Grammys 2020: Billie Eilish sweeps all four major categories, including album and record of the year

“Bad Guy” led to good news all around for teenage phenom Billie Eilish at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

The 18-year-old singer swept all four major honors at the 62nd annual Grammys, winning album, record and song of the year as well as best new artist – the first person to do so since Christopher Cross in 1981 – plus picked up best pop vocal album on a night that honored young talent and the loss of NBA star Kobe Bryant.

“Tonight is for Kobe,” pronounced pop sensation Lizzo as she kicked off the ceremony, one of several tributes to the Los Angeles Laker during the show hosted by Alicia Keys.

Lizzo won solo pop performance for “Truth Hurts,” Tyler, the Creator took best rap album, and country mainstay Tanya Tucker won her first Grammys in her long career. In addition to awards, there were plenty of memorable performances, including emotional turns from Camila Cabello and Demi Lovato.

Billie Eilish is the first person to sweep the four major Grammys – album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist – since Christopher Cross in 1981.
Billie Eilish is the first person to sweep the four major Grammys – album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist – since Christopher Cross in 1981.

Here are the live-time highlights from the Grammys ceremony (in ET):

11:39: Now it’s a sweep as Eilish takes record of the year as well for her hit “Bad Guy.” “Thank you” is all she can say.

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11:36: Eilish is on a roll, winning album of the year for "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" "Please sit down. Can I just say that Ariana deserves this?" she says. (Ariana Grande, to her credit, waves her off and blows Eilish a kiss.)

11:29: Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Ben Platt, The War and Treaty, Lang Lang, Common, Gary Clark Jr. and more perform "I Sing the Body Electric," which features an appearance from A-list ballerina Misty Copeland.

11:25: Best new artist goes to … Billie Eilish. This time on stage, she honors the fans, who “deserve everything. They haven’t been talked about enough tonight because they’re the reason why we’re here at all.”

11:19: The "In Memoriam" segment honors Dr. John, Leon Redbone, Doris Day, Neil Peart, Dick Dale, Ric Ocasek, Jessye Norman and other musicians who died in the past year. It's followed by Trombone Shorty and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with the Dixieland jam "Didn't He Ramble."

11:10: Bonnie Raitt performs her song "Angel From Montgomery," honors John Prine's lifetime achievement award, then introduces Gary Clark Jr.'s powerful rendition of "This Land."

11:01: Sitting at her piano, H.E.R. sings "Sometimes" and grooves with a backing band of dancing instrumentalists before she shreds an excellent electric guitar solo.

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10:58: DJ Khaled's "Higher," a collaboration with John Legend and the late Nipsey Hussle, wins best rap/sung performance. "This is for Nipsey Hussle. This is for hip-hop," Khaled says, with Legend thanking everyone "for lifting Nipsey's name up."

DJ Khaled (center) and John Legend (right) accept the award for best rap/sung performance and honor their late collaborator Nipsey Hussle at the Grammy Awards.
DJ Khaled (center) and John Legend (right) accept the award for best rap/sung performance and honor their late collaborator Nipsey Hussle at the Grammy Awards.

10:47: Keys plays a rising piano and sings "Underdog" while Brittany Howard strums on her guitar.

10:40: Billie Eilish gets her second Grammy and it's a big one: song of the year for "Bad Guy." "Why? Wow," Eilish says alongside co-writer/brother Finneas O'Connell. "So many other songs deserved this. I never thought this would happen in my whole life. I feel like I joke around a lot and I never take anything seriously, but I openly want to say that I'm grateful and honored to be here."

Billie Eilish accepts the song of the year Grammy for "Bad Guy" with her brother Finneas O'Connell.
Billie Eilish accepts the song of the year Grammy for "Bad Guy" with her brother Finneas O'Connell.

10:33: Best new artist nominee Rosalia breaks out the flamenco stylings for her song "Juro Que," gives the audience a dramatic dance break, then shifts to "Malamente."

10:21: Introduced by Ava DuVernay, the tribute to Nipsey Hussle (who was fatally shot last year in L.A.) begins with Meek Mill and also includes John Legend (on piano), DJ Khaled, Roddy Ricch, Kirk Franklin, YG and a dancing choir. "Long live Nip, long live Kobe Bryant," Khaled says in closing.

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10:08: Greta Gerwig introduces Demi Lovato's return to the Grammys in the singer's first live appearance after an apparent drug overdose in 2018. Lovato chokes up at the beginning of her ballad "Anyone" and has to start over, but by the end she's belting with a strong, clear voice and the crowd gives her a standing ovation.

9:56: Lil Nas X teams up with mega-popular South Korean boy band BTS – as well as country dude Billy Ray Cyrus, Walmart yodeler Mason Ramsey, Diplo, Young Thug and Nas – on his breakthrough hit "Old Town Road."

Tyler, the Creator embraces his mother as he accepts the award for best rap album at the Grammy Awards.
Tyler, the Creator embraces his mother as he accepts the award for best rap album at the Grammy Awards.

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9:53: Tyler, the Creator takes home best rap album for "Igor." "That's my mom, if y'all are wondering," says Tyler, hugging his crying mother. "You did a great job raising this guy." He thanks those who "trust in my crazy ideas" and has a special shout-out for Pharrell Williams: "That man allowed me to be comfortable in myself."

9:41: Aerosmith comes out to go old school first with "Living on the Edge" and then reuniting with hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC for the iconic rap/rock tune "Walk This Way."

9:34: The green-haired Eilish comes out to perform her ballad "When the Party's Over" as her producer brother Finneas (and a whole choir dressed in white) backs her.

Ariana Grande performs with backup dancers at the Grammy Awards.
Ariana Grande performs with backup dancers at the Grammy Awards.

9:21: Ariana Grande's medley starts with "Imagine," transitions to a mashup of "My Favorite Things" and "7 Rings" with a full orchestra and lingerie-clad backup dancers, and completes with her hit "Thank U, Next."

9:15: Dave Chappelle wins for best comedy album, but he's not there to accept.

9:11: Just four hours after winning her first-ever Grammy, country legend Tanya Tucker (with piano accompaniment and backup vocals courtesy of Brandi Carlile) performs "Bring My Flowers Now."

Camila Cabello performs “First Man” as a tribute to her father at the Grammy Awards.
Camila Cabello performs “First Man” as a tribute to her father at the Grammy Awards.

9:08: Camila Cabello tries to hit everybody in the feels with her ballad "First Man," which she's singing in tribute to her father as home videos play in the background. She comes down to perform next to her dad, who's crying, and they end the tune with a big hug.

8:54: Usher begins a tribute to the iconic Prince with a cover of "Little Red Corvette," puts his smooth touch on "When Doves Cry" (while FKA twigs dances on a pole nearby), and finishes his medley – plus breaks out some Prince-y moves – with "Kiss."

Dan Smyers, left, and Shay Mooney accept the Grammy for best country duo/group performance for "Speechless."
Dan Smyers, left, and Shay Mooney accept the Grammy for best country duo/group performance for "Speechless."

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8:52: Dan + Shay take best country duo/group performance for "Speechless." "I want to put my heart up to this microphone. You can literally hear it beating out of my chest right now," says Dan Smyers alongside Shay Mooney.

8:39: Tyler, the Creator's fiery avant-garde showing includes his songs "Earfquake" and "New Magic Wand," with backup from Charlie Wilson and a special a cappella interlude by Boyz II Men.

An emotional Lizzo accepts the award for best pop solo performance during the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.
An emotional Lizzo accepts the award for best pop solo performance during the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

8:32: Lizzo takes the first major award of the night, best pop solo performance, for "Truth Hurts." "This is unexpected (and) really cool. This whole week, I've been lost in my problems, stressed out, and then in an instant all that can go away and your priorities shift," says an emotional Lizzo. "I realize that people are hurting right now (but) this is the beginning of making music that moves people again."

8:26: "Pose" TV star Billy Porter introduces the Jonas Brothers, who sing "Five More Minutes" out into the crowd like a traveling bunch of bards before coming back to the stage – now full of dancers – for the catchy "What a Man Gotta Do."

8:10: Blake Shelton is joined by his girlfriend and fellow huge music star, Gwen Stefani, to duet on their song "Nobody But You." There are lots of wedding vibes with Shelton in a tux and Stefani wearing a white dress with a tiara of roses.

Boyz II Men join Alicia Keys to sing a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the Grammy Awards.
Boyz II Men join Alicia Keys to sing a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the Grammy Awards.

8:07: Host Alicia Keys arrives on stage at the Staples Center but says, "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now" because of the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi Sunday. "We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." After asking for a moment of silence "to hold them inside of you and share our strength and support for their family," Keys is joined by Boyz II Men for a tribute version of the group's ballad "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."

Lizzo breaks out her flute for "Truth Hurts" in the opening of the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.
Lizzo breaks out her flute for "Truth Hurts" in the opening of the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

8:01: "Tonight is for Kobe," Lizzo pronounces as she (and her own orchestra) kicks off the ceremony with "Cuz I Love You" before shifting into a lively rendition of her hit "Truth Hurts" with a posse of backup ballerinas. To top it all off, a flute is delivered to Lizzo from up above for a woodwind breakdown.

6:47: Eilish gets her first Grammy win – best pop vocal album – for "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" in the pre-show ceremony. (It also received the best engineered album award earlier in the day.) Her brother Finneas takes producer of the year (non-classical).

6:43: Lil Nas X receives best pop/duo group performance, his second Grammy of the day, for "Old Town Road," his huge breakout hit with Billy Ray Cyrus. Elvis Costello & The Imposters snags best traditional pop vocal album for "Look Now." "This is a beautiful thing," says Costello, who kept a Carole King collaboration on the shelf for years until the album "because I didn't want to answer to Carole if I didn't get it right."

6:28: Lizzo scores her first two Grammy wins, best traditional R&B performance for "Jerome" and urban contemporary album for "Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)." PJ Morton's "Say So" gets best R&B song and Anderson Paak snags best R&B performance for "Come Home," his collaboration with Andre 3000, plus R&B album for "Ventura." "This is a win for R&B," Paak says. "I’m just going to keep it at my house. if you don’t mind."

6:16: Gary Clark Jr. takes best rock performance and rock song for "This Land" – he also won best contemporary blues album earlier in the day. Clark thanks "everybody who paid attention and showed love." Tool's "7empest" gets best metal performance, Cage the Elephant earns best rock album for "Social Cues," and Vampire Weekend's "Father of the Bride" is named best alternative music album.

6:14: The Broadway musical "Hadestown," which swept the Tonys with eight awards (including best musical) last summer, wins the Grammy for best musical theater album.

5:41: Nipsey Hussle, who was shot to death last March in L.A., posthumously wins best solo rap performance for "Racks in the Middle." The performer "was a phenomenal vessel," says Lauren London, Hussle's girlfriend and the mother of his son, accepting the Grammy alongside Hussle's family. "Nip did it not just for the awards but for the people. God allowed him to use this music to speak his truth, give us wisdom, and (it's) something that we will forever be able to live with."

5:25: Forty years after winning best disco recording for "I Will Survive," Gloria Gaynor, 70, takes home best roots gospel album for "Testimony." "I am at least able to balance out my piano," Gaynor quips. In addition, Kirk Franklin wins best gospel album for "Long Live Love" and best gospel performance for his song "Love Theory." "Sending prayers to Kobe Bryant and his family," Franklin adds.

Tanya Tucker (left, with Brandi Carlile) reacts when she's announced as the winner of best country album for "While I'm Livin' " during the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.
Tanya Tucker (left, with Brandi Carlile) reacts when she's announced as the winner of best country album for "While I'm Livin' " during the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

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5:05: After almost 50 years in the music business, 61-year-old Nashville stalwart Tanya Tucker finally won her first Grammys, best country song for "Bring My Flowers Now" and best country album for "While I'm Livin'." "There’s no words to express how I feel right now," Tucker says. Willie Nelson also wins best country solo performance for "Ride Me Back Home."

4:50: Esperanza Spalding, the first jazz artist to win Grammy's prestigious best new artist honor, snags best jazz vocal album for "12 Little Spells." "Thank you to whatever mystery life-force energy is moving through us," says Spalding, wearing a flowery dress with "LIFE FORCE" written on the front. Other jazz Grammys go to Chick Corea & the Spanish Heart Band (Latin jazz album for "Antidote") and Brian Lynch Big Band (large jazz ensemble album for "The Omni-American Book Club").

4:45: Legendary composer John Williams wins his 25th career Grammy for best instrumental composition for "Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite," which he created for the new "Star Wars" lands in the Disney theme parks. And English musician Jacob Collier picks up a couple of arranging Grammys for "Moon River" and "All Night Long."

Esperanza Spalding accepts Michelle Obama's Grammy win for "Becoming" and also snagged one of her own: best jazz vocal album for “12 Little Spells."
Esperanza Spalding accepts Michelle Obama's Grammy win for "Becoming" and also snagged one of her own: best jazz vocal album for “12 Little Spells."

4:38: The audiobook for Michelle Obama's best-selling memoir "Becoming" takes best spoken word album. "I will gladly accept this on her behalf," presenter Esperanza Spalding says with a grin, earning a cheer from the crowd. The Chemical Brothers win best dance/electronic album for "No Geography" as well as best dance recording for "Got to Keep On," Patty Griffin's self-titled effort takes best folk album, and Koffee's "Rapture" is named best reggae album.

4:20: Backstage, producer Paul Blair (aka DJ White Shadow) says he's not sure if Lady Gaga is aware of the wins yet. “I texted her," he says.

Lil Nas X accepts the award for best music video for "Old Town Road" during the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony.
Lil Nas X accepts the award for best music video for "Old Town Road" during the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony.

4:05: Lil Nas X wins best music video for "Old Town Road" with Billy Ray Cyrus. He simply says "thank you," at the microphone when accepting his award. Moments later, Beyonce wins best music film for her Netflix project "Homecoming." She's not in the room for the win, and producer Steve Pamon accepts instead. He's the first to reference Kobe Bryant's death, which hit like a shock wave just an hour earlier: "Rest in peace, Kobe, we love you," he says.

3:45: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga win best compilation soundtrack for visual media, a year after their Oscar run for the musical film "A Star Is Born." Sadly, neither star is in the house to pick up the award; album producers accept instead. Gaga and Cooper win again moments later, taking home best song written for visual media for "A Star Is Born" ballad "I'll Never Love Again."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grammys 2020: Billie Eilish sweeps all four major music awards