Ariana steals the show (and gives it right back)
Ariana Grande has earned her very own highlight category. First, she was making Grammy headlines weeks before the show even aired. Grande was set to perform at the 61st Grammy Awards, but production was halted when the Academy’s producers tried to make Grande perform old music. They wanted her to perform the songs that she was nominated with at last year’s Grammys and Ari refused. After all, she just dropped a ton of new music, why would she want to be stuck in the past? The two parties could not reach a compromise, resulting in Ariana pulling completely out of the show. She then had to defend herself on Twitter when one of the Grammy producers, Ken Ehrlich, said the reason Grande would be absent was because she “felt it was too late for her to pull something together”. See the tweets for yourself below…
Screengrabs via Twitter
After that, we knew Ari would definitely not be making a Grammy appearance of any kind, but did that stop her from making even more headlines? Hell no. She started the night by winning Best pop vocal album for Sweetener. Although she was not present to accept the award, she made her appreciation known on social media.
Missing the show also didn’t stop Ari from showing off her would-be dress, a custom design by Zac Posen that gives the best kind of Cinderella vibes.
Screengrab via Instagram
Grande was live tweeting through most of the show, and all eyes seemed to turn to her when they announced the winner for Best Rap Album. Mac Miller was up for the award for his album, Swimming, his last release before his tragic death last year. The award went to Cardi B for Invasion of Privacy, and a flood of tweets from Grande began, starting with a simple, yet powerful few statements…
…and to sum it up…
Now, it looks a little more vicious than it really was, Grande took only minutes to follow up and clarify that her anger was in no way directed toward Cardi B. Her real problem was that the Academy invited Mac Miller’s parents out to the show. It is hard to say for sure, but it is believed that Ariana felt the producers wasted Miller’s parents’ time just for the publicity of their appearance.
The show did include a tribute to Mac Miller and other artists who were lost in 2018. Cardi B also paid her own tribute to Mac Miller in a video taken backstage after her win. She admitted to a ton of nerves during her speech, but she wanted to be sure everyone knew she was sharing the award with Mac.
Grande finished the night posting some personal moments of herself in her evening gown. The videos include her adorable dogs, so definitely go check them out, you won’t regret it!
Lady Gaga stays show-stopping
Lady Gaga also had an eventful night at the Grammys, she took home the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” and won Song Written for Visual Media with “Shallow” from A Star is Born. What’s even crazier is on the same day she won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Music for “Shallow” as well.
Gaga must have been riding that high all the way through her electrifying performance of “Shallow” alongside Mark Ronson. Wearing a skin tight suit of sparkles, Gaga owned the stage. For the song’s first televised performance–and Gaga’s fifth consecutive Grammy performance–she decided to shake things up by using a rock style of the song. It was a risky move that totally paid off.
Photo via Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Drake’s Message for the kids
Drake has a history of criticism when it comes to award shows. He has made it clear that his values are no tin trophies, but simpy in the music he makes. The rapper has made a point to be absent for many past nominations, so audiences were shocked that he even graced us with his presence.
Photo via Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
While accepting the Grammy for best rap song, “God’s Plan”, Drake took time to point out to any aspiring musicians that, “we play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport.” This is an important lesson to remember and it shows why Drake may have such an issue with award shows. Awards like the Grammys are not voted on by the public or the fans, they are decided by an Academy–a group of musical experts. For Drake, it’s all about how you measure success, as he said in his speech, “You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you are a hero in your hometown. If there is people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here, I promise you, you already won.”
There was a pause in the speech that made the producers think Drake was finished speaking, even though he wasn’t. This sparked curiosity in viewers wondering if the cut-off was intentional, but a representative for the Grammys was able to quickly clarify that there was no foul-play, just an honest mistake. They even offered Drake the chance to return to the stage and finish, but Drake declined, saying that he was happy with what he said and didn’t have anything to add.
Michelle Obama was there!
Speaking of surprising appearances, who knew the queen was coming?! Alicia Keys, the gracious host of this year’s Grammys, during her opening monologue asked the audience if it would be alright if she brought some of her sisters out on stage with her, and giiiirl did she bring out some real ones: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, and our former [forever] First Lady, Michelle Obama.
The women took turns describing what music means to them. Mrs. Obama said that music has always helped her tell her story, and that music connects us all and allows us to listen to one another. She said, “Music shows us that all of it matters, every story within every voice, every note within every song.” Well said!
Photo via Kevin Winter/Getty Images
And now…*drumroll*…The Top 3 Looks of The Night!
Travis Scott in Saint Laurent and Kylie Jenner in Balmain, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
(Photo via Getty Images)
Bebe Rexha in Monsoori and Hearts On Fire jewelry and Amwaj earrings
(Photo via Getty Images)