Jay-Z reopens the Beyonce vs Taylor saga as he attacks the Grammys for never awarding his wife Album Of The Year - while Swift has received four - 14 years after Kanye West disrupted the VMAs with a similar outburst
Jay-Z has been accused of pitting Beyonce against Taylor Swift after he called out the Grammys for never awarding his wife Album Of The Year, moments before Swift broke records by winning the accolade for the fourth time.
In a move that viewers claimed was reminiscent of Kanye West's infamous 2009 MTV VMAs speech, Jay-Z launched into an impassioned rant as he pointed out the ludicrousness that Beyonce is the Grammy's most-awarded artist with 32 honours, but none for the top prize.
The Brooklyn-born rapper made his speech at Sunday night's Grammys when he was honoured with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his contribution to the music industry.
With his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy standing on stage beside him, and Beyonce looking on from their table in the audience, dressed in just-off-the-catwalk Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z spoke about the importance of dreams, drive and ambition before referencing his wife of 14 years.
'I don't want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year,' Jay-Z said.
Jay-Z has been accused of pitting Beyonce against Taylor Swift after he called out the Grammys for never awarding his wife Album Of The Year during Sunday's ceremony
Jay-Z launched into an impassioned rant in front of his wife as he pointed out the ludicrousness that Beyonce is the Grammy's most-awarded artist but none for the top prize
Beyonce and Taylor have been pitted against each other for 15 years since Kanye declared the mother-of-three was robbed at the 2009 MTV VMAs when Taylor won Best Female Video
'So even by your own metrics, that doesn't work. Think about that. The most Grammys; never won Album of the Year. That doesn't work.'
The camera then cut to Beyonce, looking slightly apprehensive in the audience.
Taking aim at other nominees, Jay-Z continued: 'Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you've been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don't belong in the category. When I get nervous, I tell the truth.'
Viewers were quick to speculate if he was taking aim at Taylor with his remarks, who has received 52 Grammy nominations and won 14, four of which have been Album Of The Year.
Her latest win saw her triumph over Boygenius - The Record, Janelle Monáe - The Age of Pleasure, Jon Batiste - World Music Radio, Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation, Olivia Rodrigo - Guts and SZA - SOS.
Conversely, Beyonce has been nominated for 88 competitive Grammy Awards, six times for Album of the Year.
Jay-Z has also been nominated for 88 competitive Grammy Awards, winning 24 of them. Like his wife, six of his nominations have been for Album of the Year.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, during Jay-Z's speech, viewers compared his rant to Kanye's while one fan noted that men have tried to pit Beyonce and Taylor against one another, noting:' So Jay-Z and Kanye West are best mates again?
'At least she was able to finish this time. It’s funny, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé literally show up for each other. It is toxic masculinity that perpetuates the wicked female narrative. #GRAMMYs.'
The Brooklyn-born rapper made his speech at Sunday night's Grammys when he was honoured with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his contribution to the music industry
Viewers were quick to speculate if Jay-Z was taking aim at Taylor with his remarks, who has received 52 Grammy nominations and won 14, four of which have been Album Of The Year (Beyonce and Taylor pictured in October)
Taking to X, formerly Twitter , during Jay-Z's speech, viewers compared his rant to Kanye's while one fan noted that men have tried to pit Beyonce and Taylor against one another
Others added: 'Jay-Z is “imma let you finish” away from being Kanye #GRAMMYs'; 'Jay-Z really just pulled a Kanye! This acceptance speech is mad awkward!'; 'Beyonce having Taylor and Kanye flashback during Jay-Z's #GRAMMYs speech';
'Jay-Z gave the diet soda version of Kanye’s “Beyoncé had the best video of all time” rant up there'; 'Why didn’t they pan the camera to Taylor when Jay-Z was talking? #Grammys';
'No tea no shade but the fact that Taylor Swift predictably wins #AOTY every time she’s nominated sort of proves Jay-Z right… #GRAMMYs'; 'Jay-Z gonna be mad about Taylor winning another album of the year'; 'Taylor Swift sitting at the #Grammys wondering if Jay-Z was shading her'
'It’s annoying bc one of the Grammy voters were like “Beyonce has so many Grammys she doesn’t need to always win” but here is Taylor on her way to winning 4 AOTY when Bey has NONE. They push white women forward just to compete and overshadow phenomenal Black women. In this essay..';
'I just hate everything Taylor stand for. Being average af and so rewarded for while Black women have to be extraordinary just to get in the damn room.'
Beyonce and Taylor have been pitted against each other for 15 years since Kanye declared the mother-of-three was robbed at the 2009 MTV VMAs.
When Taylor, who was 19 at the time, was giving an acceptance speech for Best Female Video, Kanye stormed the stage and declared that Beyonce's music video deserved to win over Taylor's.
During the live broadcast, Kanye grabbed the mic from Taylor's hand, to tell the audience that Beyoncé's Single Ladies video deserved the award, instead of Taylor's You Belong With Me.
'Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'mma let you finish,' Kanye said as he took to the stage. 'But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!'
Later in the evening, when Beyonce picked up an award of her own, she famously called Taylor to the stage in a display of unity and invited her to finish the acceptance speech that Kanye had so rudely interrupted.
Last year, the pair continued to show each other support as they attended the premieres for each other's concert tour films.
Yet the narrative that they are feuding has still prevailed, despite Taylor insisting that she is 'actively rejecting' it.
With his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy standing on stage beside him, and Beyonce looking on from their table in the audience, Jay-Z spoke about the importance of dreams and ambition
Jay-Z launched into his critique of the awards, and his condemnation of the failure to recognize his wife, during his impassioned speech
Taylor told TIME magazine last year: '[Beyonce] is the most precious gem of a person— warm and open and funny. And she’s such a great disrupter of music-industry norms.
'She taught every artist how to flip the table and challenge archaic business practices… There were so many stadium tours this summer, but the only ones that were compared were me and Beyoncé.
'Clearly it’s very lucrative for the media and stan culture to pit two women against each other - even when those two artists in question refuse to participate in that discussion.
READ MORE: Inside Beyonce and Taylor Swift's friendship: How the pair have cemented their close bond after THAT Kanye outburst
The 12-year-old won her first Grammy aged nun, with a writing credit for Brown Skin Girl, which won in 2021 for her mother.
Jay-Z continued: 'How far we've come from Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff winning their first Grammy in '89 and boycotting because it wasn't televised.
'And then they went to the hotel and watched the Grammys. I didn't even understand. It wasn't a great boycott.'
He said that he then did a similar thing.
'But then '98, I took a page out of their book. I was nominated for Best Rap Album, and DMX had dropped two albums that year. They both were number one — shout out to DMX — and he wasn't nominated at all.
'So I boycotted and I watched the Grammys.
'I'm just saying, we want y'all to get it right. We love y'all. We love y'all. We love y'all. We want y'all to get it right. At least get it close to right.'
He then launched into his critique of the awards, and his condemnation of the failure to recognize his wife.
'Obviously it's subjective because it's music and it's opinion-based,' he said. 'So even by your own metrics, that doesn't work.
'Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you've been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don't belong in the category. When I get nervous, I tell the truth.'
The music mogul celebrated his win by pouring his own-brand D'ussé cognac into his Grammy
Jay-Z takes a swig of cognac from his Grammy
He added: 'But outside of that, we got to keep showing up — and forget the greatness for a second, just in life.
'As my daughter sits and stares at me nervous as I am, you got to keep showing up. Just keep showing up to get the Grammys.
'You got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you champion, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time.'
This year's Dr. Dre Global Impact Award was shared by Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey.
The award, created in 2022, has previously been presented to John Legend, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, and music executive Sylvia Rhone.
Grammy Awards 2024 Winners
Album of the Year
Boygenius - The Record
Janelle Monáe - The Age of Pleasure
Jon Batiste - World Music Radio
Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
Olivia Rodrigo - Guts
SZA - SOS
Taylor Swift - Midnights - WINNER
Taylor, 34, made history as she earned her fourth Album Of The Year for Midnights
Record of the Year
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”]
Boygenius - Not Strong Enough
Jon Batiste - Worship
Miley Cyrus - Flowers - WINNER
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire
SZA - Kill Bill
Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero
Victoria Monét - On My Mama
Song of the Year
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] - WINNER
Dua Lipa - Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)
Jon Batiste - Butterfly
Lana Del Rey - A&W
Miley Cyrus - Flowers
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire
SZA - Kill Bill
Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero
One of the biggest awards of the night - Song Of The Year- went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas for What Was I Made For? which was featured on the soundtrack for top grossing film of 2023 Barbie
Best New Artist
Coco Jones
Gracie Abrams
Fred Again..
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét - WINNER
The War and Treaty
Best Pop Solo Performance
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”]
Doja Cat - Paint the Town Red
Miley Cyrus - Flowers - WINNER
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire
Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero
Miley Cyrus was one of the biggest winners of the night as she earned the coveted Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit track Flowers
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish - Never Felt So Alone
Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste - Candy Necklace
Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile - Thousand Miles
SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers - Ghost in the Machine - WINNER
Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice - Karma
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Bruce Springsteen - Only the Strong Survive
Laufey - Bewitched - WINNER
Liz Callaway - To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim
Pentatonix - Holidays Around the World
Rickie Lee Jones - Pieces of Treasure
Various - Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3
Best Pop Vocal Album
Ed Sheeran - - (Subtract)
Kelly Clarkson - Chemistry
Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
Olivia Rodrigo - Guts
Taylor Swift - Midnights - WINNER
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
Aphex Twin - Blackbox Life Recorder 21f
Disclosure - Higher Than Ever Before
James Blake - Loading
Romy & Fred Again.. - Strong
Skrillex, Fred Again.. & Flowdan - Rumble - WINNER
Best Pop Dance Recording
Bebe Rexha & David Guetta - One in a Million
Calvin Harris Featuring Ellie Goulding - Miracle
David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray - Baby Don’t Hurt Me
Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam - WINNER
Troye Sivan - Rush
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
James Blake - Playing Robots Into Heaven
The Chemical Brothers - For That Beautiful Feeling
Fred Again.. - Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022) - WINNER
Kx5 - Kx5
Skrillex - Quest for Fire
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia - As We Speak - WINNER
Ben Wendel - All One
Bob James - Jazz Hands
House of Waters - On Becoming
Julian Lage - The Layers
Best Rock Performance
Arctic Monkeys - Sculptures of Anything Goes
Black Pumas - More Than a Love Song
Boygenius - Not Strong Enough - WINNER
Foo Fighters - Rescued
Metallica - Lux Æterna
Best Metal Performance
Disturbed - Bad Man
Ghost - Phantom of the Opera
Metallica - 72 Seasons - WINNER
Slipknot - Hive Mind
Spiritbox - Jaded
Best Rock Song
Boygenius - Not Strong Enough - WINNER
Foo Fighters - Rescued
Olivia Rodrigo - Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl
Queens of the Stone Age - Emotion Sickness
The Rolling Stones - Angry
Boygenius (pictured left to right: Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker) earned Best Rock Song for Not Strong Enough
Best Rock Album
Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
Greta Van Fleet - Starcatcher
Metallica - 72 Seasons
Paramore - This Is Why - WINNER
Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman…
Best Alternative Music Performance
Alvvays - Belinda Says
Arctic Monkeys - Body Paint
Boygenius - Cool About It
Lana Del Rey - A&W
Paramore - This Is Why - WINNER
Best Alternative Music Album
Arctic Monkeys - The Car
Boygenius - The Record - WINNER
Gorillaz - Cracker Island
Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
PJ Harvey - I Inside the Old Year Dying
Best R&B Performance
Chris Brown - Summer Too Hot
Coco Jones - ICU - WINNER
Robert Glasper Featuring Sir & Alex Isley - Back to Love
SZA - Kill Bill
Victoria Monét - How Does It Make You Feel
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Babyface Featuring Coco Jones - Simple
Kenyon Dixon - Lucky
PJ Morton Featuring Susan Carol - Good Morning - WINNER
SZA - Love Language
Victoria Monét Featuring Earth, Wind & Fire & Hazel Monét - Hollywood
Best R&B Song
Coco Jones - ICU
Halle - Angel
Robert Glasper Featuring Sir & Alex Isley - Back to Love
SZA - Snooze - WINNER
Victoria Monét - On My Mama
Best Progressive R&B Album
Diddy - The Love Album: Off the Grid
Terrace Martin and James Fauntleroy - Nova
Janelle Monáe - The Age of Pleasure
SZA - SOS - WINNER
6lack - Since I Have a Lover
Best R&B Album
Babyface - Girls Night Out
Coco Jones - What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe)
Emily King - Special Occasion
Summer Walker - Clear 2: Soft Life EP
Victoria Monét - Jaguar II - WINNER
Best Rap Performance
Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar - The Hillbillies
Black Thought - Love Letter
Coi Leray - Players
Drake & 21 Savage - Rich Flex
Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane - Scientists & Engineers - WINNER
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Burna Boy Featuring 21 Savage - Sittin’ on Top of the World
Doja Cat - Attention
Drake & 21 Savage - Spin Bout U
Lil Durk Featuring J. Cole - All My Life - WINNER
SZA - Low
Best Rap Song
Doja Cat - Attention
Drake & 21 Savage - Rich Flex
Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane - Scientists & Engineers - WINNER
Lil Uzi Vert - Just Wanna Rock
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua - Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]
Best Rap Album
Drake & 21 Savage - Her Loss
Killer Mike - Michael - WINNER
Metro Boomin - Heroes & Villains
Nas - King’s Disease III
Travis Scott - Utopia
Best Country Solo Performance
Brandy Clark - Buried
Chris Stapleton - White Horse - WINNER
Dolly Parton - The Last Thing on My Mind
Luke Combs - Fast Car
Tyler Childers - In Your Love
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Brothers Osborne - Nobody’s Nobody
Carly Pearce Featuring Chris Stapleton - We Don’t Fight Anymore
Dierks Bentley Furingeat Billy Strings - High Note
Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson - Save Me
Vince Gill & Paul Franklin - Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)
Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves - I Remember Everything - WINNER
Best Country Song
Brandy Clark - Buried
Chris Stapleton - White Horse - WINNER
Morgan Wallen - Last Night
Tyler Childers - In Your Love
Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves - I Remember Everything
Best Country Album
Brothers Osborne - Brothers Osborne
Kelsea Ballerini - Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
Lainey Wilson - Bell Bottom Country - WINNER
Tyler Childers - Rustin’ in the Rain
Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan
Lainey Wilson took home Best Country Album for Bell Bottom Country
Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album
Carla Patullo Featuring Tonality and The Scorchio Quartet - So She Howls - WINNER
David Darling & Hans Christian - Ocean Dreaming Ocean
Kirsten Agresta-Copely - Aquamarine
Omar Akram - Moments of Beauty
Ólafur Arnalds - Some Kind of Peace (Piano Reworks)
Best Jazz Performance
Adam Blackstone Featuring The Baylor Project & Russell Ferranté - Vulnerable (Live)
Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding - But Not for Me
Jon Batiste - Movement 18’ (Heroes)
Lakecia Benjamin - Basquiat
Samara Joy - Tight - WINNER
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Cécile McLorin Salvant - Mélusine
Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding - Alive at the Village Vanguard
Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke - Lean In
Nicole Zuraitis - How Love Begins - WINNER
Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band - For Ella 2
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Adam Blackstone - Legacy: The Instrumental Jawn
Billy Childs - The Winds of Change - WINNER
Kenny Barron - The Source
Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix
Pat Metheny - Dream Box
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
ADDA Simfònica, Josep Vicent, Emilio Solla - The Chick Corea Symphony Tribute - Ritmo
The Count Basie Orchestra Directed by Scotty Barnhart - Basie Swings the Blues - WINNER
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society - Dynamic Maximum Tension
Mingus Big Band - The Charles Mingus Centennial Sessions
Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest - Olympians
Best Latin Jazz Album
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band - Vox Humana
Eliane Elias - Quietude
Ivan Lins With the Tblisi Symphony Orchestra - My Heart Speaks
Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente - Cometa
Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo - El Arte del Bolero Vol. 2 - WINNER
Best Alternative Jazz Album
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily - Love in Exile
Cory Henry - Live at the Piano
Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, SuperBlue - SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree
Louis Cole - Quality Over Opinion
Meshell Ndegeocello - The Omnichord Real Book - WINNER
Best Gospel Performance/Song
Erica Campbell - Feel Alright (Blessed)
Melvin Crispell III - God Is
Kirk Franklin - All Things - WINNER
Stanley Brown Featuring Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard & Karen Clark Sheard - God Is Good
Zacardi Cortez - Lord Do It for Me (Live)
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Blessing Offor - Believe
Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation (He Won’t) [Live]
For King & Country Featuring Jordin Sparks - Love Me Like I Am
Lauren Daigle - Thank God I Do
Lecrae & Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Your Power - WINNER
Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore & Naomi Raine - God Problems
Best Gospel Album
Erica Campbell - I Love You
Maverick City Music - The Maverick Way
Jonathan McReynolds - My Truth
Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Hymns (Live)
Tye Tribbett - All Things New: Live in Orlando - WINNER
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Blessing Offor - My Tribe
Da’ T.R.U.T.H. - Emanuel
Lauren Daigle - Lauren Daigle
Lecrae - Church Clothes 4 - WINNER
Phil Wickham - I Believe
Best Roots Gospel Album
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet - Tribute to the King
Blind Boys of Alabama - Echoes of the South
Becky Isaacs Bowman - Songs That Pulled Me Through the Tough Times
Brian Free & Assurance - Meet Me at the Cross
Gaither Vocal Band - Shine: The Darker the Night the Brighter the Light
Best Latin Pop Album
AleMor - Beautiful Humans, Vol. 1
Gaby Moreno - X Mi (Vol. 1) - WINNER
Maluma - Don Juan
Pablo Alborán - La Cuarta Hoja
Paula Arenas - A Ciegas
Pedro Capó - La Neta
Best Música Urbana Album
Karol G - Mañana Será Bonito - WINNER
Rauw Alejandro - Saturno
Tainy - Data
The second award of the evening was given to Karol G in the Best Música Urbana Album category for Mañana Será Bonito
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Cabra - Martínez
Diamante Eléctrico - Leche de Tigre
Fito Paez - EADDA9223
Juanes - Vida Cotidiana - WINNER (TIE)
Natalia Lafourcade - De Todas las Flores - WINNER (TIE)
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Ana Bárbara - Bordado a Mano
Flor de Toloache - Motherflower
Lila Downs - La Sánchez
Lupita Infante - Amor Como en las Películas de Antes
Peso Pluma - Génesis - WINNER
Best Tropical Latin Album
Carlos Vives - Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así
Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia - Niche Sinfónico
Luis Figueroa - Voy a Ti
Omara Portuondo - Vida
Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta - Siembra: 45° Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022) - WINNER
Tony Succar, Mimy Succar - Mimy & Tony
Best Music Video
The Beatles - I’m Only Sleeping - WINNER
Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”]
Kendrick Lamar - Count Me Out
Troye Sivan - Rush
Tyler Childers - In Your Love
Best Music Film
David Bowie - Moonage Daydream - WINNER
Kendrick Lamar - Live From Paris, the Big Steppers Tour
Lewis Capaldi - How I’m Feeling Now
Little Richard - I Am Everything
Tupac Shakur - Dear Mama
