A night in music brimming with shocking upsets, historic wins, tributes for artists like the and , the were back in full swing Sunday. Once again, for the top honor.
Once again, the show ended with someone else winning album of the year.
This year was widely seen as a chance for the Grammys to honor the superstar with a marquee award, especially on a night where she could have ( ) become its most decorated artist.
Instead, Harry Styles won, and a line from his acceptance speech stung those who thought Beyonc茅 should have won.
Here鈥檚 what happened, how it鈥檚 been perceived and who picks the Grammys鈥� top honors.
WHAT鈥橲 CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT STYLES鈥� WIN?
Styles won for his third album, and even he seemed surprised when his name was called.
The British pop star was competing against other giants in the industry: acts like ABBA, Adele, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar, and Beyonc茅.
While accepting the award, he said, 鈥淭his is really, really kind. I鈥檓 so, so grateful鈥� I鈥檓 just so 鈥� This doesn鈥檛 happen to people like me very often. And this is so, so nice. Thank you very, very much.鈥�
The line, 鈥渢his doesn鈥檛 happen to people like me very often,鈥� drew criticism in the hours after his win.
Styles was born and raised in Northern England and rose to fame in 2010 when he auditioned for the Simon Cowell-led talent competition show 鈥淭he X Factor.鈥� He placed third with the boyband One Direction. His solo career has earned him several Grammys and Billboard-charting albums and singles.
Styles hasn鈥檛 said what he meant by his words. Some have interpreted it as him trying to express how far he鈥檇 come from his youth. Others, however, see the remark as an example of white privilege.
WHY ARE PEOPLE MAD AT STYLES鈥� WORDS?
Many of Beyonc茅鈥檚 fans are fiercely protective of the singer. They鈥檙e called the Beyhive, after all.
Despite Beyonc茅鈥檚 32 Grammy wins 鈥� the most of any artist in history 鈥� many are troubled by the fact she has yet to win album of year and that she鈥檚 lost to white musicians every time she has been nominated.
Washington Post pop music critic Chris Richards, in 鈥淏eyonc茅 just made Grammy history. Why does it feel like she still lost?鈥� wrote that her historic achievement feels hollow.
鈥淲hy does that feel like not enough,鈥� Richards asked. 鈥淏ecause for the past 20 years and counting, the Recording Academy has routinely failed to recognize Black artists at their creative peaks 鈥� and to her credit, Beyonc茅 keeps updating that peak with each new album.鈥�
Similar criticism was raised in other stories and by online commenters, some of whom noted a Black woman hadn鈥檛 won album of the year since Lauryn Hill in the late 鈥�90s.
Ashley Smalls, a Black feminism and pop culture doctoral student at Penn State University criticized Styles鈥� speech : 鈥濃�榯his doesn鈥檛 happen to people like me very often鈥� when a Black woman hasn鈥檛 won that award since 1999 is crazy lol.鈥�
WHAT IS BEYONC脡鈥橲 GRAMMYS HISTORY?
The artist is , for most nominations all-time with 88 but she has only won 32 times. Most significantly, Beyonc茅 has lost album of the year four times to Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele and now Styles.
Beyonc茅 has been nominated in each of the most prestigious categories across her decadeslong career but she has won in these categories just once for 鈥淪ingle Ladies (Put a Ring On It).鈥�
A Black woman has not won album of the year since for her breakout album, 鈥淭he Miseducation of Lauryn Hill鈥� in 1999. The last Black person to win the award was for his album 鈥淲e Are.鈥�
WHO DECIDES ALBUM OF THE YEAR?
, the Recording Academy boasts more than 12,000 voting members. The entire membership is allowed to vote in the big four categories 鈥� best new artist, record, song and album of the year. Members are also responsible for nominating in their area of expertise, as well as voting on the winners this categories.
Numerous artists have criticized how the Grammys nominate artists. The Recording Academy is undergoing a campaign to diversify its membership and has a goal of having 2,500 female members by 2025.
WHAT鈥橲 NEXT FOR BEYONC脡 AND STYLES?
Both are hitting the road for international tours.
Styles鈥� next show is in Thailand next week and he鈥檒l play shows in Asia and Europe into the summer.
Beyonc茅 will be in May in Sweden and will play dates in Europe and the United States.
鈥擭ardos Haile, The Associated Press
