8 of the Most Houston Moments at this Year’s Grammys
Beyoncé accepts the award for best dance/electronic music album for “Renaissance” at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Image: (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Houston's presence at Sunday’s 65th Grammy Awards was on full display. The ceremony included record-breaking moments, both expected and overdue, honoring artists with ties to our city. The wins were so hot that even Mayor Sylvester Turner shared tweets with shout outs to all the Houston artists who won and were nominated.
Tonight Houston is proud of all the artists from our City who were nominated/won at the #Grammys2023: #Beyonce, #Lizzo, #LyleLovett, #TobeNwigwe, and others. Much love from #htown. st
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) February 6, 2023
Here are the eight most Houston moments from the Grammys.
1. Beyoncé now holds the record for most Grammy wins of all time.
View this post on Instagram
Let's be honest. Beyonce has always been a force of nature but this year’s Grammys officially solidified her standing as the GOAT. She took home three awards for songs from her album Renaissance, giving her a total of 32, one more than the previous record holder, orchestral conductor, Georg Solti. Beyoncé won Best Dance/Electronic Record for "Break My Soul," Best Traditional Performance for "Plastic Off the Sofa," and Best R&B Song for "Cuff It." The Third Ward native's record-breaking wins placed her in a very deserving new category: one all by herself.
2. Lizzo referenced Bissonett Street...
View this post on Instagram
Lizzo grew up in Houston, so it was only fitting that she gave the nod to her city. During her Grammy performance, she sang her megahits "About Damn Time" and "Special" from her eponymous album. "Special" includes a reference to Houston's infamous Bissonett Street: Is it just because I'm black and heavy? Y'all don't hear me though/I've been the same since I've been drivin' slow on Bissonnet.
3. ...And she won Record of the Year.
View this post on Instagram
Following her performance, Lizzo was awarded Record of the Year for "About Damn Time," making history as the first woman to win the award since Whitney Houston in 1994. In a social media post, she writes, "I don’t take this lightly. Thank you."
4. Lyle Lovett took home Best Americana Performance.
View this post on Instagram
Klein native, Lyle Lovett, snagged Best Americana Performance for his feature on Asleep at the Wheels' hit country song, "There You Go Again." The win ups his Grammy total to five.
5. Robert Glasper won Best R&B Album.
View this post on Instagram
Robert Glasper, the multi-instrumentalist and producer, received his fifth Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for Black Radio III. Glasper’s body of work spans genres from R&B to hip-hop to jazz. His masterfully produced compilation project includes features from H.E.R., Lalah Hathaway, and Common.
6. Scarface represents Houston during the hip-hop tribute.
The Recording Academy also hosted a tribute to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Some of genre's biggest stars graced the stage, including LL Cool J, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Spinderella, and Houston's own Scarface.
7. Tobe Nwigwe was nominated for Best New Artist.
View this post on Instagram
Nominated for Best New Artist, inspirational Houston rapper, Tobe Nwigwe, was included alongside a list of other nominees for "achieving a breakthrough into the public consciousness." With his ethereal style, Nwigwe has significantly impacted the industry through his music, unique performances, and signature mint green outfits.
8. Willie Nelson wins Best Country Album.
View this post on Instagram
And sure, we’ll add Willie Nelson’s Best Country Album win to the list of Houston accomplishments. After all, the legend did live here for a spell, albeit more than 60 years ago, and still plays here from time to time. His win for the album Live Forever gave him a total of 12 Grammys, with 56 nominations.
