LOS ANGELES: Beyoncé added another milestone to her career by winning her 34th Grammy on Sunday, February 2. She took home the award for Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, marking her first major recognition in the country music scene. The award was presented by Taylor Swift during a ceremony that paid tribute to Los Angeles, which had recently suffered devastating wildfires.
Cowboy Carter was also in the running for Album of the Year, a prize Beyoncé has never won, despite holding more Grammy wins than any other musician.
Indian-Origin Chandrika Tandon Wins Best New Age Album
Indian-American artist Chandrika Tandon won the Grammy for Triveni in the Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album category. She collaborated with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto on the album. Tandon beat fellow nominees Ricky Kej, Anoushka Shankar, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Radhika Vekaria to claim the award.
A Night of Music and Resilience
This year's Grammy Awards were more than just a celebration of music. The event also served as a fundraiser for those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles, which killed 29 people and displaced thousands, including many in the music industry.
The ceremony opened with a powerful performance of I Love LA by Dawes, joined by John Legend, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, and Brittany Howard. Host Trevor Noah set the tone, saying, "Tonight, we are not just celebrating our favorite music. We are also celebrating the city that brought us so much of that music."
Other big winners included Sabrina Carpenter, who won Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n' Sweet, and Doechii, who made history as the third woman to win Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal.
The Grammy winners are chosen by the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, which includes singers, songwriters, producers, and other music professionals.