel Sofía
- Vives, Carlos Vives
BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
- Be the Cowboy, Mitski
- Love Yourself: Tear, BTS
- WINNER: Masseduction, St. Vincent
- The Offering, The Chairman
- Well Kept Thing, Foxhole
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Chloe x Halle
- Luke Combs
- Greta Van Fleet
- H.E.R.
- WINNER: Dua Lipa
- Margo Price
- Bebe Rexha
- Jorja Smith
