Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion win early Grammys ahead of main gala

NEW YORK, United States, March 15 ------ The Grammys kicked off on Sunday with two early prizes for leading nominee Beyonce, one thanks to her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, the rap sensation who captured her first prize at the music industry's top awards show. The mostly virtual ceremony falls nearly a year to the day after Covid-19 grounded tours and forced performance venues to close, as the music world tries to move past a crushing 2020 with a celebration of its biggest stars.

The early ceremony preceding the main broadcast offered a hint at what the evening's gala will look like, with a mix of live and pre-taped performances in keeping with restrictions now commonplace in the coronavirus era. Beyonce captured her first trophy of the day for Best Music Video, an award she shared with her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, who was in the clip for "Brown Skin Girl."

The megastar did not Zoom in to accept the prize from the Recording Academy that many say has failed her in the past, with repeated snubs in past years for critically acclaimed work. But Billie Eilish and her brother and collaborator Finneas did appear to accept an award for "No Time To Die," the theme from the forthcoming James Bond film of the same name. Beyonce snagged her second prize for her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, and has four more chances to win.

"Imma cry!" said Megan via video chat to accept the award for Best Rap Performance for "Savage," fanning her eyes as she thanked Beyonce along with her late mother. "Thank you Mama for pushing me and knowing that I was gonna be here," the superstar rapper said. "Thank you hotties, thank you Houston!" she continued, referring to her adoring fans and home city.

Beyonce's sweeping "Black Parade" — released in June amid explosive nationwide anti-racism protests after another spate of deadly police violence targeting Black Americans — has her up for the coveted Record and Song of the Year awards that will be doled out near the gala's end. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch each earned six nominations. Swift and Lipa both lost in the field for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, however, which went to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain On Me."

Many critics favor the overall chances of Lipa, who took a big risk in dropping a sparkly disco ball of a dance album just as the pandemic took hold — a bet that paid off. Swift — a onetime Grammys darling who hasn't won in five years — bagged her nominations for releasing her surprise quarantine album "folklore," a commercial and critical hit. And rapper Ricch — who won a trophy last year for his collaboration with the late artist Nipsey Hussle — is a strong contender, including for Song of the Year, which honors songwriting, for his hit "The Box."

Source: philstar.com