Adele and David Bowie rack up wins as the Grammys struggle to keep up with the times
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Adele reacts to winning the award for song of the year for “Hello.” She also won record of the year.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Adele onstage after winning Album of the Year for “25.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Bruno Mars performs a tribute to Prince at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper performs with a choir and Kirk Franklin.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sturgill Simpson with The Dap Kings performs “All Around You.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sturgill Simpson with The Dap Kings.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cynthia Erivo, right, and John Legend
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Bruno Mars and Morris Day during the Prince tribute.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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A Tribe Called Quest with Anderson .Paak performs at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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A Tribe Called Quest and Anderson .Paak perform at the Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Songwriters Adele and Greg Kurstin accept the song of the year award for “Hello.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Pentatonix performs at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Andra Day performs during a tribute to the Bee Gees.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Little Big Town perform during the Bee Gees tribute.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Demi Lovato performs during a tribute to the Bee Gees.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tori Kelly performs during a tribute to the Bee Gees.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jimi Westbrook, left, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Philip Sweet of group Little Big Town, and Demi Lovato, Andra Day and Tori Kelly perform a tribute to the Bee Gees.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Metallica and Lady Gaga perform onstage during the Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga crowd surfs while performing with Metallica.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Adele pays tribute to George Michael at the Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Beyonce accepts the award for best urban contemporary album for “Lemonade.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Katy Perry performs “Chained to the Rhythm” at the Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Bruno Mars performs “That’s What I Like” at the Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Beyoncé performs at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Beyonce performed “Love Drought.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Beyoncé leans back on a throne-like chair while performing at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lukas Graham and Kelsea Ballerini perform a mash-up of “7 Years” and “Peter Pan” at the Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Twenty One Pilots wins for pop duo/group performance for “Stressed Out.”
(Invision / Associated Press)
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Ed Sheehan
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Weeknd performs with Daft Punk.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Paris Jackson introduces The Weeknd.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper wins the rap album Grammy.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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James Corden hosts the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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James Corden performs with backup dancers.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Margaret Cho at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Members of Northern Cree perform at the pre-telecast show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Carla Morrison performs at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles at the pre-telecast show for the Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jesse Huerta and Joy Huerta of Jesse & Joy after winning the Grammy for Latin pop album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Jarosz accepts the award for folk album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Bobby Rush accepts his Grammy for traditional blues album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Fantastic Negrito wins the award for contemporary blues album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Patton Oswalt wins for comedy album at the pre-telecast show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper after winning the rap performance award for “No Problem.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper takes the stage after winning the rap performance award for “No Problem.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kalani Pe’a, at the Grammys’ pre-telecast show, wins the award for regional music album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sturgill Simpson picks up the award for country album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Judy Collins performs at the pre-telecast show for the 59th Grammy Awards at the Microsoft Theater.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Emily Weisband at the Grammy Awards pre-telecast show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tamela Mann, left, wins for gospel performance/song for “God Provides” at the Grammy Awards pre-telecast show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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White Sun, which won in the New Age category for its album “White Sun II,” is seen onstage at the Grammy Awards pre-telecast show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Hillary Scott, second from left, and the Scott Family with their award for contemporary Christian music album.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kirk Franklin accepts his Grammy for gospel album for “Losing My Religion.”
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cynthia Erivo, center, of “The Color Purple” speaks for the winners for musical theater album at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jacob Collier wins at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Luke Smallbone, left, Lauren Daigle and Joel Smallbone at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook wins the recording package award for David Bowie’s “Blackstar” at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Robert Glasper and Steve Berkowitz at the 59th Grammy Awards pre-telecast show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Adele, the English queen of pop heartbreak and redemption, scored a perfect five for five Sunday at the 59th Grammy Awards, sweeping the top categories of album, record and song of the year in a triumphant return to the spotlight following a long, trying hiatus.
She also won points for humility and grace, restarting a tribute to George Michael that she began off-key and paying homage, in the evening’s final moments, to the artist considered her key rival for the top awards.
For the record:
2:10 p.m. Aug. 18, 2019An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the Grammy category for which Beyonce’s “Lemonade” won. It was named the urban contemporary album and not the urban alternative album.
As she accepted the album of the year award for the blockbuster “25,” the singer, born Adele Adkins, paid homage to Beyoncé.
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“The ‘Lemonade’ album is monumental, so monumental, so well-thought-out, so beautiful and soul-baring,” Adele said as Beyoncé looked on from her seat in Staples Center and mouthed the words “Thank you.”
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Rihanna arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Adele arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Katy Perry arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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CeeLo Green alter ego Gnarly Davidsonn arrive at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Host James Corden and Julia Carey arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Chance the Rapper arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Celine Dion arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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From left, Jack Lawless, JinJoo Lee, Joe Jonas and Cole Whittle of DNCE arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Carrie Underwood arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Solange Knowles arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Demi Lovato arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Laverne Cox arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Lea Michele arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Kool and The Gang arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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From left, Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Philip Sweet of Little Big Town arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Jason Derulo arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for FIJI Water)
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Leon Bridges, left, and Brittni Jessie arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP)
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Lars Ulrich of Metallica, at right, and Jessica Miller arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Charli XCX arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Christopher Polk / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Cassadee Pope and Chris Young arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Rappers Rick Ross and Lil Yachty arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Christopher Polk / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Nick Jonas arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Singer-songwriter Tinashe arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Heidi Klum arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Rapper Desiigner arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Ryan Seacrest arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Girl Crush wears a dress of colorful balls during the arrivals at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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TV personality Giuliana Rancic arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Halsey arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Weezer arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Tori Kelly arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Rapper 2 Chainz arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Elle King and Dierks Bentley arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Camila Cabello arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - February 12, 2017 Paris Jackson during the arrivals at the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. Sunday, February 12, 2017. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Kelsea Ballerini arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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The band Cage the Elephant arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)
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Musician Skrillex arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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The band Korn arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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DJ Steve Aoki arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for NARAS)
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Megadeth arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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From left, Tim Nordwind, Damian Kulash, Dan Konopka, and Andy Ross of OK Go arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP)
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Gaby Moreno arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Electronic/dance nominees Riton and Kah-Lo arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Raging Fyah arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Blink-182 arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Patton Oswalt arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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New Age nominees White Sun (Adam Berry, Gurujaas and Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa) arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Mela Dailey, Carr Hornbuckle and Rikk Gabrillo arrive at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Ted Nash Big Band arrives at the 59th Grammy Awards.
Adele’s hit single “Hello” also collected the song award, which recognizes songwriting, and record of the year, which factors in vocal performance and record production. In addition, she won the awards for pop vocal album and solo performance.
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Beyonce, who received the the most nominations this year, won two of her nine categories; “Lemonade” won for urban contemporary album, and “Formation” won the music video award.
David Bowie’s final album “Blackstar” also picked up five Grammy Awards for alternative music album, rock song, rock performance, engineered nonclassical album and recording package.
Not surprisingly given the mood of the country, the ceremony featured several moments of political commentary, ranging from calls for unity to blatant criticism.
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In accepting the urban contemporary album award, Beyoncé said, “My intention for the film and album was to create a body of work that will give a voice to our pain, our struggles, our darkness and our history, to confront issues that make us uncomfortable.
“It’s important to me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty,” she continued, “so they can grow up in a world where they look in the mirror, first through their own families, as well as the news, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House and the Grammys, and see themselves. And have no doubt that they’re beautiful, intelligent and capable.
Far more direct was the call-out to “President Agent Orange” from hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest.
The group performed a medley of songs that included its rap “We the People” with a chorus that states: “All you black folks, you must go / All you Mexicans, you must go, / And all you poor folks, you must go, / Muslims and gays, boy, we hate your ways, / So all you bad folks, you must go.”
The music was choreographed with people taking the stage in burkas and other attire representing a variety of ethnicities and genders.
The changing times were also represented by Chance the Rapper, who also had a big night with three Grammys. In the first award handed out Sunday night, he was crowned best new artist, solidifying the industry’s broader definition of “record” and “album.”
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Because Chance the Rapper’s debut “Coloring Book” was available only as a free stream, the academy altered the long-standing requirement that music considered for awards be available in physical form, an acknowledgement of the shifting tide of consumers’ preferred way to listen.
Before the telecast, the Chicago rapper raced to the stage to collect his first Grammy, in the rap performance category, for the track “No Problem,” featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz.
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Beyonce backstage at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Adele backstage with her five awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Patton Oswalt holds the trophy for comedy album in the press room.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Solange Knowles, winner of the award for R&B performance, backstage at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Maren Morris holds her Grammy for country solo performance.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Singer Lalah Hathaway holds her trophies for traditional R&B performance and R&B album.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Melina Matsoukas, video director for Beyonce’s “Formation,” with her Grammy for music video.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kalani Pe’a, winner for regional roots music, backstage at the 59th Grammy Awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Tamela Mann blows a kiss to her award for gospel performance/song.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Songwriter Anthony Paul Jefferies, known professionally as Nineteen85, holds his award for “Hotline Bling.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Chainsmokers, with their award for dance recording, in the press room at the 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Jarosz, winner for folk album and American roots performance.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Ted Nash, winner for large jazz ensemble and instrumental composition.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Chucho Valdes shows some love to his award for Latin jazz album backstage at the Grammys.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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From left: Matthan Minster, Daniel Tichenor, Matthew Shultz, Jared Champion, Nick Bockrath and Brad Shult of the musical group Cage the Elephant pose in the press room with the award for rock album for “Tell Me I’m Pretty.”
(Chris Pizzello / Invision/Associated Press)
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Singer Daya poses with her Grammy for dance recording for “Don’t Let Me Down.”
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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William Bell poses in the press room with his Grammy for Americana album for “This Is Where I Live.”
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Singer-songwriter Lori McKenna poses with the country song Grammy for “Humble and Kind.”
(Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images)
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Greg Kurstin stands with his Grammy for producer of the year, non-classical in the press room backstage.
Beyoncé was not the only artist with a wide nomination/win gap. Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West had eight nominations each, yet only Drake scored Grammys; his single “Hotline Bling,” won for rap/sung performance and rap song. Given the multiple awards to Adele and Bowie, the Recording Academy could open itself to complaints along the line of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
In the pre-show ceremony, comedy album winner Patton Oswalt, nominee and award presenter Margaret Cho and sibling pop duo Jesse & Joy, who won the Latin pop album Grammy for “Un Besito Mas,” also referenced social and political issues.
“We are so proud to be Mexican Americans,” said Joy Huerta, accompanied by her brother, Jesse. “This goes to all the Hispanics in this country, to every minority group. We are with you, we stand with you.”
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And in the ceremony preceding the telecast, roots country artist Sturgill Simpson, the long-shot overall album-of-the-year nominee for his boundary-pushing effort, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” won the country album category over works by veterans Loretta Lynn and Keith Urban and relative newcomers Brandy Clark and Maren Morris.
“I guess the revolution won’t be televised,” he quipped.
