BMI Congratulates its 2020 GRAMMY Winners
During a star-studded celebration of the most popular and impactful music from the past year, many BMI affiliates were singled out for their achievements at the Recording Academy’s 62nd GRAMMY Awards, held last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Among the multiple-award winners came Lizzo, who, after opening the show with a medley of her debut album’s hits that received a standing ovation, ended up taking home three GRAMMYs, for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Truth Hurts,” Best Urban Contemporary Album for Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Jerome.” Austin’s own Gary Clark Jr. was also a three-time winner last night, claiming the trophies for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “This Land,” and Best Contemporary Blues Album for This Land. For his work on one of the most recognized albums of the year, Billy Eilish’s debut LP, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, record producer and mix engineer Robert Kinelski also took home three awards, notably Record of The Year, Album of The Year and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
Other multiple winners included Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, whose massive hit “Old Town Road” took the trophies for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video. Country legend Tanya Tucker claimed two GRAMMYs for Best Country Song for “Bring My Flowers Now” and Best Country Album for While I’m Livin’. Anderson .Paak won the awards for Best R&B Performance for “Come Home” and Best R&B Album for Ventura. Gospel powerhouse Kirk Anderson accepted two GRAMMYs for Best Gospel Performance/Song for “Love Theory” and Best Gospel Album for Long Live Love. For their work in last year’s box office hit, A Star is Born, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper won Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written for Visual Media for “I’ll Never Love Again (Film Version).”
Additionally, the Academy recognized several revered BMI affiliates, including punk godfather Iggy Pop, country luminary and recent BMI Troubadour award-winner John Prine and incendiary hip-hop collective, Public Enemy, with prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Between these coveted accolades, the evening featured memorable performances by Gary Clark Jr, Tanya Tucker with Brandi Carlile, the Jonas Brothers, and Camila Cabello; an exciting rendition of “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, featuring help from K-pop superstars BTS; a moving tribute to Nipsey Hussle featuring DJ Khaled, John Legend and Kirk Franklin; and an electrifying set by Tyler, the Creator, among others.
Congratulations to all the BMI winners! Below is the complete list.
Record of the Year
“bad guy”
Billie Eilish*
Rob Kinelski, engineer/mixer
Album of the Year
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Billie Eilish*
Rob Kinelski, engineer/mixer
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Truth Hurts”
Lizzo
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Old Town Road”
Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
Best Rock Performance
“This Land”
Gary Clark Jr.
Best Rock Song
“This Land”
Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
Best Rock Album
Social Cues
Cage The Elephant
Best R&B Performance
“Come Home”
Anderson .Paak
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Jerome”
Lizzo
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)
Lizzo
Best R&B Album
Ventura
Anderson .Paak
Best Rap Performance
“Racks In The Middle”
Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy
Best Rap/Sung Performance
“Higher”
DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle & John Legend
Best Rap Song
“A Lot”
Jermaine Cole & Anthony White, songwriters (21 Savage* feat. J. Cole)
Best Rap Album
IGOR
Tyler, The Creator
Best Country Solo Performance
“Ride Me Back Home”
Willie Nelson
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Speechless”
Dan + Shay
Best Country Song
“Bring My Flowers Now”
Brandie Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
Best Country Album
While I’m Livin’
Tanya Tucker
Best New Age Album
Wings
Peter Kater
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“Sozinho”
Randy Brecker, soloist
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Finding Gabriel
Brad Mehldau
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
The Omni-American Book Club
Brian Lynch Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album
Antidote
Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Love Theory”
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Franklin, songwriter
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“God Only Knows”
For KING & COUNTRY & Dolly Parton
Josh Kerr & Luke Smallbone, songwriters
Best Gospel Album
Long Live Love
Kirk Franklin
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Burn The Ships
For KING & COUNTRY
Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
El Mal Querer
Rosalia (SGAE)
Best American Roots Song
“Call My Name”
Sarah Jarosz, songwriter (I’m With Her)
Best Americana Album
Oklahoma
Keb’ Mo’
Best Bluegrass Album
Tall Fiddler
Michael Cleveland
Best Traditional Blues Album
Tall, Dark & Handsome
Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men
Best Contemporary Blues Album
This Land
Gary Clark Jr.
Best Regional Roots Music Album
Good Time
Ranky Tanky
Best Reggae Album
Rapture
Koffee
Best Musical Theater Album
Hadestown
Todd Sickafoose, producer (Original Broadway Cast)
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
A Star Is Born
(Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Chernobyl
Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media
“I’ll Never Love Again (Film Version)” from A Star is Born
Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga & Aaron Raitiere; songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
Best Instrumental Composition
“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite”
John Williams; composer (John Williams)
Best Album Notes
Stax ‘68: A Memphis Story
Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Rob Kinelski, engineers (Billie Eilish *)
Best Music Video
“Old Town Road (Official Movie)”
Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus (Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus)
* Not affiliated with BMI
Community
Connect with BMI & Professional Songwriters