KUALA LUMPUR – Pop queen Taylor Swift is on top of the world after bagging a Grammy for best album, making her the artist with the most wins and breaking the tie she was in with Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
With her fourth best album win, the 34-year-old bested serious contenders including Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, Jon Batiste and top nominee SZA.
Swift, who took her producer Jack Antonoff and Del Rey with her onstage, said, “The award is the work.”
“I love it so much. It makes me so happy. It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award too. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I 100% love so much! Mind blown,” she said after music icon Celine Dion presented her with the trophy.
“Midnights” is Swift’s 10th studio album and debuted at the top of the Billboard charts when it was released in October 2022. This made Swift the first to simultaneously take all 10 spots on the Billboard Singles chart.
She scored one other prize today, for best pop vocal album, with a surprise on stage.
In a twist of events, she also unveiled a new album on stage, saying that “The Tortured Poets Department” will be released on April 19.
However, Swift did not have a clean sweep of her six nominations this year as Miley Cyrus bested her for best record for “Flowers”. Cyrus also picked up the best pop solo performance for the same single.
“Oh my God, I just got stuck in the rain and traffic and thought I was going to miss this moment!” Cyrus said when accepting the award from pop icon Mariah Carey.
Meanwhile, Billie Eilish took home the best song for “What Was I Made For?” which was on the “Barbie” soundtrack.
Singer-songwriter SZA seized three prizes so far, including best R&B song, best progressive R&B album and best pop duo or group performance with Phoebe Bridgers.
The gala ceremony for the handful of top awards kicked off with legend Tracy Chapman, who delivered a moving performance of her 1988 classic “Fast Car” with country star Luke Combs.
Also performing was Eilish, giving a soft performance of her hit “What Was I Made For?”, wearing 1950s-style sunglasses and a scarf. – February 5, 2024