Why Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter Skipped the 2021 Grammys
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Beyoncé and her nine-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter could both make history tonight: Beyoncé, with her nine nominations, could become the most winningest artist in Grammys history if she wins eight of them. Blue Ivy already won her first Grammy ever, at the age of 9. But the two opted not to attend the ceremony this evening. Their absence was publicized before the show even started, in fact.
Interim Recording Academy CEO and president Harvey Mason Jr. told the Los Angeles Times that Beyoncé turned down the invitation to perform at the show and ultimately attend it in-person. “It’s unfortunate, because she’s such a big part of the Recording Academy,” he said. “We absolutely wish we had her onstage.”
Beyoncé's “Black Parade” is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song. Her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion on “Savage” is also nominated for Record of the Year along with Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Bey’s Black Is King is up for Best Music Film. And of course, Blue Ivy and Beyoncé's “Brown Skin Girl” just won for Best Music Video.
Beyoncé’s snub of the Grammys comes after her groundbreaking album Lemonade did not win Album of the Year in 2017; instead, Adele's 25 took home the prize. Even Adele refused to accept the award, saying in her speech that, “I can't possibly accept this award, and I’m very humbled and very grateful and gracious but my life is Beyoncé, and the album to me, the Lemonade album, Beyoncé, was so monumental, and so well thought out. And so beautiful and soul-bearing and we all got to see another side of you that you don't always let us see, and we appreciate that. And all us artists adore you. You are our light. And the way that you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my Black friends feel is empowering, and you make them stand up for themselves. And I love you. I always have. And I always will.”
Bey subtly addressed how the loss affected her, telling ELLE in December 2019 that the way she measures success has changed:
“🙏🏾 I began to search for deeper meaning when life began to teach me lessons I didn’t know I needed,” she wrote. “Success looks different to me now. I learned that all pain and loss is in fact a gift. Having miscarriages taught me that I had to mother myself before I could be a mother to someone else. Then I had Blue, and the quest for my purpose became so much deeper. I died and was reborn in my relationship, and the quest for self became even stronger. It’s difficult for me to go backwards. Being ‘number one’ was no longer my priority. My true win is creating art and a legacy that will live far beyond me. That’s fulfilling.”
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