61st Annual Grammy Awards
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, each of whom spoke about the impact that music had on their lives.
The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018. Nominations were announced on December 7, 2018.
Dolly Parton was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two days prior on February 8, 2019.
Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations, with eight. Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves tied for the most wins of the night with four each. Childish Gambino did not attend the ceremony and became the first major award winner to be absent since Amy Winehouse in 2008. "This Is America" producer Ludwig Göransson and recording engineer Riley Mackin accepted the Record of the Year Grammy on Gambino's behalf.
Nominations announcement
Nominations were to be announced on December 5, 2018, but were delayed to Friday, December 7, 2018 following the death and state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush.Performers
| Artist | Song |
| Camila Cabello J Balvin Ricky Martin Young Thug Arturo Sandoval | "Havana" "Pégate" "Mi Gente" |
| Shawn Mendes Miley Cyrus | "In My Blood" |
| Kacey Musgraves | "Rainbow" |
| Janelle Monáe | "Make Me Feel" "Django Jane" "Pynk" |
| Post Malone Red Hot Chili Peppers | "Stay" "Rockstar" "Dark Necessities" |
| Kacey Musgraves Katy Perry Dolly Parton Miley Cyrus Maren Morris Little Big Town | Tribute to Dolly Parton "Here You Come Again" "Jolene" "After the Gold Rush" "Red Shoes" "9 to 5" |
| H.E.R. | "Hard Place" |
| Cardi B Chloe Flower | "Money" |
| Alicia Keys | "Maple Leaf Rag" "Killing Me Softly with His Song" "Lucid Dreams" "Unforgettable" "Clocks" "Use Somebody" "Boo'd Up" "In My Feelings" "Doo Wop " "Empire State of Mind" |
| Dan + Shay | "Tequila" |
| Diana Ross | "The Best Years of My Life" "Reach Out and Touch " |
| Lady Gaga Mark Ronson Andrew Wyatt Anthony Rossomando | "Shallow" |
| Travis Scott James Blake Philip Bailey | "Stop Trying to Be God" "No Bystanders" |
| Jennifer Lopez Smokey Robinson Alicia Keys Ne-Yo | Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration "Dancing in the Street" "Please Mr. Postman" "Money " "Do You Love Me" "ABC" "My Girl" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "War" "Square Biz" "Another Star" |
| Brandi Carlile | "The Joke" |
| Chloe x Halle | Tribute to Donny Hathaway "Where Is the Love" |
| St. Vincent Dua Lipa | "Masseduction" "One Kiss" |
| Fantasia Andra Day Yolanda Adams | Tribute to Aretha Franklin " A Natural Woman" |
Presenters
- Devin McCourty and Julian Edelman – presented Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Nina Dobrev – introduced Kacey Musgraves
- Alicia Keys and John Mayer – presented Song of the Year
- Anna Kendrick – introduced Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, and Dolly Parton
- Alicia Keys – introduced Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus
- Kane Brown, Meghan Trainor, Luke Combs – presented Best Country Album
- Dan + Shay – presented Best Rap Song
- Alicia Keys – introduced Post Malone and Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick – introduced Diana Ross
- Alicia Keys – introduced Lady Gaga
- Eve and Swizz Beatz – introduced Travis Scott, James Blake, and Philip Bailey
- Alicia Keys and Smokey Robinson – introduced Jennifer Lopez, Smokey Robinson, and Ne-Yo
- BTS – presented Best R&B Album
- Kelsea Ballerini – introduced Brandi Carlile
- Leon Bridges and Charlie Wilson – introduced Chloe x Halle
- Chloe x Halle – presented Best Rap Album
- Wilmer Valderrama – introduced St. Vincent and Dua Lipa
- Alessia Cara and Bob Newhart – presented Best New Artist
- Jimmy Jam – introduced outgoing President of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow
- Neil Portnow – introduced in memoriam montage
- Alicia Keys – announced Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- Alicia Keys – presented Record of the Year and Album of the Year
Premiere ceremony
- Shaggy
- Lzzy Hale of Halestorm
- Kalani Pe'a
- Questlove
- Cécile McLorin Salvant
- Tokimonsta
- Jimmy Jam
Nominations and winners
General
Record of the Year">Grammy Award for Record of the Year">Record of the Year
- "This Is America" – Childish Gambino
- *Donald Glover & Ludwig Göransson, producers; Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, Riley Mackin & Shaan Singh, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "I Like It" – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
- * Invincible, J. White Did It, Craig Kallman & Tainy, producers; Leslie Brathwaite, Kuk Harrell, Evan LaRay & Simone Torres, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
- "The Joke" – Brandi Carlile
- *Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
- "God's Plan" – Drake
- *Boi-1Da, Cardo & Young Exclusive, producers; Noel Cadastre, Noel "Gadget" Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
- "Shallow" – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
- *Lady Gaga & Benjamin Rice, producers; Brandon Bost & Tom Elmhirst, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
- "All the Stars" – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- *Al Shux & Sounwave, producers; Sam Ricci & Matt Schaeffer, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "Rockstar" – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
- *Louis Bell & Tank God, producers; Louis Bell, Lorenzo Cardona, Manny Marroquin & Ethan Stevens, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "The Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
- *Grey, Monsters & Strangerz & Zedd, producers; Grey, Tom Morris, Ryan Shanahan & Zedd, engineers/mixers; Mike Marsh, mastering engineer
Album of the Year">Grammy Award for Album of the Year">Album of the Year
- Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- * Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, producers; Craig Alvin & Shawn Everett, engineers/mixers; Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters; Greg Calbi & Steve Fallone, mastering engineers
- Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B
- * Leslie Brathwaite & Evan LaRay, engineers/mixers; Belcalis Almanzar & Jorden Thorpe, songwriters; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
- By the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile
- * Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Dave Cobb & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
- Scorpion – Drake
- * Noel Cadastre, Noel "Gadget" Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
- H.E.R. – H.E.R.
- * Darhyl "Hey DJ" Camper Jr., David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris, H.E.R., Walter Jones & Jeff Robinson, producers; Miki Tsutsumi, engineer/mixer; Darhyl Camper Jr. & H.E.R., songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
- Beerbongs & Bentleys – Post Malone
- * Louis Bell & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Louis Bell & Austin Post, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- Dirty Computer – Janelle Monáe
- * Chuck Lightning, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate "Rocket" Wonder, producers; Mick Guzauski, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate "Rocket" Wonder, engineers/mixers; Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Taylor Parks & Janelle Monáe Robinson, songwriters; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
- Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By –
- * Kendrick Lamar, featured artist; Kendrick Duckworth & Sounwave, producers; Matt Schaeffer, engineer/mixer; Kendrick Duckworth & Mark Spears, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
Song of the Year">Grammy Award for Song of the Year">Song of the Year
- "This Is America"
- *Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson & Jeffrey Lamar Williams, songwriters
- "All the Stars"
- *Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters
- "Boo'd Up"
- *Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters
- "God's Plan"
- *Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters
- "In My Blood"
- *Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters
- "The Joke"
- *Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters
- "The Middle"
- *Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters
- "Shallow"
- *Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters
Best New Artist">Grammy Award for Best New Artist">Best New Artist
- Dua Lipa
- Chloe x Halle
- Luke Combs
- Greta Van Fleet
- H.E.R.
- Margo Price
- Bebe Rexha
- Jorja Smith
Pop
- "Joanne " – Lady Gaga
- "Colors" – Beck
- "Havana" – Camila Cabello
- "God Is a Woman" – Ariana Grande
- "Better Now" – Post Malone
- "Shallow" – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
- "Fall in Line" – Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato
- "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – Backstreet Boys
- "'S Wonderful" – Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
- "Girls Like You" – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
- "Say Something" – Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
- "The Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
- My Way – Willie Nelson
- Love Is Here to Stay – Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
- Nat King Cole & Me – Gregory Porter
- Standards – Seal
- The Music...The Mem'ries...The Magic! – Barbra Streisand
- Sweetener – Ariana Grande
- Camila – Camila Cabello
- Meaning of Life – Kelly Clarkson
- Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes
- Beautiful Trauma – P!nk
- Reputation – Taylor Swift