American music star Beyoncé broke the record for most career Grammy wins at the National Recording Academy’s awards ceremony Sunday in Los Angeles.
The singer added four Grammy awards to her collection, bringing Beyoncé’s lifetime total to 32. This broke the old record held by music conductor Georg Solti.
“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” Beyoncé told the crowd after her historic win. The singer thanked her late uncle, her parents, husband Jay-Z and her children for supporting her. “I’m just trying to receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God,” she said.
During the show, Beyoncé was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year for her latest work, Renaissance. But she lost in that category to British singer and actor Harry Styles. Styles took home the Album of the Year award for Harry’s House, and also won two other Grammys.
It was the fourth time Beyoncé had been nominated for Album of the Year, an award she has never won.
On Sunday night, the artist won Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for Renaissance, Best Dance/Electronic Recording for Break My Soul, Best R&B Song for Cuff It and Best Traditional R&B Performance for Plastic Off the Sofa.
Among the other top Grammy winners were hip-hop star Lizzo, who went home with the Record of the Year award for her single About Damn Time.
She dedicated the award to Prince, saying the late artist had a big influence on her to make positive music. Lizzo also thanked Beyoncé for helping guide her career. She noted a time she missed school in fifth grade to see Beyoncé perform in concert. “You clearly are the artist of our lives,” Lizzo told the singer.
Blues singer Bonnie Raitt won the award for Song of the Year for Just Like That, a single about organ donation. Raitt, who also won two other awards, said, “I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say.”
In other categories, Bad Bunny took home the award for Best Música Urbana Album for Un Verano Sin Ti. “I want to dedicate this award to Puerto Rico, the cradle of reggaeton,” Bad Bunny said in a mix of English and Spanish.
Kendrick Lamar won for Best Rap Performance for The Heart Part 5, as well as the award for Best Rap Album for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance for their song Unholy. Petras said Smith wanted Petras to give the acceptance speech because, “I’m the first transgender woman to win this award.”
The show included a dedication to 50 years of hip-hop music with performances by an all-star group of artists. Among the performers were Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Run DMC, Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott.
American jazz singer Samara Joy won the Grammy for Best New Artist. She told the crowd, “I’ve been watching you all on TV for so long. All of you are so inspiring to me.”
I’m Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
conductor – n. someone who leads a group of musicians or singers and controls their performance
category – n. a group of people or things of a similar kind
dedicate – v. to say that something you have made or done was meant to show love or respect for someone else
positive – adj. having a good effect
cradle – n. the place where something started
transgender – adj. used to describe someone whose gender does not match the body they were born with
inspire – v. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it