2023 Grammy Awards: Recapping All of the Biggest Moments

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The post 2023 Grammy Awards: Recapping All of the Biggest Moments appeared first on Consequence.

Welcome to our 2023 Grammys live blog. Scroll below for a full recap of all of the night’s biggest moments. This post goes in reverse chronicle order, beginning with DJ Khaled’s closing performance of “God Did” and Harry Styles’ victory for Album of the Year. You can find the full winners’ list here.


Another Grammys is in the books! Thanks for joining our live blog.

Jay-Z Reminds Us Why He is the Goat

8:55 p.m. PT – The 2022 Grammys come to a close with an eight-minute performance of DJ Khaled’s “God Did” featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend, and JAY-Z. The performance is centered around a Last Supper-inspired set, with JAY-Z, like Jesus, taking center-stage.

Harry’s House is Album of the Year

8:45 p.m. PT – It’s Harry Styles’ house, and we’re just living in it. Harry Styles claims the top prize at this year’s Grammys with Harry’s House taking home Album of the Year.

“Man, I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me,” Styles says to open her acceptance speech. “At a lot of different times in my life, I listen to everyone in this category when I’m alone. I think like on nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as ‘best’ in music. I don’t think any of us sit in 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.”

Steve Lacy Gets His Time in the Spotlight

8:35 p.m. PT – With bassist Thundercat behind him, Steve Lacy is one of the final performances of the night. The singer-songwriter plays his funk-pop hit “Bad Habit,” which earned him bominations for Best Solo Pop Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. As the cameras pans throughout the crowd, everyone from Taylor Swift to Lizzo to Kendrick Lamar are just enough glasses of wine deep to happily dance and sing along.

It’s 11:30 p.m. on the east coast.

Lizzo is all of us.

It’s About Damn Time: Lizzo Wins Record of the Year

8:16 p.m. PT – Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” is this year’s Record of the Year. It’s the fourth Grammy of her career — and first of 2023.

In her acceptance speech, Lizzo dedicates her award to Prince. “When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music,” she says. “I was like, ‘I don’t care if my positivity bother you — what’s wrong with you?’ And this was at a time when positive music and feel good music wasn’t mainstream at that point, and I felt very misunderstood. I felt on the outside looking in. But I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place, so I had to be that change to make the world a better place. And now I look around, and there’s all these songs about loving our bodies and feeling comfortable in our skin and feeling f*cking good! And I’m just so proud to be a part of it, because in a world that is a lot of darkness and a lot of shit, I’d like to believe that not only can people do good, but we just are good. We are good, inherently.”

Lizzo closes her speech by giving kudos for Beyoncé: “In the fifth grade I skipped school to see you perform. My sister, she got me out of school, it was literature, I’m good. And — where you at, Beyoncé? My eyes are wet. — You changed my life. You sang that gospel medley, and the way you made me feel, I was like, ‘I want to make people feel this way with my music.'”

Bonnie Raitt’s Surprise Grammy Victory

8:08 p.m. PT – In the night’s first big surprise, Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That” wins the Grammy for Song of the Year. It’s her third victory of the ceremony, having previously won Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind” and Best American Roots Song for “Just Like That.”

“I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say,” Raitt says in her acceptance speech. “I don’t write a lot of songs but I’m so proud that you appreciate this one… I’m totally humbled.”

Luke Combs Makes His Grammys Debut

7:54 p.m. PT – Following that phenomenal 50 years of hip-hop tribute is a tough break, but you’ve gotta represent country music, and Luke Combs — who’s up for three genre awards tonight, including Best Country Album — is just the guy for the job. Backed by a full band, Combs performs the tender “Going, Going, Gone” against the backdrop of a moonlit field, and it’s not long before everyone’s in their feels.

Adele’s “Easy on Me” is an Easy Win

7:45 p.m. PT – It took almost three hours into the telecast, but Adele finally has her first Grammy of the night. “Easy on Me” beat Harry Styles, Lizzo, Steve Lacy, and more to win Best Solo Pop Performance.

Grammys’ 50 Years of Hip-Hop Tribute Was One for the Ages

7:25 p.m. PT – The Grammys hosted a star-studded medley by which all future award show extravaganzas will be measured, featuring literally dozens of music legends during an epic celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Guest performers included Rakim, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Public Enemy, Scarface, De La Soul, Method Man, and Big Boi — just to name a few.

Don’t Forget About Mary J. Blige

7:15 p.m. PT – On a stage hued in gold, Mary J. Blige performs the title track to her six-time nominated album Good Morning Gorgeous. Having to perform right after Bey nabbed the GOAT Award might have made any one else nervous, but Blige is a Queen and her own right, something she proves by belting out the Record of the Year nominated song.

Beyoncé is the GOAT

7:10 p.m. PT – It’s official: Beyoncé is now the most decorated Grammy winner of all time. With her victory for Best Dance/Electronic Album, Queen Bey has 33 Grammys to her name — the most all time.

An Emotional In Memoriam

6:50 p.m. PT – Loretta Lynn, Takeoff, and Christine McVie were honored at the 2023 Grammys with a heartwarming “In Memoriam” tribute featuring performances from Kacey Musgraves, Quavo, Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood, and more.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras Give Fox News an Aneurysm

6:45 p.m. PT – Sam Smith and Kim Petras bring some devilish theatrics to their performance of “Unholy,” which earlier won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Dressed in tight latex, Smith is on a platform in the crowd surrounded by dancers looking like Samara from The Ring. He tosses it back to Petras, who’s trapped in a cage on stage with a line of fire behind her and red leather Catwomen snapping whips outside. It is definitely one of the hottest performances of the night so far.

Kendrick Wins Best Rap Album for a Third Time

6:30 p.m. PT – Kendrick Lamar has another Best Rap Album Grammy to his name as Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is this year’s winner in the category. K. Dot previously won Best Rap Album for DAMN. and To Pimp a Butterfly.

It marks K. Dot’s third Grammy of the night as he also won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “The Heart Part 5.”

Jack Harlow, also nominated for Best Rap Album, seems confused.

The Grammys Become Harry’s House

6:18 p.m. PT – Harry Styles, donning a silver sequined and fringed jumpsuit, brings glitter and gusto to the Grammys stage for a performance of his No. 1 hit “As It Was.” He joins his backup dancers on a rotating red stage and delivers some jaunty choreo, effectively transporting everyone inside the arena to Harry’s House. The single is up for the coveted Song of the Year and Record of the Year awards, so later this evening we’ll see if Harry takes home some more gold to go with his silver.

Bad Bunny Wins Best Música Urbana Album

6:10 p.m. PT – As if there is any doubt, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti wins Best Música Urbana Album. He won the same award last year for El Último Tour Del Mundo.

Lizzo Does Not Disappoint

6:05 p.m. PT – Joined by her crew of backup dancers, Lizzo takes the stage for an epic performance of her hit single “About Damn Time.” The track received Grammy nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Solo Pop Performance, with Purple Disco Machine’s remix of the song having already earned the award for Best Remixed Recording.

Kim Petras Makes History

6:00 p.m. PT – Kim Petras becomes the first transgender woman to win a Grammy: her collaboration with Sam Smith, “Unholy,” is awarded Best Solo Pop Duo/Group Performance.

“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras says in her acceptance speech. She goes on to thank “incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” specifically singling out the late Sophie. “Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you and your inspiration will forever be in my music.

Petras goes on to thank Madonna “for fighting for LGBTQ+ rights,” as well as her own mother. “I grew up next to a highway in nowhere Germany, and my mother believed me that I was a girl, and I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”

@consequence

Kim Petras and Sam Smith’s win for “Unholy” makes history, with Petras becoming the first trans woman to win the award ♥️ #grammys #grammys2023 #unholy #kimpetras #samsmith

♬ original sound – consequence

Steve Wonder Leads A Stellar Tribute to Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy

5:50 p.m. PT – To celebrate the 2023 MusiCares Persons of the year, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, the great Stevie Wonder delivers a show-stopping tribute performance. He opens with “The Way You Do the Things You Do” before Robinson himself joins for his classic “The Tears of a Clown.” To close it out, Chris Stapleton gets funky on guitar for a duet with Wonder on “Higher Ground.”

Beyoncé Ties the All-Time Record

5:35. p.m. PT – Beyoncé is now just one Grammy Award from passing passing Georg Solti to be the all-time Grammy record holder. Thanks to “CUFF IT,” she wins Best R&B Song — her third Grammy of the night and 31st of her illustrious career.

Harry Wins the First Big Award of the Night

5:20 p.m. PT – Harry Styles’ Harry’s House wins Best Pop Vocal Album, giving the UK pop star his first Grammy of the night.

“This album, from start to finish, has been the greatest experience of my life,” Harry says in his acceptance speech. “From making it with two of my best friends to playing it for people has been the greatest joy… Thank you to everyone who inspired this album, thank you to all my friends, I wouldn’t be here without you, thank you.”

Brandi Carlile Showcases “Broken Horses”

5:10 p.m. PT – Right after an adorable introduction from Catherine Shepherd and their two young daughters, Brandi Carlile rings in the night with a performance of “Broken Horses,” which won Grammys for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. The track comes from the Americana rocker’s recent album In These Silent Days, which is also up for Album of the Year.

Bad Bunny Kicks Off Grammys

5:05 p.m. PT – In a nod to wide world of music that the Grammys have until recently mostly ignored, the 2023 ceremony opened with rambunctious Spanish-language performance from the globe’s most popular streaming artist, Bad Bunny. The artist born Benito Ocasio lights up the stage in a white t-shirt and light acid-washed jeans, tearing through a medley of “El Apagón” and “Después de la Playa” from his record-breaking 2022 album, Un Verano Sin Ti. Bad Bunny sets a high bar that the rest of the performers might have to strain to match.

4:50 p.m. PT – The Grohl family has arrived!

Dave Grohl and his family at the Grammys
Dave Grohl and his family at the Grammys

Dave Grohl and his family at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

4:20. p.m. PT – Check out some of the red carpet looks, including T-Swift, Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo, Shania Twain, Anderson .Paak, Brandi Carlile, and Miguel.

Harry Styles at the 2023 Grammys
Harry Styles at the 2023 Grammys

Harry Styles at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys
Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys

Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Lizzo at the 2023 Grammys
Lizzo at the 2023 Grammys

Lizzo at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Kacey Musgraves at the 2023 Grammys
Kacey Musgraves at the 2023 Grammys

Kacey Musgraves at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Anderson Paak at the 2023 Grammys
Anderson Paak at the 2023 Grammys

Anderson .Paak at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Brandi Carlile at the 2023 Grammys
Brandi Carlile at the 2023 Grammys

Brandi Carlile at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Maren Morris at the 2023 Grammys
Maren Morris at the 2023 Grammys

Maren Morris at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Shania Twain at the 2023 Grammys
Shania Twain at the 2023 Grammys

Shania Twain at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Miguel at the 2023 Grammys
Miguel at the 2023 Grammys

Miguel at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Turnstile at the 2023 Grammys
Turnstile at the 2023 Grammys

Turnstile at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Dave Grohl at the 2023 Grammys
Dave Grohl at the 2023 Grammys

Dave Grohl at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Cardi B at the 2023 Grammys
Cardi B at the 2023 Grammys

Cardi B at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Steve Lacy at the 2023 Grammys
Steve Lacy at the 2023 Grammys

Steve Lacy at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

Camila Cabello  at the 2023 Grammys
Camila Cabello at the 2023 Grammys

Camila Cabello at the 2023 Grammys, photo courtesy of artist

Harry Styles at the 2023 Grammys
Harry Styles at the 2023 Grammys
Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys
Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys
Lizzo at the 2023 Grammys
Lizzo at the 2023 Grammys
Kacey Musgraves at the 2023 Grammys
Kacey Musgraves at the 2023 Grammys
Anderson Paak at the 2023 Grammys
Anderson Paak at the 2023 Grammys
Brandi Carlile at the 2023 Grammys
Brandi Carlile at the 2023 Grammys
Maren Morris at the 2023 Grammys
Maren Morris at the 2023 Grammys
Shania Twain at the 2023 Grammys
Shania Twain at the 2023 Grammys
Miguel at the 2023 Grammys
Miguel at the 2023 Grammys
Turnstile at the 2023 Grammys
Turnstile at the 2023 Grammys
Dave Grohl at the 2023 Grammys
Dave Grohl at the 2023 Grammys
Cardi B at the 2023 Grammys
Cardi B at the 2023 Grammys
Steve Lacy at the 2023 Grammys
Steve Lacy at the 2023 Grammys
Camila Cabello  at the 2023 Grammys
Camila Cabello at the 2023 Grammys

4:05 p.m. PT – We interrupt this commercial break to report that Taylor Swift has officially arrived on the Grammys red carpet.

Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys
Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys

Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

3:58 p.m. PT – And that’s a wrap for this year’s Premiere Ceremony! Many more trophies and performances are to come during the main Grammys telecast airing on CBS beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT. Now excuse us as we go make a cocktail.

3:55 p.m. PT – For the second year in a row, Jack Antonoff wins Producer of the Year. Tobias Jesso Jr., the former indie rocker-turned-go-to-songwriter for artists like Adele and Harry Styles, takes home the inaugural trophy for Songwriter of the Year.

3:50 p.m. PT – Taylor Swift wins her first Grammy of the evening as “All Too Well: The Short Film” is christened Best Music Video.

3:48 p.m. PT – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” holds off songs by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish to win Best Song Written for Visual Media.

3:45 p.m. PT – Dave Chappelle’s controversial special The Closer —  which featured disparaging remarks about transgender people — claims the Grammy for Best Comedy Album.

In the special, Chappelle defended J.K. Rowling and other Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs), saying, “They look at trans women the way we Blacks might look at Blackface.” He also seemed to confuse gender identity — a person’s individual sense of themselves as a man, woman, nonbinary, or other — and biological sex, saying, “Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on Earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on Earth. That is a fact.”

3:40 p.m. PT – Sam Smith’s Grammys attire does not disappoint.

Sam Smith at the 2023 Grammys
Sam Smith at the 2023 Grammys

Sam Smith at the 2023 Grammys, photo via Getty

3:30 p.m. PT  – Bonnie Raitt wins Best Americana Performance for “Made Up Mind” and Best American Roots Song for “Just Like That.” Not to be outdone, Brandi Carlile scores her third Grammy of the night as In These Silent Days wins Best Americana Album.

2:55 p.m. PT – Congratulations to the New York Youth Orchestra, who become the first youth orchestra to win a Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance.

2:30 p.m. PT – Edgar Winter’s tribute album to his late brother Johnny Winter wins the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

2:25 p.m. PT – At 90 years young, Willie Nelson picks up the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for “Live Forever.” Meanwhile, Taylor Swift is denied a Grammy win for Best Country Song, as “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” loses to Cody Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t.”

2:15 p.m. PT – Rosalía’s MOTOMAMI wins Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. It’s the second Grammy of her career, as she previously won in the same category in 2020 for El Mal Querer.

1:55 p.m. PT – Wet Leg sweep the Alternative Music category, winning Best Alternative Music Album for their self-titled debut and Best Alternative Music Performance for their song “Chaise Lounge.” Meanwhile, Brandi Carlile’s song “Broken Horses” takes home Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance – the seventh and eighth Grammys of her career.

1:45 p.m. PT – Ozzy Osbourne gets his flowers, winning Best Metal Performance for his collaboration with Tony Iommi, “Degradation Rules,” and Best Rock Album for Patient Number 9. Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and producer Andrew Watt accept the awards on Ozzy’s behalf. Watt says he spoke to Ozzy on the car ride over and shares the follow message: “I love you… and fuck off!”

1:40 p.m. PT – Kendrick Lamar picks up his first two Grammys of the night, winning both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “The Heart Part 5.” Future, Drake, and Tems’ collaboration “Wait for U” wins the Grammy for Melodic Rap Performance, and Steve Lacy captures her first-ever Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album for Gemini Rights.

1:37 p.m. PT – And that’s Grammy No. 2 for Beyoncé, who wins Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa.”

1:35 p.m. PT – Viola Davis achieves EGOT status with her Grammy win for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. Davis is the 18th individual to have earned an EGOT.

1:30 p.m. PT – Michael Bublé’s Higher wins the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, beating out fellow candidates like Diana Ross, Norah Jones, and Kelly Clarkson. Incredibly, Ross still has yet to win a Grammy over the course of her illustrious career.

1:20 p.m. PT – Poet Amanda Gorman is handing out Grammys in the jazz and spoken-word categories.

1:00 p.m. PT – Beyoncé wins her first Grammy of the evening! “Break My Soul” took home the award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. With 29 Grammys now to her name, she’s passed Quincy Jones to be in sole possession of second place, and is just three awards away from passing Georg Solti to be the all-time Grammy record holder.

12:55 p.m. PT – The inaugural Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media goes to Stephanie Economou for her work on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok.

12:50 p.m. PTEncanto scores the first two Grammys of the day, winning Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. In winning the latter category, composer Germaine Franco beat out fellow nominees Hans Zimmer (No Time to Die), Jonny Greenwood (The Power of the Dog), and Nicholas Britell (Succession).

12:30 p.m. PT – The Grammys Premiere ceremony is now underway and streaming live on YouTube. The majority of this year’s awards will be handed out over the course of this three-hour program. Comedian Randy Rainbow serves as host, with Arooj Aftab, Madison Cunningham, Samara Joy, and The Blind Boys of Alabama among the scheduled performers.


On Sunday, February 5th, the 65th annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Consequence will present a live blog of the 2023 Grammys, recapping all of the biggest moments for what is sure to be a memorable evening.

The majority of the 2023 Grammys will be handed out during the Premiere Ceremony, a pre-show telecast held at the Microsoft Theater beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. The event will stream live on YouTube. The main event will air live on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, hosted by Trevor Noah.

Beyoncé leads all of this year’s contenders with a total of nine Grammy nominees, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Among the other artists with multiple nominations are Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Brandi Carlile, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, and ABBA. You can find the complete list of 2023 Grammy nominees here.

Scheduled Grammy performers include Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, Mary J. Blige, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy, Kim Petras, and Sam Smith, as well as DJ Khaled alongside JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, John Legend, and Fridayy, plus there will be tributes for Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Loretta Lynn, and Migos rapper Takeoff.

2023 Grammy Awards: Recapping All of the Biggest Moments
Consequence Staff

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