Queen of the Grammys! Taylor Swift Makes History with Fourth Album of the Year Win

Source: Deadline

Surpassing all competition, including other talented nominees like Jon Batiste, Boygenius, and Miley Cyrus, Swift cemented her place as a musical legend and thrilled her devoted fans, the Swifties, who have long celebrated her artistic brilliance. 

Swift spoke of her love for the music industry in her acceptance speech.

"I would love to tell you that this is the best moment in my life. But I feel this happy when I've finished a song or when I've cracked the code to a bridge that I love or when I'm shot listing a music video, or when I'm rehearsing with my dancers or my band or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show," she said, teasing the 2024 start of The Eras Tour next week.

The most-streamed woman on Spotify, Taylor Swift accepts the Best Pop Vocal Album award for "Midnights" on stage during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. During her speech, she added, "For me, the award is the work. All I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much. It makes me so happy. It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award too. All I want to do is keep doing this. So thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I love so much.”

Source: Grammy

The 14-time Grammy winner also took a moment to appreciate her friends Jack Antonoff and Lana Del Rey. "I get to work with one of my best friends who is not only one of my best friends but also a once-in-a-generation producer. That's Jack Antonoff. I'm so lucky," she began. While she was thanking her co-writers, she also added, "But I think so many female artists would not be where they are and would not have the inspiration they have if it weren't for the work that [Lana has] done. I think she's a legacy artist, a legend in her prime right now. I'm so lucky to know you and to be your friend."

But that was not all, the US singer-songwriter surprised her fans with more than just making history at the 2024 Grammy. During her first award of the evening for the Best Pop Vocal Album Category, Swift announced that her 11th studio album is coming soon, titled The Tortured Poets Department, the album will be available to stream on April 19. She said, “My brand-new album comes out April 19th. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. “I’m gonna go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you. I love you. Thank you,” Swift continued, heading offstage to do just that, she immediately posed her cover right then :

As for the night's winning album, Taylor released Midnights in October 2022 and it represents "the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life." The singer also revealed that the songs on Midnights were inspired by five different things, including self-loathing, fantasizing about revenge, wondering what might have been, falling in love, and falling apart. 

Swift was also nominated for Record of the Year, song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album. 

Other talented nominees have had similar successes in years past. Musician Jon Batiste took home the same award at the ceremony in 2022. This year He was up for six nominations total, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best American Roots Performance. But most of all, Batiste was excited to have a do-over with his wife after she couldn't attend the 2022 Grammys due to her health.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

On the other hand, Miley Cyrus finally earned her flowers for Endless Summer Vacation, which dropped in March of last year and featured her hit single "Flowers." She gained her first-ever Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance. The album in full is a "love letter to L.A.," and follows Cyrus as she confidently explores her journey toward building both physical and mental strength. Cyrus also earned nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album.

Source: Glamour UK

Lana Del Rey was also nominated for her ninth studio album, “Did You Know That There's a Tunnel under Ocean Blvd.”  She released it on March 24, 2023. Her album featured artists like Jon Batiste, Father John Misty, Judah Smith, Tommy Genesis, and SYML. Del Rey also earned nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Alternative Performance, and Best Alternative Album. 

Source: ELLE

Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts which was released in September following the 2021 release date of her award-winning debut SOUR, was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Rock Song. 

Source: People

At the same time another star artist, SZA was the 2024 Grammy’s most-nominated artist with nine nominations, including Album Of The Year (SOS), Record Of The Year ("Kill Bill"), Song Of The Year ("Kill Bill"), Best Progressive R&B Album (SOS), Best R&B Song ("Snooze"), Best R&B Performance ("Kill Bill"), Best Traditional R&B Performance ("Love Language"), Best Melodic Rap Performance ("Low"), and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("Ghost In The Machine"). 

Following nine nominations heading into the show, SZA claimed victory in three different categories: Best R&B Song (“Snooze”), Best Progressive R&B Album (SOS), and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Ghost in the Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers).

While every artist at the Grammys deserves recognition, the night undeniably belonged to Taylor Swift. The win wasn't just about "Midnights." It was about the Taylor Swift phenomenon. Her "Eras" tour shattered box office records, filling stadiums in minutes and injecting millions into local economies. It even sparked a government inquiry into Ticketmaster's practices! Her Time Magazine Person of the Year title and her high-profile relationship with Travis Kelce further solidified her cultural dominance.

Yet, music remains the heart of it all. Swift's songwriting prowess is undeniable. Her ability to weave relatable narratives, experiment with different genres, and tap into universal emotions resonates deeply with millions. The Recording Academy, with its 11,000 discerning voters, recognized this. They understand the power of her craft, the way it connects with fans, and the impact it makes. 

Taylor Swift wasn't just the star of the Grammys; her fourth Grammy award was a testament to an artist who consistently pushes boundaries, breaks records, and uses her voice to connect with the world.