The 2024 Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, February 4, showcased some of the most talented artists in the music industry. Among the prestigious categories was Record of the Year, which featured eight nominated artists. Ultimately, Miley Cyrus emerged as the winner with her song 'Flowers,' but her acceptance speech raised a few eyebrows.
Miley, 31, expressed her gratitude towards her mother, Tish Cyrus, her sister, Brandi Cyrus, and her partner, Maxx Morando. However, fans quickly noticed the absence of a mention for her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. This omission sparked discussion, as Miley seemed to have shown more support for her mother's relationship with Dominic Purcell than for her father's marriage to Firerose. It is worth noting that Miley, Brandi, and Trace Cyrus attended Tish and Purcell's wedding, while their siblings Noah Cyrus and Braison Cyrus were absent.
While on stage, Miley gave thanks to the song's cowriters and producers, including Thomas 'Kid Harpoon' Hull, Michael Pollack, Brian Rajaratnam, and Mark 'Spike' Stent. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of the Grammy award but also reminded the audience that everyone in the world possesses their unique brilliance.
The Record of the Year category consisted of impressive contenders, including Jon Batiste's 'Worship,' Boygenius' 'Not Strong Enough,' Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?,' Victoria Monét's 'On My Mama,' Olivia Rodrigo's 'Vampire,' Taylor Swift's 'Anti-Hero,' and SZA's 'Kill Bill.'
Some of the nominated tracks for Record of the Year also appeared in the Song of the Year category, such as Miley's 'Flowers,' Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?,' Rodrigo's 'Vampire,' Swift's 'Anti-Hero,' and SZA's 'Kill Bill.' Although these two categories often overlap, they recognize different aspects of a recording. Record of the Year acknowledges the artists, producers, and engineers involved in creating the specific recording, while Song of the Year celebrates the songwriters behind a composition.
SZA led the pack with the most nominations for the 66th annual Grammy Awards, earning nine nods. Phoebe Bridgers (part of the group Boygenius) and Victoria Monét closely followed with seven nominations each. Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, and Jon Batiste received six nominations each.
After the nominations were announced in November 2023, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed his excitement for SZA's recognition, applauding her talent and the impact of her music on voters. He also highlighted Victoria Monét's emergence as a relatively unknown artist in the top categories, predicting that she would gain a whole new audience and potentially become people's newfound favorite.
For the 2024 awards show, the Recording Academy narrowed down the field of Record of the Year nominees from ten to eight. Mason Jr. supported this change as they aimed to find the right number of nominees. However, he jokingly admitted that he avoided uncovering which songs finished at No. 9 and No. 10 in the voting process, as it would only bring frustration if they turned out to be deserving records that missed out on a nomination.
Overall, the 2024 Grammy Awards celebrated outstanding musical achievements and recognized the exceptional talent and creativity of artists across various genres. Fans and industry insiders eagerly anticipate future endeavors from the winners and nominees, as the event serves as a platform to discover new artists and appreciate the diversity of contemporary music.
