My Take on the Grammy's: From Snubs to Standing Ovations

As the clock struck 8 p.m. EST on Sunday, the music and pop culture fanatics were all more than ready for the excitement of The 66th Annual Grammy Awards. For me, this is more than just an awards show; it's a time that brings together my love for fashion, jaw-dropping performances, the thrill of award wins and the delightful possibility of secret announcements. As a Swiftie, I have been gaslighting myself for those announcements for months.

The night was a rollercoaster of favorite and utterly shocking moments that, in my opinion, encapsulated the essence perfectly. Whether you caught it live or are patiently waiting for those TikTok highlights, I've curated a list of my top 13 moments that defined the evening. Let's get this show on the road!

1. “I just won my first Grammy!” cheered Miley Cyrus during her performance of the iconic and award-winning song "Flowers" on the stage Sunday night. Cyrus dazzled the stage with her flawless presence which filled the room with infectious smiles. No wonder they call her ‘Smiley’. I am so happy for Miley as she not only won her first Grammy but won two in the same night!

2. Being from Georgia, I loved when Luke

Combs was joined by Tracy Chapman for a heartfelt moment on stage singing “Fast Car” together. It's hard not to get emotional when you think about how a new generation is now also giving Chapman her well-deserved flowers. Luke Combs continues to hold a special place in my heart, and it's evident that several of his dreams became reality on Sunday night with this performance. Here is a video from CBS on The Story of the Year - Luke Combs.

3. The Song of the Year category was an absolute nail-biter filled with powerhouse contenders. Just to jog your memory, we had Dua Lipa's "Dance The Night," Jon Batiste's "Butterfly," Lana Del Rey's "A&W," SZA's "Kill Bill" and more all competing for the top spot. But the ultimate winner, Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?," took me by surprise and left me utterly thrilled. While I was secretly rooting for SZA, Billie's tear-jerking and heartfelt ballad stole the show when she performed it for the audience. And can we talk about Billie's reaction? "Shocked out of my balls!" she exclaimed. What a line! She also praised Greta Gerwig in her acceptance speech which was the perfect way to give her recognition after not being nominated in the best director category for "Barbie" at the Oscars. Eilish is always so authentic and unintentionally hilarious. We love Billie!

4. At this point, I can't help but spill my secret about my absolute obsession with SZA. The nine-time Grammy nominee—yes, you heard it right, nine times—delivered an incredible performance and showcased outfits that were nothing short of spectacular. She gave us the ultimate gift of singing her debut song, “Saturn” for the first time while also singing two of her other hits. Her angelic arrangement of both “Snooze” and “Kill Bill” was not only a flawless performance but was literally fire. And I mean that. A dumpster fire was only a few feet away from her and that’s what I call iconic!

5. In a surprising turn of events, Jay-Z candidly declared, "When I get nervous, I tell the truth," whilst subtly critiquing the show during his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. The atmosphere in my room shifted to shock as he took a serious tone while addressing his wife Beyoncé and the Recording Academy. He did make valid points, however, including spotlighting Beyoncé's absence from the Album of the Year winners' circle. To cap it off, he poured a drink into his Grammy and sipped from it, leaving us to wonder if he was snubbing the Grammys or simply celebrating his win.

6. Fashion is always one of my favorite

things to watch with celebrities. One of my favorite dresses on the red carpet this past Sunday was Kat Graham’s white dress by Stéphane Rolland. The daring design not only showcased creativity thanks to the unique silhouette but also perfectly captured her stunning presence with the simple color scheme. Let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty and artistry of this captivating gown.

7. Lana Del Rey made a profound fashion

statement that also caught my eye. She has always had a look reminiscent of Priscilla Presley in my mind while also having a retro, airy essence. In her all-black floral dress accessorized with a black bow on both her wrists and head, she effortlessly left me in awe. While I do think the Grammy’s snubbed her a bit in her categories, I know she is a star and so

does everyone else in the room.

8. Did y’all think I would forget how

flawless Dua Lipa was in the opening performance? Lipa's undeniable talent and magnetic stage presence set the perfect tone for the night, making it something to be remembered and cherished. She kicked off the night by singing and dancing to two of her most recent singles along with “Dance The Night” from "Barbie". "Houdini” and “Training Season” were shown off with intense dancing which is quite a change from her famous hip dance from a few years ago. I am a huge Dua Lipa fan and cannot wait to see her take the world by storm this coming year!

9. Olivia Rodrigo may not have had the most exciting awards night, but she did have the chance to showcase her recent hit "Vampire" during her performance. At the start of the evening, she wore a vintage Versace white bejeweled dress on the red carpet before later changing into a blood-red gown for her performance. My personal favorite was her red carpet look, though her performance itself was flawless. While I felt the vocals might have been slightly overshadowed by the music, there's no denying she was a powerhouse on stage. What made the night even better was the apparent resolution of the rumored feud between Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, with Taylor even dancing along to Olivia's performance, which brought a smile to my face.

10. A final standout in the night's fashion

parade was singer Dawn Richard, wearing a daring red dress by Khosrov paired with eye makeup of the same color palette. Now, whether it was a hit or a bit of a miss, I'm not entirely certain. The bold choice of red was undeniably gorgeous, but the tree-inspired ensemble left me questioning its alignment with the usual Grammy aesthetic. It was undoubtedly memorable, yet one might wonder if it leaned more toward the extravagance of the Met Gala rather than the Grammys. Perhaps a bit of both worlds blended into one unforgettable fashion moment. I won’t leave you hanging, here's a peek at this look.

11. One of the most delightful moments of the evening was when Celine Dion made a surprise appearance to present the Album of the Year award. Her presence was not only special but also incredibly courageous due to the illness she announced in late 2022 that had her canceling her tour. She presented the award to Taylor Swift, marking a historic moment as Swift became the first woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammys four times. I also recently learned from BBC that Dion has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, which has made singing and even walking challenging for her. Her guest appearance made the evening even more memorable.

12. Our comedic genius of the night, Trevor Noah, stole the show. His impeccable timing and lighthearted humor was refreshing compared to the flop from the Golden Globes earlier this year hosted by Jo Koy. Noah was a king as he jokingly called out the NFL saying, "I'm gonna get revenge. Every time someone says Taylor Swift. I'm going to cut the cameras to someone who plays football". Showering artists with compliments, he highlighted 21 Savage’s monumental achievement by crediting he “already has hit a billion streams in 2024”. I

thought his kindness went a long way and he made the night a blast for all of the artists.

13. Taylor Swift let our “Wildest Dreams” come true Sunday night when she announced a new album entitled “The Tortured Poets Department” after receiving her 13th Grammy in the category Best Pop Vocal Album. Winning Album of the Year in a tough category later that evening only added to the triumph and probably caused a mini earthquake. Every camera pan throughout the night showed her dancing, singing, and being everyone's biggest cheerleader. Taylor Swift remains an idol and an icon to many without a doubt.

When the Grammys are over three hours long, it's hard to come up with just 13 moments to highlight. Each artist who won an award earned it and each performance was spectacular in its own right. With emotional highs, plenty of surprises, some shocking statements and even more creative fashion choices, the Grammys will forever remain an evening I set aside to relax and enjoy. Until next year, the moments of The 66th Annual Grammy Awards will live rent-free in my head along with me impatiently waiting for "The Tortured Poets Department".