Did Beyoncé deserve Grammys for song or album of the year? Adele and Billie Eilish think the Black Parade singer deserves better
- The pop star has 28 Grammy wins and a whopping 79 nominations; tied with Paul McCartney as second-most nominated, and one behind hubby Jay-Z and Quincy Jones
- Her loss of album of the year in 2017 to Adele, despite releasing her landmark album Lemonade, is seen as an example of the academy’s diversity issues
Pop megastar Beyoncé made Grammys history on Sunday, March 14, by becoming the most decorated singer at the music industry’s top awards gala, with 28 career wins.
She secured the record after scooping best R&B performance honours for her hit Black Parade, a single celebrating black culture and activism that dropped in the wake of mass protests ignited by the death of George Floyd, a black man, in police custody in the summer of 2020.
I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate all of the beautiful black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world
Overall, the 39-year-old – who initially rose to fame as part of the girl group Destiny’s Child before embarking on a wildly successful solo career – won four trophies on the night.
“I am so honoured. I’m so excited,” said the singer, who made a surprise showing at an event she has skipped for the past several years, wearing a curve-hugging black leather Schiaparelli mini dress.
“As an artist, I believe it’s my job and all of our jobs to reflect the times. And it’s been such a difficult time,” Beyoncé said, with her rap mogul husband Jay-Z looking on.
Critics praised Black Parade for Beyoncé’s strong vocals as well as its lyrics that simultaneously condemn racism, issue a call for activism and pay homage to black culture.
Proceeds from the song – which dropped on Juneteenth, a holiday on June 19 commemorating the end of slavery in the United States – benefit Beyoncé’s Black Business Impact Fund, which supports black-owned small businesses.
“I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate all of the beautiful black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world,” Beyoncé said.