BMI Congratulates its 2021 GRAMMY Award Winners
BMI is once again exceptionally proud of its many affiliates who received music’s highest honors, yesterday, during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year’s ceremony was unlike any other, given precautions over the pandemic, with no large audience in attendance. With awards presented at an earlier ceremony Sunday afternoon and during Sunday evening’s live broadcast on CBS, many of BMI’s songwriters received recognition for much of the past year’s most impactful music.
It was a big night for Megan Thee Stallion, who took home three GRAMMYS, including Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Savage,” and the coveted Best New Artist award, which was presented to her by last year’s winner, Lizzo. Taylor Swift made history by winning Album of the Year for Folklore, which makes her the first woman to win that prestigious award three times. Recent BMI signee H.E.R. won the Song of the Year GRAMMY for “I Can’t Breathe,” which she collected alongside co-writer Tiara Thomas (co-writer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, not in attendance). Other major wins included songwriter/producer Andrew Watt claiming Producer of the Year and Miranda Lambert taking home the Best Country Album trophy for Wildcard.
The late John Prine was given two awards for Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for “I Remember Everything.” Also posthumously recognized was Chris Rouse, whose Best Contemporary Classical Composition Award-winning “Rouse: Symphony No. 5” premiered just after the composer’s passing in 2019.
In addition, BMI is very proud to congratulate Shannon Sanders, Executive Director of Creative, Nashville, who won his third GRAMMY last night for producing Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album) by The Fisk Jubilee Singers, which won Best Roots Gospel Album award.
Beyond the award-presentation, the evening ceremony was notable for its innovative approach to performances by the evening’s nominees, including a blistering airing of “Colors” by The Black Pumas, a riveting medley of “Folklore” and “Evermore” by Taylor Swift, a moving cover of “I Remember Everything” in tribute to the late John Prine by Brandi Carlile, a soaring take on “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Brittany Howard, a stunning rendition of “Black Like Me” by Mickey Guyton, a singular version of “Wildcard” by Miranda Lambert, a collaboration of “The Bones” between Maren Morris and John Mayer*, show-stopping renditions of “Body” and “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion, a futuristic trek through “Say So” by Doja Cat, and a medley of “Heartless” and “The Box” by Roddy Ricch.
Congratulations to all the BMI winners! Below is the complete list.
Album of the Year
Folklore
Taylor Swift
Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift, producers; Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, songwriter
Song of the Year
“I Can’t Breathe”
Dernst Emile II, Tiara Thomas & H.E.R., songwriters (H.E.R.)
Best New Artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Rain on Me”
Lady Gaga
Best Dance Recording
“10%”
Kaytranada* Featuring Kali Uchis*
Neal H. Pogue, mixer
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Snarky Puppy
Best Rock Song
“Stay High”
Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard)
Best R&B Song
“Better Than I Imagine”
Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)
Best R&B Album
Bigger Love
John Legend
Best Rap Performance
“Savage”
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Rap Album
King’s Disease
Nas
Best Rap Song
“Savage”
Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé)
Best Country Solo Performance
“When My Amy Prays”
Vince Gill
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“10,000 Hours” - Dan + Shay (Shay Mooney)
Best Country Album
Wildcard
Miranda Lambert
Best Country Song
“Crowded Table”
Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, Songwriters (The Highwomen)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Secrets Are the Best Stories
Kurt Elling Featuring Danilo Pérez
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“All Blues”
Chick Corea, Soloist Track From: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian Mcbride & Brian Blade)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Trilogy 2
Chick Corea, Christian Mcbride & Brian Blade
Best Latin Jazz Album
Four Questions
Arturo O’Farrill
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Movin’ On”
Jonathan McReynolds, Jonathan Caleb McReynolds & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“There Was Jesus”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton; Casey Beathard, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Jesus Is King
Kanye West
Best Roots Gospel Album
Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album)
Fisk Jubilee Singers
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1
Natalia Lafourcade
Best American Roots Performance
“I Remember Everything”
John Prine
Best American Roots Song
“I Remember Everything”
Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)
Best Americana Album
World on the Ground
Sarah Jarosz
Best Bluegrass Album
Home
Billy Strings
Best Traditional Blues Album
Rawer Than Raw
Bobby Rush
Best Folk Album
All the Good Times
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Best Regional Roots Music Album
Atmosphere
New Orleans Nightcrawlers
Best Reggae Album
Got to Be Tough
Toots & the Maytals
Best Children’s Music Album
All the Ladies
Joanie Leeds
Best Musical Theater Album
Jagged Little Pill
Tom Kitt, Producer (Glen Ballard & Alanis Morissette, lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast)
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Jojo Rabbit
(Various Artists)
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Joker
Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
Ode to Joy
Jeff Tweedy, Art directors (Wilco)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Hyperspace
Shawn Everett, Engineer (Beck)
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Andrew Watt
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
“Rouse: Symphony No. 5”
Christopher Rouse, composer
Best Music Video
“Brown Skin Girl”
WizKid
Best Music Film
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice
Linda Ronstadt
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