Music

02 Feb 2024

Beyoncé Will Not Perform at 2024 Grammys

Sorry, BeyHive. Beyoncé is officially not performing at the 2024 Grammys, despite rumors to the contrary.

A representative for the 42-year-old superstar confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday (Feb. 2), just two days ahead of this year’s awards ceremony. The news squanders any hopes of Bey paying tribute to the late Tina Turner at the show, which Australian program The Today Show had previously reported was set to take place.

Another big name who was rumored to perform was Taylor Swift, although recent reports have also ruled that out. Artists who are actually confirmed to take the stage on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles include SZA, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Joni Mitchell, U2, Billy Joel, Luke Combs, Burna Boy and Travis Scott.

Viewers can also expect to see everyone from Meryl Streep to Oprah Winfrey, Lionel Richie, Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Maluma, Mark Ronson, Taylor Tomlinson and Samara Joy serving as presenters during the broadcast. Plus, Trevor Noah will return to host the show.

Beyoncé is not nominated for any awards this year, but last year’s show saw the Houston singer make history. In taking home four of the night’s prizes — best dance/electronic recording for “Break My Soul,” best traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa,” best R&B song for “Cuff It” and best dance/electronic album for Renaissance — she set a new record for the most wins in Grammy history, with 32 total.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” Bey said of the feat in a tearful acceptance speech at the 2023 ceremony. “I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me. My beautiful husband and beautiful three children. Thank you to the queer community for your love and for inventing this genre, thank you so much to the Grammys.”

02 Feb 2024

Carl Weathers, Beloved ‘Rocky’ & ‘Happy Gilmore’ Actor, Dead at 76

Carl Weathers, the former NFL star known for his roles as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise and Derick “Chubbs” Peterson in Happy Gilmore, died on Thursday (Feb. 1). He was 76 years old.

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Weathers died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his manager, Matt Luber, announcing the news. “Carl was an exceptional human being who lived an extraordinary life,” he said. “Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations. He was a beloved brother, father, grandfather, partner and friend.”

During his time as a football player, Weathers played for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 71 and for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 73. Soon after, he landed the role of Apollo Creed — inspired by Muhammad Ali  — in Rocky (1976), and continued to play him throughout the franchise.

He also had roles in Predator and The Mandalorian, in addition to portraying golfer Derick “Chubbs” Peterson in Happy Gilmore.

02 Feb 2024

Billy Joel Blasts Back Onto Adult Contemporary Chart With ‘Turn the Lights Back On’

Billy Joel’s “Turn the Lights Back On” bounds onto Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart (dated Feb. 10) at No. 11. The song – his first single release in 17 years – marks his first entry on the survey since 1998.

Making Joel’s chart return even more striking, the ballad debuts from just its first day of airplay, following its release at 7 a.m. ET Thursday (Feb. 1), on Columbia Records. Concentrated play on iHeartMedia-owned radio stations, including WLTW New York and KOST Los Angeles, as well as Cumulus Media outlets, drove the song’s start at the format.

“Lights” is the first Joel recording to place on Adult Contemporary since the list dated March 7, 1998, the last week on the chart for his No. 13-peaking cover of the Gerry Goffin and Carole King-penned “Hey Girl” (which previously became a hit for Freddie Scott, in 1963, and Donny Osmond, in 1971). Joel last notched a top 10 on the tally in August-September 1997, when his version of Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” hit No. 9, becoming his 23rd top 10.

Joel first reached the chart with his breakthrough classic “Piano Man,” which hit No. 4 in April 1974.

“Lights,” meanwhile, marks Joel’s highest debut on the ranking, besting the No. 23 bow of “To Make You Feel My Love.”

Notably, Joel, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, appeared as a writer on Adult Contemporary amid his nearly 26-year break from the chart as a recording artist: Fall Out Boy’s cover of his “We Didn’t Start the Fire” rose to No. 16 in December. (Joel’s original hit No. 5 in 1989.)

“Lights” was written by Joel, Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and Freddy Wexler.

“The melody, the chords, the chord progression, even the time signature was something that struck me immediately, and that’s how I relate to music,” Joel said of his reaction to what Wexler was working on. “This particular lyric in this song, I’ve had these thoughts, I could have written these lyrics verbatim. I’ve chewed on these words and I’ve thought of these words, and I’ve said these words before. It was all kind of falling into place – and who am I to fight that?”

All charts dated Feb. 10 will update on Billboard Tuesday, Feb. 5.

02 Feb 2024

Latin Remix of the Week: 8onthebeat’s ‘La Diabla (Electro Remix)’

The riveting sound of Xavi‘s tumbados románticos and the hypnotic rhythms of 8onthebeat’s dance floor creations collide the pair’s insatiable electro-bélicos single, “La Diabla (Electro Remix)”. 

Last December, Xavi dropped the Billboard chart-smashing original, a crispy guitar-laden tale about a bad boy’s romance with a bad girl, or “she devil.” Today — nearly two months and hundreds of millions of streams later — the the Phoenix-based musician enlists the help of Mexican-American producer 8onthebeat for an electrifying remix apt for the night club.

The song — originally written by Xavi (real name Joshua Xavier Gutierrez Alonso), Alex Hernández, and Fabio Guitierrez — electrifies further in the hands of 8onthebeat by combining the seemingly unprecedented: música mexicana and EDM.

“I approached this remix with a deep understanding of both Mexican and American cultures,” 8onthebeat tells Billboard Español. “Having a grasp of música mexicana and familiarity with the U.S. market, I saw an opportunity to create a remix that would resonate with a broader audience. Additionally, I noticed a gap in the market for electro remixes of corridos, and I aimed to fill that void with a unique and innovative approach.”

The music producer shared how the time signature of “La Diabla” presented a unique challenge. Unlike the traditional 3/4 time signature common to corridos, and the 4/4 time signature prevalent in American popular music, this piece required a creative fusion. Leveraging his knowledge of both musical cultures, he adeptly blended these contrasting rhythmic elements, achieving a seamless and harmonious integration.

“One of my objectives is to showcase Xavi’s exceptional vocal prowess to the listeners,” he points out. “His unique and remarkable vocal abilities, which can be described as nothing short of extraordinary, have the potential to resonate with individuals who may not typically engage with música mexicana. My intention is for his incredible vocals to serve as a captivating entry point, sparking interest among a wider audience and encouraging them to explore the outstanding talent within our musical genre.” We couldn’t agree more.

Listen to 8onthebeat’s “La Diabla (Electro Remix)” below and see for yourself:

Note: The “Remix of the Week” is featured exclusively on occasions when the Latin/Español editors identify a remix that stands out significantly.

02 Feb 2024

Nate Smith Sets the ‘World on Fire’ With Second-Longest Reign Atop Country Airplay

Nate Smith’s “World on Fire” tops Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for an eighth total and consecutive week. It leads the list dated Feb. 10 with 32.1 million audience impressions Jan. 26-Feb. 1, according to Luminate.

The song — released on Arista Nashville/RCA Nashville, and which Smith co-wrote with Ashley Gorley, Taylor Phillips and Lindsay Rimes, the lattermost of whom solely produced it — ties three titles for the second-longest rule since Country Airplay began in January 1990: Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” (beginning in May 2023), Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” (August 2003) and Lonestar’s “Amazed” (July 1999).

Wallen’s “You Proof” dominated Country Airplay for a record 10 weeks, starting in October 2022.

“Eight weeks at No 1 … the crazy thing about this song is that it wasn’t even supposed to come out,” Smith tells Billboard. “It was starting to gain a lot of traction on social media and the demand was high. I’m so lucky to have a team that knew how to strategically release it alongside my debut album by releasing the deluxe version the same day [April 28, 2023] that the debut dropped. This song completely anchored the album.

“My mind is absolutely blown hearing the news that ‘World on Fire’ has gone No. 1 for an eighth straight week,” Smith marvels. “Thank you to the fans and thank you, country radio.”

“Fire” is the second straight career-opening Country Airplay leader for Smith. The Paradise, Calif., native first led with “Whiskey on You” for two weeks last February. Both are on the deluxe edition of his debut self-titled LP. The set arrived at its No. 6 high on Top Country Albums last May.

What has kept “Fire” aflame on the radio? Says Tom Oakes, program director at Summit Media-owned KTTS Springfield, Mo., the hit is “a rare song – for KTTS, it has been testing at a power level since last summer and continues to. Like Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car,’ it’s a song that listeners love and haven’t gotten tired of.”

Oakes added that “While it’s a record company’s mission to achieve No. 1s, my mission is finding the true hits which will become future gold library songs. This song, like ‘Fast Car,’ fits the criteria.”

02 Feb 2024

New Music Latin: Listen to Releases From Tiago PZK, Angela Aguilar & More

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.

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Enrique Iglesias & Yotuel, “Fría” (Sony Music Latin)

After delving into bachata with the sweet, bouncy “Así es la vida” with María Becerra, Iglesias goes back to party mode with “Fría,” the second single off his upcoming Final, Vol. 2. Here, he pairs up for the first time with Yotuel in a catchy, mid-tempo calypso that celebrates carnival in its colorful video. “Fría” taps into the lighter side of both Yotuel and Iglesias; it’s light and airy and unpretentious, built on the play of words around “fría” (used here as “cold one” as in cold brew) and “confía” (trust), in three-repetition intervals for maximum catchiness. That catchiness is sure to inspire signature dance moves and more than a little sing along. — LEILA COBO

Tiago PZK & Ke Personajes, “Piel” (Grand Move Records/Warner Music Latina)

Urban and cumbia music combine here for the new love anthem “Piel,” perfect for celebrating this Valentine’s month. Argentine urban-pop artist Tiago PZK teams up with Emanuel Noir, frontman of Ke Personajes (one of Billboard’s 2024 Latin Artists to Watch), to gift fans with a powerful urban-infused cumbia villera track that opens with the beautiful piano melody and then transitions into a catchy and sensual cumbia beat. Penned by Tiago and Colombian hitmaker Keityn, the lyrics describe the feelings only the person you love can bring out in you: “Just let me be the one who passionately kisses your skin/ But also the one who shares with you, my love/ Telling you how you slept and how you woke up.” — INGRID FAJARDO

Ángela Aguilar, Bolero (Machin Records)

Ángela Aguilar revives the timeless allure of the Great Latin American Songbook through her new album, aptly named Bolero. Dripping with elegance and nostalgia, the Mexican American chanteuse forges a deeper connection with her heritage that not only pays homage to the past but also paves the way for future generations to cherish and appreciate the beauty of boleros. Her renditions pay tribute to revered songwriters like Armando Manzanero, César Portillo de la Luz, Pedro Flores, Agustín Lara, and his sister María Teresa Lara Aguirre.

The album gains an additional layer of authenticity with the accompaniment of the legendary Trio Los Panchos, whose nylon guitar-driven arrangements add a timeless brilliance to hits like “Luna Lunera” (also featuring the Cuban musician Amadito Valdés), “Toda Una Vida,” and the iconic “Piel Canela” and “Quizás Quizás Quizás.” Furthermore, “Piensa en Mí” is adorned with golden piano keys that evoke a bygone era, enveloping the listener in a spellbinding embrace. It’s a heartfelt journey through the soul of Latin America that bridges generations. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

Marca MP, LEALTAD (Sun Meadow/Sony Music Latin)

Marca MP kicks off 2024 with the release of their fifth studio album, LEALTAD (loyalty). An ode to their faithful fans and the sound that made them a household name back in 2019, the California-based música Mexicana group deliver a 10-track set with their traditional sierreño melodies. Seven of the songs were composed by lead singer Chato (real name: Pedro Vargas Vaca Jr.), including the focus title track — a captivating corrido about hustling, achieving success, and being loyal to his day ones. “I’ve dedicated many months to this project,” Chato expressed on his Instagram. “I want to thank my team and everyone who added a grain of salt so that it would be possible but above all, my group members for always being loyal.” Produced by Chato outside his parent’s house in Northern California, other notable tracks on LEALTAD include “Tenis Balenciaga,” “Mi Universo Entero” and “Para Mí.” — JESSICA ROIZ

Quevedo, “La Última” (Taste the Floor Records)

At just 22 years old, Spanish rapper Quevedo recently surprised his fans on social media with the announcement of his temporary retirement from music. Leaving with a bang, the Canarian artist left behind “La Última” (“The last one”), a single that would explain some of the reasons for his decision. With raw and honest lyrics, Quevedo implies that he has lost his first love for his occupation: “Sometimes I can’t stop crying when I remember all the nights that I cried,” he chants. “Remembering why I cried and wrote and recorded/ Every night I stayed up late/ Everything was so pure that/ Where I wanted to be was where I was.” Throughout the ultra-emotional song, the also trapper vents by expressing that he needs to lose everything to go back to what he felt at the beginning and fall in love all over again, resonating with many who have felt this way regardless of occupation. More than a dozen artists make cameos in the emotional music video, including Yandel, Omar Montes, Mora, and Ovy on the Drums. —LUISA CALLE

Zoe Gotusso, “Pensando en Ti” (Sony Music Argentina)

Zoe Gotusso presents the second advance song from her upcoming sophomore studio album: a version of the classic “Pensando em Você” by Brazilian artist Paulinho Moska. Produced by Cachorro López and Diego Mema, with lyrics in Spanish sung by the Argentine singer-songwriter, the sweet pop ballad includes verses like “Hey, I’m thinking about you/ Thinking about never again thinking about forgetting you/ Because when I think of you is when I feel myself.”

“‘Pensando en Ti’ is a song that I feel is so mine and so my own that I took the courage to translate it so that it reaches another generation,” Gotusso says in a press release about the follow-up to her 2023 single “Entrégate.” “I had some of Paulinho Moska’s albums in my house and recently I had the pleasure of meeting him to tell him that I wanted to sing his song. I always felt very connected to the music of Brazil and continuing to build the bridge between our two countries is a pleasure.”

Her beautiful take comes with a music video directed by Rafael Kogan, which shows the artist spending a day alone, enjoying her own company while thinking about her love. It’s a perfect song for this Valentine’s Day.  — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Los Aptos, “Botellas” (Warner Music Latina)

The emerging Mexican-American trio is in their experimental era. Los Aptos have unleashed their EDM-inspired electro-corrido “Botellas,” which effortlessly fuses elements of pop, house and regional Mexican. Composed of Juan Ortega, Jonathan Rivera, and Daniel Vaides, hailing from the Midwest state of Indiana, Los Aptos is among a new generation of Mexican-American artists who’ve modernized música mexicana. Placing all bets on heartbreak, a theme that’s worked well for Gen Z artists and fans, “Botellas” explores the complex emotions that bubble up after a breakup. Los Aptos are set to drop a new album this year. — GRISELDA FLORES

Mariángela, Sensible (Sony Music Latin)

In her debut album, Sensible, Mexican American singer/songwriter Mariángela takes a page from the synth pop style of early 2000 groups like Belanova and Miranda! and the dreamy quality of Lana del Rey to inform dance-pop beats that finally are all her own. Mariángela first gained traction with her beautiful, breathy cover of Roberto Carlos’ classic “Cama y Mesa.” With Sensible, she expands with original material that’s not just romantic; songs like the uptempo “Soñarte” and current single “Acto final” can also work perfectly well on the dance floor, while the title track is experimental and edgier, but still pop. It’s different from what other female voices are doing in Latin, and the unique sound stands out. — L. COBO

Listen to more editors’ picks in the New Music Latin playlist below:

02 Feb 2024

What’s Your Favorite New Music Release of the Week? Vote!

It’s Grammy Week, and artists are keeping fans fed with brand new music to enjoy while gearing up for the festivities.

Billy Joel made his grand return after nearly 20 years with the brand new single “Turn the Lights Back On,” and he’ll perform the song live for the first time at Sunday’s (Feb. 4) 2024 Grammy Awards, which will air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. “Turn the Lights Back On” is Joel’s first pop effort with lyrics since the release of 2007’s Sinatra-like ballad “All My Life,” which he wrote with his then-wife, Katie Lee; the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart and was accompanied by another new song, “Christmas in Fallujah.” Joel’s last album of all-new pop music was 1993’s River of Dreams.

TWICE also celebrated friendship with their fun new single, “I Got You,” which is the follow-up to the nine-member group’s previous English-language singles, “The Feels,” which landed their debut entry on the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 83) and “Moonlight Sunrise” (No. 84).

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Before his Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday (Feb. 11), Usher teamed up with Pheelz for “Ruin,” which will appear on his upcoming album new album Coming Home. Over on the country side, Keith Urban unveiled “Straight Line,” which was “born of wanting to break out of routine and feeling like somewhere along the line, life lost some color and excitement,” Keith Urban explains in a press release.

Which of this week’s new music releases is your favorite? Check out our Friday Music Guide here, and let us know by voting below.

02 Feb 2024

9 Artists Could Own the 2024 Grammys Narrative: Here’s What It Would Mean If Each of Them Did

From Taylor Swift to Boygenius to SZA , these stars could dominate this year’s Grammys ceremony.

taylor swift

Taylor Swift poses in the press room at the The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

MARK RALSTON/AFP via GI

When it comes to the hardware being handed out on Grammy night, all eyes are trained upon the Big Four — the quartet of general categories (album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist) that not only represent the most coveted trophies of the yearly ceremony, but also help clarify which artist defined that ceremony. Sometimes, like at the 2023 Grammy Awards, four different artists will win the four different prizes; other times, like when Billie Eilish swept the Big Four in 2020 or when Bruno Mars took home three of the top trophies in 2018, it’s clear which artist has owned the evening.

So who will define the 2024 Grammys? While there’s a chance that 2024 plays out like 2023 and the Big Four gets divvied up across different stars, nine artists will enter the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night (Feb. 4) with the opportunity to win multiple Big Four prizes, and effectively command the narrative of music’s biggest night.

Those artists range from stadium-shaking superstars and awards-circuit mainstays to outsiders trying to crash the party and veterans attempting to secure the first Grammys of their respective careers. The biggest awards of the night are at stake, and so are the Grammy legacies of everyone involved. Will the front-runners prevail, or could we have a shocking upset? And in either case, what would that mean for the general reception of the artist who comes out most on top?

Ahead of the 2024 Grammys, here are the nine artists who have the chance to dominate the narrative of the awards ceremony (in alphabetical order), what they would need to win in order to do so, and what those wins would mean on a grander scale.

02 Feb 2024

Gracie Abrams, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll & More: Inside Spotify’s Best New Artist Party

On Thursday (Feb. 1), Spotify’s annual Best New Artist Grammy week party took over Paramount’s Stage 14 in Hollywood — the site of productions for Top Gun, Star Trek, Glee and more.

The evening featured performances from seven of this year’s Best New Artist nominees: Gracie Abrams, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét and The War and Treaty (Fred again.. is notably out of the country for his first Grammys week).

As guests pulled up to the lot, they were greeted by a larger-than-life size sign featuring all of the nominees. And upon entrance, they were engulfed in a Dunkin’ dream (the event’s only party sponsor) complete with custom cocktails and donut flavors, exclusive merch and more.

The performance space itself was packed with guests including Renee Rapp, Kesha, FINNEAS, Becky G, Conan Gray and more, all tuning in to see their peers perform 15-minute sets of their most-loved songs. For his impassioned set, Jelly Roll welcomed surprise guest Lainey Wilson to the stage to duet on “Save Me.” And after Abrams performed her own set, she later reappeared to perform “Everywhere, Everything” alongside fellow nominee Kahan. “I’d die for this Spotify Best New Artist party,” said Kahan, riffing on the lyrics to his hit “Dial Drunk.” He later quipped: “We’re Mumford & Sons,” clearly enjoying himself.

Ice Spice closed out the night with a two-song set that fittingly opened with her latest single, “Think U The S–t (Fart).” Despite it’s eyebrow-raising title, the packed room quickly filled up with phones in the air to record the track’s live debut — a humorous moment that will surely be worth recalling for attendees.

02 Feb 2024

Mariah Carey & Lenny Kravitz Crowned Global Impact Honorees at Black Music Collective Soiree

Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz took center stage before a packed and cheering ballroom for The Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective (BMC) Thursday evening (Feb. 1) in Los Angeles. The two music icons were saluted as this year’s Global Impact Award recipients — a CEO Merit Award “honoring the essence and evolution of Black excellence,” as Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. noted in his opening remarks.

And with Mason’s declaration, “Let’s get this party started,” a stellar array of music performances and emotion-packed acceptance speeches rocked the rafters of the Fairmont Century Plaza. Leading the charge was Davido with a spirited performance of “Mona Lisa” that that got the audience on its feet, dancing and waving napkins around the room. 

That moment was just the first in a series of standing ovations setting the tone prior to the award presentations. Among the evening’s noteworthy performances, under the direction of the event’s music supervisor Adam Blackstone, was Andra Day’s powerful rendering of the Billie Holiday classic “Strange Fruit,” Gabby Simone’s insightful interpretation of Nina Simone’s “Four Women” and Erica Campbell’s soul-clenching take on the gospel standard “I Love the Lord.”

Just as stirring were the performances and speeches given on behalf of the honorees, beginning with H.E.R. paying tribute to singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Lenny Kravitz. Referencing one of his hits, she said, “’American Woman’ made me say to my dad, ‘I want to play guitar. I want to be a rock star like Lenny Kravitz’ … Thank you for breaking so many barriers and paving the way for artists like me. Thank you, Lenny Kravitz, for teaching us all to let love rule” — (a nod to the title of Kravitz’s 1989 debut studio album).

Kravitz began by sharing early musical memories that helped shape his legendary career, such as being a 5-year-old sitting on the lap of Duke Ellington in the Rainbow Room while the latter played “Take the A Train.” And Kravitz’s dad taking him to see the Jackson 5 at Madison Square Garden and afterwards “wanting to be the sixth brother.” The four-time Grammy winner further invoked a host of additional influences such as Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, Nina Simone, Grandmaster Flash, Parliament-Funkadelic and Bob Marley.

Lenny Kravitz accepts the Global Impact Award onstage during the Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 01, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Lenny Kravitz accepts the Global Impact Award onstage during the Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective during the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 01, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

“I could go on all night,” he continued. “I love this music because it feeds our hearts and strengthens our resolve to keep conveying hope and healing to a whole new world. To be a part of this lineage is a privilege I cherish. It is with deep gratitude that I thank you, knowing that music in every corner of the planet uplifts and expresses the goodness of God’s everlasting love.” Then fellow musicians Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Verdine White, George Clinton and Quavo joined forces to perform “Fly Away” to roaring applause — and hearty hugs from Kravitz on stage.

More cheering ensued when Stevie Wonder took the stage to pay tribute to Mariah Carey in word and song. “Every time we meet and talk, it’s like having a brand new day,” he began. “I thank you for your friendship, your heart and the consistent spirit of love that you show … and I’m just going to say this …” That’s when Wonder segued into the choruses of two of his songs: “Knocks Me Off My Feet” (“I don’t want to bore you with it, but I love you, I love you”) and “All I Do” (“all I do is think about you”) and ad libbing at the end, “you are my hero.” 

After thanking Wonder (“I will never not get excited to be in the company of your greatness!”), Carey drew plenty of audience laughter as she held the award and remarked that she hadn’t won a Grammy in a long time. She went on to thank Harvey Mason jr. and the Academy, congratulate fellow honoree Kravitz and wish everyone a happy Black History Month, the five-time Grammy winner said in part:

“When I first started in the music business, I was often told to conform to certain expectations. I wasn’t encouraged to focus on my love for Black music. It took countless arguments, endless tantrums and mostly unwavering determination. But eventually, I was able to reveal my authentic self, as they say, and create music that came from my heart … I discovered a newfound sense of freedom and fulfillment. As I accept this award, I do so with gratitude for all of you here and every person who has supported me along this journey; the fans that have stood by me through thick and thin.

“But most importantly,” she continued, “I accept this award on behalf of every person who has ever felt silenced or marginalized, who has ever been told their voice doesn’t matter. Your truth matters. We will continue to pave the way together for a future where authenticity is celebrated, diversity is embraced and music has the power to change the world.”

Additional performers feting Carey in song included Babyface (“Everytime I Close My Eyes”) Busta Rhymes (“I Know What You Want”), Tori Kelly (“Vision of Love”) and Yolanda Adams (“Make It Happen”). And among the Recording Academy executives who shared remarks were BMC chair Rico Love and  Ryan Butler, the Academy’s vp of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Prior to the event — produced by MVD Inc. — guests were treated to striking black-and-white portraits of Jay-Z, Nipsey Hussle and other artists in the Icons Gallery curated by music executive and photographer Lenny S.