It was a night of many firsts at the 2021 Grammys. As Houston’s own Megan Thee Stallion took home three Grammys, including a historic win for Best New Artist, the woman who inspired her every step of the way, Beyoncé, also made history — as did Bey’s 9-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
Former boy-bander Harry Styles and current boy banders BTS also made history, while rapper Lil Baby turned his first Grammys’ performance into a vital call for action. Of course, with every historic first comes a bit of frustration.
We can celebrate Megan Thee Stallion and also ask why so few Black women are recognized in the Best New Artist category. We can delight in the technicolor dreamscapes of every BTS performance of “Dynamite” while holding the Recording Academy accountable for their reluctance to acknowledge non-English pop for any major awards.
In fact, as more history is being made with every telecast, we’re getting good at compartmentalizing these feelings. It’s joyous to witness someone be the first, if only because it means they won’t be the last.
So let’s take a look at all of the artists who made history at this year’s Grammys:
Blue Ivy Carter won her first Grammy at age nine
For the Carters, the Grammys are a family affair. Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter was among the winners for Best Music Video for “Brown Skin Girl.” Blue joined her mom Beyoncé and Nigerian singer Wizkid on the uplifting Lion King: The Gift track, making the 9-year-old the second-youngest person to win a Grammy ever. Just to recap: Blue Ivy has a Grammy before turning double digits. A young legend in the making!
Megan Thee Stallion is the first Black woman rapper to win Best New Artist in 22 years
Hotties, it’s time to celebrate some good news. Coming off a pre-show Grammy win for Best Rap Performance for “Savage,” Meg took home one of the night’s most coveted awards: Best New Artist. But what makes her win so historic is that Houston’s resident Hot Girl is the first and only Black woman rapper to be crowned Best New Artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999. Upon accepting the prized gramophone, Meg was visibly emotional. “I don’t want to cry,” she said through tears.
And her night only got more historic from there. Later in the evening, Meg and her hero Beyoncé accepted the Grammy for Best Rap Song for their “Savage” remix. It was a euphoric moment for the 26-year-old Texas rapper, who has looked up to Bey since childhood. “If you know me, you have to know that ever since I was little I was like ‘One day I’m going to grow up and be the rap Beyoncé,” she said, standing next to her idol. With encouragement from her mother, Meg said she lived her like according to the philosophy “What would Beyoncé do? But let me make it a little ratchet.”
After letting Megan enjoy her moment, Beyoncé added, “I’m honoured that you asked me to be part of the song.” Then, as they were leaving the stage, she told Meg, “I’m so proud of you.”
The Grammys have historically shut out Black artists from the top awards, especially Black women, so watching Megan Thee Stallion so confidently bask in the golden glow of her success feels both long overdue and like a public coronation of a new queen.
First-time performer and nominee Harry Styles opened the Grammys shirtless
The 2021 Grammys kicked off how most things should: with a sexy, soulful rendition of Harry Styles’s summertime hit “Watermelon Sugar.” For his first-ever Grammy performance, Harry donned a leather suit — opened in the front, sans shirt, showing off his chest tats — and a sage green feather boa. He brought style, grace, and an undeniable sex appeal to the vacuous soundstage with a swivel of his hips and a charismatic grin. Musician Dev Hynes, of Blood Orange fan, joined Harry on stage on the bass.
The first-timer was also nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance (“Watermelon Sugar”), Best Pop Vocal Album (Fine Line), and Best Music Video (“Adore You”) — the very first Grammy nominations of his solo career.
Harry Styles wins his first Grammy!!
Are the interests of young women finally being taken seriously at the Grammys?! Navigating the transition from boy-bander to a successful solo artist can be tricky. But Harry Styles makes it look easier. The 27-year-old star took home the award for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar,” becoming the first member of One Direction to win a Grammy — a huge moment for Directioners everywhere (and a nice kiss-off to the critics who doubted him for his teen idol roots).
“To everyone who made this record with me, thank you so much,” the English singer said, accepting the award with a now-purple boa wrapped around his neck. “I feel very grateful to be here.”
Haim takes “The Steps” toward world domination with their first Grammy performance
Typically, the Grammys love to highlight white men with guitars. It is the honorary rock and roll section of the night. This year, however, Haim electrified audiences with “The Steps.”
Este’s strut! Danielle playing the drums and the guitar! Alana’s little nude dress! The Haim sisters gave us everything and more for their first-ever Grammy performance. The trio of talented multi-instrumentalists were nominated for Album of the Year for Women in Music Pt. III. They eventually lost to (and cheered on) their good friend and collaborator Taylor Swift, someone who’s no stranger to the Grammy winner’s circle.
Mickey Guyton, the first Black woman to be nominated in a country category, stuns with “Black Like Me”
Several of country music’s most talented, fearless women took the stage at the 2021 Grammys, but it was Mickey Guyton who captivated viewers with a stunning performance of her single “Black Like Me.” As the first Black woman to be nominated in a country category at the Grammys, Mickey is making history, but perhaps even more striking is that she’s doing it without much support from country radio.
Co-written by Mickey herself and released following the murder of George Floyd, “Black Like Me” is about her experience as a Black woman in America. It’s an anthem for Black Americans, many of whom listen to country music, even though the industry itself isn’t inclusive. Mickey didn’t take home the award for Best Country Solo Performance, but her performance transcended trophies.
Producer Kaytranada, the first Black artist to win Best Dance/Electronic Album
During the pre-show, producer and DJ Kaytranada took home the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album for Bubba, becoming the first Black winner in the category’s 16-year existence. He then took home another Grammy award for Best Dance Recording for “10%” feat. Kali Uchis. Not a bad night to be Kaytranada.
Megan Thee Stallion brings out the band, and the tap dancers, for “Savage”
Classy? Yes. Bougie? Uh-huh. Savage? Absolutely. Megan Thee Stallion took to the stage for her debut Grammys performance like a total pro. There is not a performer more confident and more comfortable in her own skin than Houston’s No. 1 hottie.
Dripping in opulence and showgirl flair, Megan performed burlesque versions of “Body” and the “Savage” remix — serving effortless charisma, choreography, and tap dancing. This was officially Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Grammys. And we’re so lucky to have witnessed it.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion perform “WAP” for the first time
What is there to say about Cardi and Megan’s first performance of “WAP” other than it was the performance of the night? A visual spectacle bursting with raw sexuality and sex-positivity, “WAP” outsold. (The performance also gave those live CBS sensors a workout.)
It was an instantly iconic balance of camp and sensuality, and watching two of the most charismatic performers of their generation completely eat up the stage was like witnessing a moment in Grammy history. “WAP” is NSFW but it is SFGN (safe for Grammy night).
BTS lit it up like “Dynamite” for their first solo Grammy performance
The Korean superstars have broken an innumerable number of records in their career, and their colorful performance of “Dynamite” is just another historic accomplishment to add to the list.
Streamed from Seoul, the Grammy-nominated group performed their hit No. 1 single “Dynamite” in bright, pastel suits and with their signature slick choreography. And in a surely symbolic moment, they ended their exuberant performance by setting the night alight among the stars at the top of Seoul’s Parc1 Tower — over 1,000 feet in the air — for one joyous encore.
In a press release, the pop idols said, “It’s an honour to have our stage at the GRAMMY Awards, coupled with the nomination along with the other amazing musicians in our category. It’s a significant moment for us. We owe everything to ARMY. We will keep going for our next goal.” Next history-making goal? Becoming Grammy-award winners.
Lil Baby brings “The Bigger Picture” to the Grammys in first performance
Everyone wants to turn a five-minute set into an enduring moment at the Grammys, but few artists have succeeded in capturing a movement like Lil Baby. The 26-year-old Atlanta rapper used his platform to deliver an important message with a performance of “The Bigger Picture,” a song that takes on police brutality.
The performance included surprise appearances from Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike, who rapped a part of RTJ4’s “Walking in the Snow,” and activist Tamika Mallory, who called out to President Biden to demand “justice, equity, policy, and everything else that freedom encompasses.” The stirring performance opened with a James Baldwin quote and a scene of a Black man being shot by the police. It was one of the night’s most powerful stages.
Beyoncé is officially the most decorated woman in Grammy history
During the telecast, Beyoncé became the most Grammy-winning woman artist of all time — officially surpassing bluegrass singer Alison Krauss — with her career 28th win, which she accepted on behalf of “Black Parade” for Best R&B Performance.
“As an artist I believe it’s my job and all our jobs to reflect the times, and it’s been a difficult time,” she said while accepting her historic Grammy. “So I wanted to uplift, encourage, [and] celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world.”
There’s no other artist who deserves to be recognized for her art and creativity like Queen Bey. But as music writer Stephen Thompson pointed out on Twitter, “What (the Grammys) ‘haven’t’ mentioned is that she’s won only once in a general category — Song Of The Year for ‘Single Ladies’ in 2010.” So there’s still some history, and progress, to be made. Still, Beyoncé making history for Black women during a night that celebrated and honored so many women, with a song released in honour of Juneteenth, is a step in the right direction.