In a momentous victory at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, Indian maestros Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, along with their fusion band ‘Shakti,’ clinched the coveted award for ‘Best Global Music Album.’ The winning masterpiece, titled ‘This Moment,’ features a stellar ensemble including John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan.
Heartfelt Acceptance and Dedication
A moment captured on the Grammys’ official account showcased Shankar Mahadevan and Ganesh Rajagopalan on stage, joyously accepting the award. In a passionate acceptance speech, Mahadevan expressed gratitude to his fellow musicians, family, friends, and India. The emotional highpoint came when he dedicated the award to his wife, drawing cheers from the audience.
Zakir Hussain’s Triple Triumph
Zakir Hussain, an icon in the world of tabla, didn’t stop at just one Grammy. During the premiere ceremony, he secured the ‘Best Global Music Performance’ Grammy for his contribution to “Pashto” alongside Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia. This monumental achievement marked Hussain’s third Grammy win, while Rakesh Chaurasia celebrated his second.
‘This Moment’: A Musical Journey
Released on June 30 the previous year, ‘This Moment’ comprises eight soul-stirring tracks blending guitar synth, tabla, vocals, percussion, and violin. The album faced tough competition in its Grammy category, standing alongside accomplished artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido.
India Shines at the Grammys
Renowned Indian musical composer Ricky Kej took to social media to celebrate the historic wins, noting that it was a stellar year for India at the Grammys. He hailed Ustad Zakir Hussain’s unprecedented triple win and Rakesh Chaurasia’s double victory. The collective success of Shakti at the Grammys resonated as a testament to India’s musical brilliance.
Dua Lipa Sets the Stage
The Grammy Awards ceremony featured captivating performances, including a dynamic medley by Dua Lipa, who kicked off the show with glimpses of her upcoming single “Training Season” and other chart-toppers. The star-studded event showcased performances by Billy Joel, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Burna Boy, Travis Scott, and witnessed Joni Mitchell’s historic debut.
Diverse Winners Across Categories
The list of Grammy winners spanned various genres and talents. From Phoebe Bridgers securing four trophies before the main telecast to diverse winners in categories like Best Pop Vocal Album, Best R&B Song, Best Country Album, and more, the Grammys celebrated the rich tapestry of musical artistry.
Diverse Grammy Wins: A Comprehensive Overview
Album of the Year
- Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” sweeps the prestigious category.
Record of the Year
- Miley Cyrus secures victory with the soulful “Flowers.”
Best New Artist
- Rising talent Victoria Monét claims the coveted title.
Song of the Year
- Billie Eilish’s poignant “What Was I Made For?” emerges triumphant.
Best Pop Vocal Album
- Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” stands out in the pop landscape.
Best R&B Song
- SZA’s soulful “Snooze” clinches the award.
Best Country Album
- Lainey Wilson’s “Bell Bottom Country” earns well-deserved recognition.
Best Música Urbana Album
- Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” takes the crown in the urban music realm.
Best Pop Solo Performance
- Miley Cyrus’ emotive “Flowers” claims top honors.
Best Progressive R&B Album
- SZA’s “SOS” stands out in the progressive R&B category.
Best R&B Performance
- Coco Jones secures victory with the powerful “ICU.”
Best Folk Album
- Joni Mitchell’s “Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live)” shines in the folk genre.
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
- Jack Antonoff’s stellar production work earns him this prestigious title.
Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical
- Theron Thomas’ exceptional songwriting skills earn him the accolade.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers’ “Ghost in the Machine” takes the group performance prize.
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
- Skrillex, Fred again.., and Flowdan’s “Rumble” electrifies the electronic music scene.
Best Pop Dance Recording
- Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam” claims the top spot in pop dance.
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
- Fred again..’s “Actual Life 3” takes home the electronic music album award.
Best Traditional R&B Performance
- PJ Morton featuring Susan Carol’s “Good Morning” captivates with traditional R&B vibes.
Best R&B Album
- Victoria Monét’s “Jaguar II” secures victory in the R&B album category.
Best Rap Performance
- Killer Mike’s “Scientists & Engineers” featuring André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane emerges victorious.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
- Lil Durk featuring J Cole’s “All My Life” takes the melodic rap performance crown.
Best Rap Song
- Killer Mike’s “Scientists & Engineers” continues its success in the rap song category.
Best Rap Album
- Killer Mike’s “Michael” stands tall in the competitive rap album landscape.
Best Country Solo Performance
- Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” wins the country solo performance accolade.
Best Country Song
- Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” excels in the country song category.
Best Song Written for Visual Media
- Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie the Album earns recognition.
Best Comedy Album
- Dave Chappelle’s “What’s in a Name?” tickles the funny bone and takes home the comedy album award.
Best Global Music Album
- Shakti’s “This Moment” is celebrated as the best in global music.
Best African Music Performance
- Tyla’s “Water” secures victory in the African music performance category.
Best Musical Theater Album
- “Some Like It Hot” claims the spotlight in the musical theater album category.
Best Alternative Music Album
- boygenius’ “The Record” triumphs in the alternative music album category.
Best Alternative Music Performance
- Paramore’s “This Is Why” captivates with its alternative music performance.
Best Rock Album
- Paramore’s “This Is Why” takes home the rock album award.
Best Rock Song
- boygenius’ “Not Strong Enough” clinches victory in the rock song category.
Best Metal Performance
- Metallica’s “72 Seasons” claims the metal performance crown.
Best Rock Performance
- boygenius’ “Not Strong Enough” secures the rock performance award.
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
- SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers’ “Ghost in the Machine” claims victory in the country duo/group performance category.
Additional Highlights
- Taylor Swift makes Grammy history by becoming the first person to win Album of the Year four times.
- Miley Cyrus takes home her first-ever Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance with “Flowers” and secures another win for Record of the Year.
- The 66th Grammy Awards showcase a diverse array of musical talent, celebrating excellence across genres.
This comprehensive overview highlights the broad spectrum of musical achievement recognized at the 66th Grammy Awards.