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63rd Annual Grammy Awards#Rock

{{short description|2021 edition of award ceremony}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox award

| name =

| image = 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.png

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Official poster with original date window

| date = March 14, 2021

| location = Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, California

| host = Trevor Noah

| network = CBS

| previous = 62nd

| main = Grammy Awards

| next = 64th

| ratings = 8.8 million{{cite news|url = https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/grammy-awards-ratings-2021-1234930898/|title = TV Ratings: Grammy Awards Hit Record Low, Down Nearly 53% Compared to 2020's Show|last = Zorilla|first = Monica Marie|work = Variety|date = March 15, 2021|accessdate = March 15, 2021|archive-date = March 15, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210315172430/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/grammy-awards-ratings-2021-1234930898/|url-status = live}}

| most_awards =Beyoncé (4)

| most_nominations = Beyoncé (9)

| website = {{url|grammy.com}}

}}

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/63rd-grammys-looking-ahead-2021-grammy-awards|title=The 63rd GRAMMYs: Looking Ahead To The 2021 GRAMMY Awards|website=grammy.com|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101020902/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/63rd-grammys-looking-ahead-2021-grammy-awards|url-status=live}} The nominations were revealed via a virtual livestream on November 24, 2020. The performers for the ceremony were announced on March 7, 2021. South African comedian Trevor Noah hosted the ceremony.

Beyoncé received the most nominations with nine, followed by Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, and Taylor Swift with six each.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/music/grammy-nominees-list.html|title=Grammy Nominations 2021|work=The New York Times|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124171041/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/arts/music/grammy-nominees-list.html|url-status=live}} Beyoncé received the most awards with four, surpassing Alison Krauss as the most-awarded woman in the show's history, with 28 awards overall.{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/15/grammy-awards-2021-women-rule-beyonce-taylor-swift-break-records|title= Grammy awards 2021: women rule as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé break records|date= March 15, 2021|work= Guardian|accessdate= March 15, 2021|archive-date= November 27, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211127050954/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/15/grammy-awards-2021-women-rule-beyonce-taylor-swift-break-records|url-status= live}} Her daughter Blue Ivy Carter became the youngest person ever to win a Grammy as an individual at the age of 8 years and 322 days for Best Music Video for "Brown Skin Girl".{{cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |date=14 May 2021 |title=Beyoncé's Nine-Year-Old Daughter Blue Ivy Carter Is Now A Grammy Winner |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/03/14/beyoncs-nine-year-old-daughter-blue-ivy-carter-is-now-a-grammy-winner/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=Forbes}}

Swift won Album of the Year for Folklore, making her the first woman to win the award three times and the first artist to do so since Paul Simon in 1988.{{cite magazine|title=Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year For 'Folklore' at 2021 Grammy Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/9540496/taylor-Swift-wins-album-of-the-year-2021-grammy-awards-folklore/|access-date=2021-03-16|magazine=Billboard|language=en|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315034026/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/9540496/taylor-swift-wins-album-of-the-year-2021-grammy-awards-folklore/|url-status=live}} Billie Eilish won Record of the Year for "Everything I Wanted", becoming the second solo artist, after Roberta Flack in 1974, to win two years consecutively, and the third overall since U2 in 2002. H.E.R. won Song of the Year for "I Can't Breathe" and Megan Thee Stallion won Best New Artist, becoming the second female rapper to win since Lauryn Hill in 1999.

The ceremony was originally scheduled for January 31, 2021; however, on January 5, 2021, the Recording Academy postponed the ceremony to March 14, 2021, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles as well as health and safety concerns therein.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-awards-postponed-1234878942|title=Grammy Awards Rescheduled for March 14|website=Variety|date=January 5, 2021|access-date=January 5, 2021|archive-date=March 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324093942/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-awards-postponed-1234878942/|url-status=live}}

Background

The nominations were announced during a virtual livestream on November 24, 2020, by Chair, and Interim Recording Academy President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr., alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Mickey Guyton, Lauren Daigle, Pepe Aguilar, Nicola Benedetti, Gayle King, Yemi Alade, BTS, Imogen Heap and Sharon Osbourne.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/awards/grammy-nominations-date-announced-1234812367/|title=2021 Grammy Nominations to Be Announced Nov. 24|website=Variety|date=October 24, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023175309/https://variety.com/2020/music/awards/grammy-nominations-date-announced-1234812367/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201021005833/en/Save-the-Date-63rd-GRAMMY-Awards%C2%AE-Nominations|title=Save the Date: 63rd GRAMMY Awards® Nominations|website=BusinessWire|date=October 21, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101131859/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201021005833/en/Save-the-Date-63rd-GRAMMY-Awards%C2%AE-Nominations|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/participating-talent-2021-grammy-nominations-announced-dua-lipa-sharon|title=Participating Talent For 2021 GRAMMY Nominations Announced: Dua Lipa, Sharon Osbourne, Imogen Heap And More|website=grammy.com|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=January 5, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126001725/https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/news/participating-talent-2021-grammy-nominations-announced-dua-lipa-sharon|url-status=live}} The academy announced Trevor Noah as the host of the ceremony.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/grammy-awards-host-trevor-noah-daily-show-1234838735/|title=Trevor Noah to Host the 2021 Grammy Awards|website=Variety|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=March 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324094714/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/grammy-awards-host-trevor-noah-daily-show-1234838735/|url-status=live}}

= Category alterations =

For the 2021 ceremony, the academy announced several changes for different categories and rules:

  • The category Best Urban Contemporary Album has been renamed Best Progressive R&B Album.
  • The category Best Rap/Sung Performance has been renamed Best Melodic Rap Performance.
  • The category Best Latin Pop Album has been renamed Best Latin Pop or Urban Album, and the category Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album has been renamed Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
  • The category Best World Music Album has been renamed Best Global Music Album.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/why-grammy-awards-best-global-music-album-category-name-change-matters|title=The Best Global Music Album Name Change, Explained|date=November 9, 2020|website=GRAMMY.com|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110020338/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/why-grammy-awards-best-global-music-album-category-name-change-matters|url-status=live}}
  • The maximum number of releases have been removed from the category Best New Artist.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/recording-academy-announces-changes-63rd-annual-grammys-releases-rules-and-guidelines|title=The Recording Academy Announces Changes For 63rd Annual GRAMMYs, Releases Rules And Guidelines|website=Grammys|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=November 1, 2020|archive-date=June 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610180517/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/recording-academy-announces-changes-63rd-annual-grammys-releases-rules-and-guidelines|url-status=live}}
  • The category Best Musical Theater Album can now only award up to four principal vocalists (previously unlimited) in addition to the album producer and the lyricists/composers (if the album contains at least 51% new material). In the case of an ensemble-driven piece, all vocalists will receive a winner's certificate.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/rules-guidelines|title=63rd GRAMMY Awards Rules & Guidelines|date=June 9, 2020|website=GRAMMY.com|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201022712/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/rules-guidelines|url-status=live}}

= Venue and production =

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held at Los Angeles Convention Center, while the show's usual venue—Staples Center—served as the backdrop.{{cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=February 2, 2021|title=Grammy Awards: Details Emerge About Rescheduled, Audience-Free Show|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-awards-details-no-audience-1234897775/|url-status=live|access-date=March 11, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202205307/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-awards-details-no-audience-1234897775/ |archive-date=February 2, 2021 }} The show was three and a half hours long.{{cite magazine|last=Hissong|first=Samantha|date=March 7, 2021|title=What the 2021 Grammy Awards Will Look Like|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/inside-grammys-2021-show-ben-winston-1136850/|url-status=live|access-date=March 11, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408050251/https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/inside-grammys-2021-show-ben-winston-1136850/}}

The Recording Academy appointed Ben Winston as the executive producer of the show, his first time working on a Grammy show. Winston, via Rolling Stone, stated that the show would feature multiple stages, but no audience, highlighting the "creative triumphs, social justice movements, as well as COVID-19's impact on the arts". Regarding the venue shift, Winston stated that he does believe Staples is a safe place, but he wanted "to go above and beyond to make even the most-skeptical participants feel undoubtedly safe". The production was overseen by COVID-19 safety officers. To minimize physical contact, artists had their own backstage area, and entered the stages from different directions.

The show involved five equally sized stages arranged in a circle facing inwards; one of the stages was for presenters and the other four for performers. Crew members worked from the center of the circular set. As soon as one performance ended, the next stage would be covered, and so on. Each stage set-up was changed every 45 minutes and replaced with a different performer in the lineup. Winston mentioned that the concept was inspired by the British entertainment programs Later... with Jools Holland and TFI Friday. The show was a mix of live and pre-recorded performances, as "a fully live show would involve too many crew members moving sets and risking close contact". However, the whole show was planned to feel entirely live.

To help plan the sprawling production and immersive spectacle of the show, Winston collaborated with a multitude of producers, such as co-executive producer Jesse Collins, who produced The Weeknd's Super Bowl halftime show; co-executive producer Raj Kapoor, who handled creative direction for many artists on the last seven Grammy shows and produced Las Vegas concert residencies for Backstreet Boys and Mariah Carey; producer Fatima Robinson, worked on the Black Eyed Peas' 2011 halftime show; producer Misty Buckley, who produced Kacey Musgraves' 2020 Christmas show; talent executive Patrick Menton from Dick Clark Productions; James Corden collaborator Josie Cliff; and Hamish Hamilton, who directed Super Bowl halftimes, Olympic ceremonies, Academy Award, and Emmy Award shows.

Performers

=Premiere ceremony=

Performers were announced on March 2, 2021.{{cite web|date=March 2, 2021|title=63rd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony Announced|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/63rd-grammy-awards-premiere-ceremony-lineup-2021-grammys|url-status=live|access-date=March 14, 2021|website=GRAMMYs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302154855/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/63rd-grammy-awards-premiere-ceremony-lineup-2021-grammys |archive-date=March 2, 2021 }}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Artist(s)

! scope="col"| Song(s)

scope="row" | Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
Thana Alexa
John Beasley
Camilo
Regina Carter
Alexandre Desplat
Bebel Gilberto
Lupita Infante
Sarah Jarosz
Mykal Kilgore
Ledisi
Mariachi Sol De Mexico
PJ Morton
Gregory Porter
Grace Potter
Gustavo Santaolalla
Anoushka Shankar
Kamasi Washington

|Tribute to Marvin Gaye
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"

scope="row" | Lido Pimienta

| "Eso Que Tú Haces"

scope="row" | Igor Levit

| Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor

scope="row" | Jimmy "Duck" Holmes

| "Catfish Blues"

scope="row" | Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science

| "Trapped in the American Dream"

scope="row" | Rufus Wainwright

| "Hatred"

scope="row" | Poppy

| "Eat"

scope="row" | Burna Boy

| Medley:
"Level Up"
"Onyeka"
"Ye"

=Main ceremony=

Performers for the ceremony were announced on March 7, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bruno-mars-anderson-paak-grammy-awards-1234926704/|title=Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak to Perform on Grammy Awards|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=March 9, 2021|website=Variety|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310034418/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bruno-mars-anderson-paak-grammy-awards-1234926704/|archive-date=March 10, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=March 10, 2021}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of performers at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards

scope="col"| Artist(s)

! scope="col"| Song(s)

scope="row"| Harry Styles

| "Watermelon Sugar"

scope="row"| Billie Eilish
Finneas

| "Everything I Wanted"

scope="row"| Haim

| "The Steps"

scope="row"| Black Pumas

| "Colors"

scope="row"| DaBaby
Roddy Ricch
Anthony Hamilton

| "Rockstar"

scope="row"| Bad Bunny
Jhay Cortez

| "Dakiti"

scope="row"| Dua Lipa

| Medley:
"Levitating" (featuring DaBaby)
"Future Nostalgia" (dance only)
"Don't Start Now"

scope="row"| Silk Sonic
(Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak)

| "Leave the Door Open"

scope="row"| Taylor Swift
Jack Antonoff
Aaron Dessner

| Medley:
"Cardigan"
"August"
"Willow"

scope="row"| Silk Sonic
Lionel Richie
Brandi Carlile
Brittany Howard
Chris Martin

| In Memoriam
"Long Tall Sally"
"Good Golly Miss Molly"
(tribute to Little Richard)
"Lady"
(tribute to Kenny Rogers)
"I Remember Everything"
(tribute to John Prine)
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
(tribute to Gerry Marsden)

scope="row"| Mickey Guyton

| "Black Like Me"

scope="row"| Miranda Lambert

| "Bluebird"

scope="row"| Maren Morris
John Mayer{{cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/maren-morris-john-mayer-grammy-collaboration/|title=PIC: Maren Morris Reveals John Mayer Collaboration at the 2021 Grammys|website=Taste of Country|date=March 10, 2021 |accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318202728/https://tasteofcountry.com/maren-morris-john-mayer-grammy-collaboration/|url-status=live}}

| "The Bones"

scope="row"| Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B

| "Body" (Megan Thee Stallion, dance only)
"Savage Remix" (Megan Thee Stallion, includes archived vocals by Beyoncé)
"Up" (Cardi B)
"WAP" (includes Pedro Sampaio funk carioca remix)

scope="row"| Post Malone

| "Hollywood's Bleeding"

scope="row"| Lil Baby
Tamika Mallory
Killer Mike

| "The Bigger Picture"

scope="row"| Doja Cat

| "Say So"

scope="row"| BTS

| "Dynamite"

scope="row"|Roddy Ricch

| "Heartless"
"The Box"

Presenters

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Premiere ceremony

{{col-2}}

Main ceremony{{cite web|url = https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2021-grammys-presenters-jhene-aiko-lizzo-jacob-collier-ringo-starr#:~:text=The%20Recording%20Academy%20has%20announced,winners%20Lizzo%20and%20Ringo%20Starr.|title = 2021 GRAMMYs: Full Presenter Lineup Announced|date = March 12, 2021|access-date = March 13, 2021|archive-date = March 16, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210316231010/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2021-grammys-presenters-jhene-aiko-lizzo-jacob-collier-ringo-starr#:~:text=The%20Recording%20Academy%20has%20announced,winners%20Lizzo%20and%20Ringo%20Starr.|url-status = live}}

  • Lizzo – presented Best New Artist
  • Trevor Noah - presented Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Latin Pop or Urban Album, and Song of the Year
  • Jacob Collier and Jhené Aiko – presented Best Pop Vocal Album
  • Jimmy Jam and Babyface – presented Best R&B Performance
  • Ringo Starr – presented Record of the Year

{{col-end}}

Winners and nominees

Winners appear first and highlighted in Bold.

= General field=

Record of the Year

Album of the Year

Song of the Year

Best New Artist

= Pop=

Best Pop Solo Performance

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Best Pop Vocal Album

=Dance/electronic music=

Best Dance Recording

Best Dance/Electronic Album

= Contemporary instrumental music=

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

= Rock=

Best Rock Performance

Best Metal Performance

Best Rock Song

Best Rock Album

=Alternative=

Best Alternative Music Album

= R&B=

Best R&B Performance

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Best R&B Song

Best Progressive R&B Album

Best R&B Album

= Rap=

Best Rap Performance

Best Melodic Rap Performance

Best Rap Song

Best Rap Album

= Country=

Best Country Solo Performance

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Best Country Song

Best Country Album

= New age=

Best New Age Album

= Jazz=

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Best Latin Jazz Album

= Gospel/contemporary Christian music=

Best Gospel Performance/Song

  • "Movin' On"
  • Darryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb McReynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, songwriters (Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music)
  • "Wonderful is Your Name"
  • Melvin Crispell III, songwriter (Melvin Crispell III)
  • "Release (Live)"
  • David Frazier, songwriter (Ricky Dillard featuring Tiff Joy)
  • "Come Together"
  • Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon, songwriters (Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Presents: The Good News)
  • "Won't Let Go"
  • Travis Greene, songwriter (Travis Greene)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Best Gospel Album

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Best Roots Gospel Album

= Latin=

Best Latin Pop or Urban Album

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

Best Tropical Latin Album

  • 40 – Grupo Niche
  • Mi Tumbao – José Alberto "El Ruiseñor"
  • Infinito – Edwin Bonilla
  • Sigo Cantando al Amor (Deluxe) – Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis
  • Memorias de Navidad – Víctor Manuelle

= American roots=

Best American Roots Performance

Best American Roots Song

Best Americana Album

Best Bluegrass Album

Best Traditional Blues Album

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Best Folk Album

Best Regional Roots Music Album

  • Atmosphere – New Orleans Nightcrawlers
  • My Relatives 'nikso' Kowaiks – Black Lodge Singers
  • Cameron Dupuy and The Cajun Troubadours – Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours
  • Lovely Sunrise – Nā Wai ʽEhā
  • A Tribute to Al Berard – Sweet Cecilia

= Reggae=

Best Reggae Album

= Global music=

Best Global Music Album

= Children's=

Best Children's Album

= Spoken word=

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)

= Comedy=

Best Comedy Album

= Musical theater=

Best Musical Theater Album

= Music for visual media=

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Best Song Written for Visual Media

= Composing/Arranging=

Best Instrumental Composition

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

  • "Donna Lee"
  • John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)
  • "Bathroom Dance"
  • Hildur Guðnadóttir, arranger (Hildur Guðnadóttir)
  • "Honeymooners"
  • Remy Le Boeuf, arranger (Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly Of Shadows)
  • "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
  • Alvin Chea & Jarrett Johnson, arrangers (Jarrett Johnson Featuring Alvin Chea)
  • "Uranus: The Magician"
  • Jeremy Levy, arranger (Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

= Package=

Best Recording Package

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

= Notes=

Best Album Notes

  • Dead Man's Pop
  • Bob Mehr, album notes writer (The Replacements)
  • At The Minstrel Show: Minstrel Routines From The Studio, 1894–1926
  • Tim Brooks, album notes writer (Various Artists)
  • The Bakersfield Sound: Country Music Capital Of The West, 1940–1974
  • Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Various Artists)
  • The Missing Link: How Gus Haenschen Got Us From Joplin To Jazz And Shaped The Music Business
  • Colin Hancock, album notes writer (Various Artists)
  • Out Of A Clear Blue Sky
  • David Sager, album notes writer (Nat Brusiloff)

= Historical=

Best Historical Album

  • It's Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers
  • Lee Lodyga & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Mister Rogers)
  • Celebrated, 1895–1896
  • Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer (Unique Quartette)
  • Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936–1943)
  • Zev Feldman, Will Friedwald & George Klabin, compilation producers; Matthew Lutthans, mastering engineer (Nat King Cole)
  • 1999 Super Deluxe Edition
  • Michael Howe, compilation producer; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Prince)
  • Souvenir
  • Carolyn Agger, compilation producer; Miles Showell, mastering engineer (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
  • Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions
  • Béla Fleck, compilation producer; Richard Dodd, mastering engineer (Béla Fleck)

= Production, non-classical=

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Best Remixed Recording

= Production, immersive audio=

Best Immersive Audio Album

  • Soundtrack of the American Soldier
  • Leslie Ann Jones, immersive mix engineer; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, immersive producer (Jim R. Keene and the United States Army Field Band
  • Bolstad: Tomba Sonora
  • Morten Lindberg (Stemmeklang)
  • Dear Future Self (Dolby Atmos Mixes)
  • Fritz Hilpert, immersive mix engineer; Jason Banks, Fritz Hilpert and David Zeigler, immersive mastering engineers; Tom Ammerman, Arno Kammermeier and Walter Merziger, immersive producers (Booka Shade)
  • Fryd
  • Morten Lindberg (Tove Ramlo-Ystad and Cantus)
  • Mutt Slang Li - A Wake of Sorrows Engulfed in Rage
  • Elliot Scheiner, immersive mix engineer; Darcy Proper, immersive mastering engineer; Alain Mallet and Elliot Scheiner, immersive producers (Alain Mallet)

= Production, classical=

Best Engineered Album, Classical

  • "Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, 'Babi Yar'"
  • David Frost & Charlie Post, engineers; Silas Brown, mastering engineer (Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
  • "Danielpour: The Passion of Yeshua"
  • Bernd Gottinger, engineer (JoAnn Falletta, James K. Bass, Adam Luebke, UCLA Chamber Singers, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra & Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus)
  • "Gershwin: Porgy and Bess"
  • David Frost & John Kerswell, engineers; Silas Brown, mastering engineer (David Robertson, Eric Owens, Angel Blue, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)
  • "Hynes: Fields"
  • Kyle Pyke, engineer; Jesse Lewis & Kyle Pyke, mastering engineers (Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion)
  • "Ives: Complete Symphonies"
  • Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, engineers; Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, mastering engineers (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)

Producer of the Year, Classical

  • David Frost
  • Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 9 (Jonathan Biss)
  • Gershwin: Porgy And Bess (David Robertson, Eric Owens, Angel Blue, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)
  • Gluck: Orphée & Eurydice (Harry Bicket, Dmitry Korchak, Andriana Chuchman, Lauren Snouffer, Lyric Opera Of Chicago Orchestra & Chorus)
  • Holst: The Planets; The Perfect Fool (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
  • Muhly: Marnie (Robert Spano, Isabel Leonard, Christopher Maltman, Denyce Graves, Iestyn Davies, Janis Kelly, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus)
  • Schubert: Piano Sonatas, D. 845, D. 894, D. 958, D. 960 (Shai Wosner)
  • Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, 'Babi Yar' (Riccardo Muti, Alexey Tikhomirov, Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus)
  • Blanton Alspaugh
  • Aspects of America (Carlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony)
  • Blessed Art Thou Among Women (Peter Jermihov, Katya Lukianov & PaTRAM Institute Singers)
  • Dvořák: Symphony No. 9; Copland: Billy The Kid (Gianandrea Noseda & National Symphony Orchestra)
  • Glass: The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Joseph Li, Nicholas Nestorak, Madison Leonard, Jonas Hacker, Ben Edquist, Matthew Adam Fleisher & Wolf Trap Opera)
  • Kahane: Emergency Shelter Intake Form (Alicia Hall Moran, Gabriel Kahane, Carlos Kalmar & Oregon Symphony)
  • Kastalsky: Requiem (Leonard Slatkin, Steven Fox, Benedict Sheehan, Charles Bruffy, Cathedral Choral Society, The Clarion Choir, The Saint Tikhon Choir, Kansas City Chorale & Orchestra Of St. Luke's)
  • Massenet: Thaïs (Andrew Davis, Joshua Hopkins, Andrew Staples, Erin Wall, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir & Toronto Symphony Orchestra)
  • Smyth: The Prison (Sarah Brailey, Dashon Burton, James Blachly & Experiential Orchestra)
  • Woolf, L.P.: Fire And Flood (Julian Wachner, Matt Haimovitz & Choir Of Trinity Wall Street)
  • Jesse Lewis
  • Gunn: The Ascendant (Roomful Of Teeth)
  • Harrison, M.: Just Constellations (Roomful Of Teeth)
  • Her Own Wings (Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival)
  • Hynes: Fields (Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion)
  • Lang, D.: Love Fail (Beth Willer & Lorelei Ensemble)
  • Mazzoli: Proving Up (Christopher Rountree, Opera Omaha & International Contemporary Ensemble)
  • Sharlat: Spare The Rod! (NOW Ensemble)
  • Soul House (Hub New Music)
  • Wherein Lies The Good (The Westerlies)
  • Dmitry Lipay
  • Adams, J.: Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes? (Yuja Wang, Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
  • Cipullo: The Parting (Alastair Willis, Laura Strickling, Catherine Cook, Michael Mayes & Music Of Remembrance)
  • Ives: Complete Symphonies (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
  • LA Phil 100 – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Centennial Birthday Gala (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
  • Langgaard: Prelude To Antichrist; Strauss: An Alpine Symphony (Thomas Dausgaard & Seattle Symphony Orchestra)
  • Nielsen: Symphony No. 1 & Symphony No. 2, 'The Four Temperaments' (Thomas Dausgaard & Seattle Symphony)
  • Elaine Martone
  • Bound For The Promised Land (Robert M. Franklin, Steven Darsey, Jessye Norman & Taylor Branch)
  • Dawn (Shachar Israel)
  • Gandolfi, Prior & Oliverio: Orchestral Works (Robert Spano & Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
  • Singing In The Dead Of Night (Eighth Blackbird)
  • Whitacre: The Sacred Veil (Eric Whitacre, Grant Gershon & Los Angeles Master Chorale)

=Classical=

;Best Orchestral Performance

Best Opera Recording

Best Choral Performance

  • "Danielpour: The Passion of Yessuah"
  • JoAnn Falletta, conductor; James K. Bass & Adam Luebke, chorus masters (James K. Bass, J'Nai Bridges, Timothy Fallon, Kenneth Overton, Hila Plitmann & Matthew Worth; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus & UCLA Chamber Singers)
  • "Carthage"
  • Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)
  • "Kastalski: Requiem"
  • Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Charles Bruffy, Steven Fox & Benedict Sheehan, chorus masters (Joseph Charles Beutel & Anna Dennis; Orchestra Of St. Luke's; Cathedral Choral Society, The Clarion Choir, Kansas City Chorale & The Saint Tikhon Choir)
  • "Moravec: Sanctuary Road"
  • Kent Tritle, conductor (Joshua Blue, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Dashon Burton, Malcolm J. Merriweather & Laquita Mitchell; Oratorio Society Of New York Orchestra; Oratorio Society Of New York Chorus)
  • "Once Upon a Time"
  • Matthew Guard, conductor (Sarah Walker; Skylark Vocal Ensemble)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

  • "Contemporary Voices" – Pacifica Quartet
  • "Healing Modes" – Brooklyn Rider
  • "Hearne, T,: Place" – Ted Hearne, Steven Bradshaw, Sophia Byrd, Josephine Lee, Isaiah Robinson, Sol Ruiz, Ayanna Woods & Place Orchestra
  • "Hynes: Fields" – Devonté Hynes & Third Coast Percussion
  • "The Schumann Quartets" – Dover Quartet

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

  • "Smyth: The Prison"
  • Sarah Brailey & Dashon Burton; James Blachly, conductor (Experiential Chorus; Experiential Orchestra)
  • "American Composers at Play – William Bolcom, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, John Musto"
  • Stephen Powell (Attacca Quartet, William Bolcom, Ricky Ian Gordon, Lori Laitman, John Musto, Charles Neidich & Jason Vieaux)
  • "Clairières – Songs by Lili & Nadia Boulanger"
  • Nicholas Phan; Myra Huang, accompanist
  • "Farinelli"
  • Cecilia Bartoli; Giovanni Antonini, conductor (Il Giardino Armonico)
  • "A Lad's Love"
  • Brian Giebler; Steven McGhee, accompanist (Katie Hyun, Michael Katz, Jessica Meyer, Reginald Mobley & Ben Russell)

Best Classical Compendium

  • "Thomas, M.T.: From the Diary of Anne Frank & Meditations on Rilke"
  • Isabel Leonard; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Jack Vad, producer
  • "Adès Conducts Adès"
  • Mark Stone & Christianne Stotijn; Thomas Adès, conductor; Nick Squire, producer
  • "Saariaho: Graal Théâtre; Circle Map, Neiges, Vers Toi Qui Es Si Loin"
  • Clément Mao-Takacs, conductor; Hans Kipfer, producer
  • "Serebrier: Symphonic Bach Variations; Laments and Hallelujahs; Flute Concerto"
  • José Serebrier, conductor; Jens Braun, producer
  • "Woolf, L.P.: Fire and Blood"
  • Matt Haimovitz; Julian Wachner, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

= Music video/film=

Best Music Video

Best Music Film

Special Merit Awards

= [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] =

= [[Grammy Trustees Award|Trustees Award]] =

= [[Technical Grammy Award]] =

  • Daniel Weiss

= Music Educator Award =

Multiple nominations and awards

The following received multiple nominations:

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Nine:

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Six:

Five:

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Four:

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Three:

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Two:

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The following received multiple awards:

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Four:

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Three:

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Two:

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In Memoriam

Musical artists and industry personnel who had died in 2020 and early 2021 were included in a memorial reel aired during the Grammy telecast. At least 800 individuals were considered by producer Ben Winston for the segment.{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Grammy Awards Considered 800 People for 2021 'In Memoriam' Segment |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-in-memoriam-800-people-1234923174/ |website=Variety |access-date=16 March 2021 |date=10 March 2021 |archive-date=March 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319022220/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-in-memoriam-800-people-1234923174/ |url-status=live }} The Recording Academy was criticized by fans of Naya Rivera, Benny Mardones, Hal Ketchum, Riley Gale, and Frankie Banali for excluding their names from the broadcast, although all of them were included on a longer list of names posted on the Grammys website.{{cite news |last1=Herbert |first1=Geoff |title=2021 Grammys in memoriam leaves out Benny Mardones, more |url=https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2021/03/2021-grammys-in-memoriam-leaves-out-benny-mardones-more.html |newspaper=The Post-Standard |access-date=16 March 2021 |language=en |date=15 March 2021 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318000300/https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2021/03/2021-grammys-in-memoriam-leaves-out-benny-mardones-more.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Recording Academy in Memoriam 2021 |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/recording-academy-grammy-in-memoriam-2021 |website=Grammy |access-date=16 March 2021 |language=en |date=14 March 2021 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428232738/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/recording-academy-grammy-in-memoriam-2021 |url-status=live }}

The segment dedicated to Eddie Van Halen was criticized by fans, former bandmates and other figures within the hard rock and heavy metal community who felt that the brief seconds-long tribute was an insult to the guitarist's influence and legacy.{{cite web |last1=Trapp |first1=Philip |title=Rockers React to Eddie Van Halen Memorial Segment at 2021 Grammy Awards |url=https://loudwire.com/eddie-van-halen-in-memoriam-2021-grammys/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=16 March 2021 |date=15 March 2021 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316215000/https://loudwire.com/eddie-van-halen-in-memoriam-2021-grammys/ |url-status=live }} Van Halen's son Wolfgang Van Halen revealed that he declined the Academy's offer to play "Eruption" for the segment out of respect for his father, believing that the "In Memoriam" would feature more songs. While disappointed with the brief tribute, Wolfgang was "hurt the most" by Eddie not being mentioned among other late artists remembered at the beginning of the show, attributing the mishap to the declining mainstream popularity in rock music and the Academy's historical lack of interest in the genre.{{cite instagram |user=wolfvanhalen

|postid=CMdD3mel3L4 |date=15 March 2021 |title=The GRAMMYS asked me to play Eruption for the 'In Memoriam' section and I declined. I don't think anyone could have lived up to what my father did for music but himself. It was my understanding that there would be an 'In Memoriam' section where bits of songs were performed for legendary artists that had passed. I didn't realize that they would only show Pop for 15 seconds in the middle of 4 full performances for others we had lost. What hurt the most was that he wasn't even mentioned when they talked about artists we lost in the beginning of the show. I know rock isn't the most popular genre right now, (and the academy does seem a bit out of touch) but I think it's impossible to ignore the legacy my father left on the instrument, the world of rock, and music in general. There will never be another innovator like him. I'm not looking to start some kind of hate parade here, I just wanted to explain my side. I know Pop would probably just laugh it off and say "Ehh who gives a shit?" He was only about the music anyway. The rest didn't matter. I'd love to get the opportunity to speak with The Recording Academy not only about the legacy of my father, but the legacy of the Rock genre moving forward. Thank you. |access-date=16 March 2021}} However, Jem Aswad of Variety defended the tribute, opining that longer tributes featuring cover artists still would have failed to meet expectations and praised the subtext behind the segment, which featured a spotlight on Van Halen's signature Frankenstrat guitar with a video of the guitarist playing in the background, that Van Halen's talent could never be replicated.{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Why the Grammys' Eddie Van Halen Tribute Got It Right |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-eddie-van-halen-tribute-1234931404/ |website=Variety |access-date=16 March 2021 |date=15 March 2021 |archive-date=March 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319152838/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/grammy-eddie-van-halen-tribute-1234931404/ |url-status=live }}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

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{{cite web |title=Recording Academy Remembers The Music People We've Lost {{!}} GRAMMY In Memoriam |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/recording-academy-grammy-in-memoriam-2021 |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=www.grammy.com}}

Reception

=Pre-ceremony=

Following the release of the nominations, Canadian singer the Weeknd accused the Grammys of corruption after he failed to receive any nominations. Based on the success of his album, After Hours, the Weeknd had been expected by many critics and publications to receive a large number of nominations, including Album of the Year as well as several nods for his single "Blinding Lights". Expressing his disappointment, the Weeknd tweeted "The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency...". He further explained that he was expecting nominations due to discussions between his team and the Grammys to perform at the ceremony but it was later reported by Rolling Stone that these discussions broke down due to the Weeknd also performing at the Super Bowl LV halftime show. In response, the Grammys released a statement saying that they "empathized" with the Weeknd's disappointment but that some "deserving" artists miss out every year. Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. later expanded on this by explaining that "we understand that the Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated. I was surprised and can empathise with what he's feeling. Unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists. To be clear, voting in all categories ended well before the Weeknd's performance at the Super Bowl was announced, so in no way could it have affected the nomination process".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55070142|title=The Weeknd calls Grammy Awards 'corrupt' after nominations snub|work=BBC News|date=November 25, 2020|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=March 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329182241/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55070142|url-status=live}} Several days later, the Weeknd stated that "I personally don't care anymore. I have three Grammys, which mean nothing to me now, obviously. I suck at giving speeches anyways. Forget awards shows. It's not like, 'Oh, I want the Grammy!' It's just that this happened, and I'm down to get in front of the fire, as long as it never happens again".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55858548|title=The Weeknd: Grammys 'mean nothing to me' after nominations snub|work=BBC News|date=January 29, 2021|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422152329/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55858548|url-status=live}}

American singer Halsey spoke out in solidarity with the Weeknd after her 2020 album, Manic, received no nominations. Taking to Instagram, Halsey wrote "The Grammys are an elusive process. It can often be about behind the scenes private performances, knowing the right people, campaigning through the grapevine, with the right handshake and 'bribes' that can be just ambiguous enough to pass as 'not bribes.'"{{cite web|url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwExN2pXAAUTGzT?format=jpg&name=medium|title=Halsey – Instagram post discussing The Grammys|date=November 28, 2020|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304023933/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwExN2pXAAUTGzT?format=jpg&name=medium|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9490917/halsey-2021-grammy-awards-nomination-snub-reaction|title=Halsey Speaks Out After 2021 Grammy Nominations Snub: 'It's Not Always About the Music'|magazine=Billboard|date=November 29, 2020|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217140338/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9490917/halsey-2021-grammy-awards-nomination-snub-reaction/|url-status=live}} The singer went on to share that speaking out against The Grammys could very well get an artist blacklisted.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/halsey-speaks-out-after-grammy-nominations-snub-its-not-always-about-the-music|title=Halsey Speaks Out after Grammy Nominations Snub: "It's Not Always about the Music"|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 29, 2020|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315034316/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/halsey-speaks-out-after-grammy-nominations-snub-its-not-always-about-the-music|url-status=live}} Halsey, who only has 2 nominations throughout her entire career, was the center of conversation when her song "Without Me", which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, was passed up for a nomination at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/halsey-snubbed-grammy-nominations-2020|title=Halsey Fans Can't Believe She Was Snubbed by Grammy Nominations 2020|date=November 20, 2019|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122171506/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/halsey-snubbed-grammy-nominations-2020|url-status=live}}

Justin Bieber expressed his disappointment with the academy following his album Changes receiving nominations in the Pop field rather than the R&B field. He explained that he is "very meticulous and intentional about my music. With that being said I set out to make an R&B album. Changes was and is an R&B album. It is not being acknowledged as an R&B album which is very strange to me". The Grammys later responded to Bieber, stating that "we always want to respect the artist's wishes. Art's a funny thing because it's so subjective, and at the Academy our goal is to honor excellence. At some point, decisions have to be made as to how to compare different things, and it is a very tough process and one I don't think we get right every time. We use our best efforts to get people where they wanna be and where they should be and try to evaluate them as best as we can. If he felt that was that type of a record, then, you know... I'll just leave it at that. We try really hard to make sure people's art is respected and evaluated in the right category".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/grammys-respond-to-justin-biebers-claim-hes-in-the-wrong-category-2825768|title=Grammys respond to Justin Bieber's claim he's in the wrong category|website=NME|date=November 26, 2020|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122042428/https://www.nme.com/news/music/grammys-respond-to-justin-biebers-claim-hes-in-the-wrong-category-2825768|url-status=live}}

Five days before the ceremony, British artist Zayn Malik posted a tweet criticizing the Grammys and their voting procedures stating that "unless you shake hands and send gifts, there's no nomination considerations. Next year I'll send you a basket of confectionary". After confusion from fans and the media, who noted that Malik's third album, Nobody Is Listening, was ineligible for the 63rd Grammy Awards as it was released after the eligibility period ended in August, Malik stated his intentions in a follow-up tweet, explaining that his prior post was "not personal or about eligibility but was about the need for inclusion and the lack of transparency of the nomination process and the space that creates and allows favoritism, racism, and networking [sic] politics to influence the voting process".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56345091|title=Zayn Malik lashes out at Grammy Awards voters|work=BBC News|date=March 10, 2021|accessdate=March 14, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316155014/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56345091|url-status=live}}

=Ceremony=

{{expand section|date = March 2021}}

During the ceremony, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion performed the song "WAP."{{cite web|title=Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion To Perform "WAP" Live for the First Time at 2021 Grammys?|url=https://allhiphop.com/news/cardi-b-megan-thee-stallion-to-perform-wap-live-for-the-first-time-at-2021-grammys/|first=Yohance|last=Kyles|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021|website=AllHipHop.com|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312162240/https://allhiphop.com/news/cardi-b-megan-thee-stallion-to-perform-wap-live-for-the-first-time-at-2021-grammys/|url-status=live}} Grammys host Trevor Noah prefaced the performance with, "If you have small children in the room, just tell them it's a song about giving a cat a bath", and the chorus "wet and gushy," was changed to "wet, wet, wet".{{cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/grammy-2021-highs-and-lows-a-semi-censored-wap-silk-sonics-debut-eddie-van-halens-snub-and-more-081428456.html|title=Grammys 2021 highs and lows: Semicensored 'WAP,' Silk Sonic's debut, Eddie Van Halen's snub and more|publisher=yahoo.com|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315155112/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/grammy-2021-highs-and-lows-a-semi-censored-wap-silk-sonics-debut-eddie-van-halens-snub-and-more-081428456.html|url-status=live}} Billboard ranked it as the best performance of the ceremony, commenting that "this had to be one of the most insane television debut performances of all time."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/9540641/2021-grammys-performances-ranked/|title=All the 2021 Grammys Performances, Ranked|magazine=Billboard|first=Heran|last=Mamo|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315072826/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/9540641/2021-grammys-performances-ranked/|url-status=live}} Music critic Jon Caramanica called the performance "wildly and charmingly salacious, frisky and genuine in a way that the Grammys has rarely if ever made room for".{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/arts/music/best-worst-grammys.html|title=The Best and Worst of the 2021 Grammy Awards|work=The New York Times|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315183957/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/15/arts/music/best-worst-grammys.html|url-status=live}} However, the performance received criticism for being "non-family-friendly".{{cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/cardi-b-megan-thee-stallion-grammys-170343191.html|title=Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion face criticism over 'inappropriate' and 'trashy' Grammy performance|publisher=yahoo.com|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316094337/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/cardi-b-megan-thee-stallion-grammys-170343191.html|url-status=live}}

=Viewership=

The broadcast received an average of 8.8 million viewers in the United States, with a 2.1 Nielsen rating among adults aged 18 to 49, marking a more than 50 percent decline from the previous year's ceremony, and making it the least-viewed telecast in the history of the Grammys. Conversely, the live streaming audience for the show was up 83 percent over 2020 and the hashtag, #Grammys trended for 18 hours and peaked in the number one position.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.grammy.com/}}

{{Grammy Award years}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Awards}}

063

Category:2021 music awards

Category:2021 awards in the United States

Category:2021 in American music

Category:2021 in Los Angeles

Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry

Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television

Category:Music events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:March 2021 in the United States