During the pre-show ceremony, boygenius picked up a trio of Grammys, for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song (“Not Strong Enough”) and Best Alternative Music Album for The Record.
The group, comprising singer/songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, is nominated for six awards this year, including nods for Record of The Year and Album of The Year.
“Oh my God I want to throw up,” Dacus said in the band’s first acceptance speech. “This isn’t real. Thank you.” Baker added, “Music saved my life… Anyone can be in a band.”
Additionally, Bridgers picked up her first win as a solo artist for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her spot on SZA’s “Ghost In The Machine.”
Brandy Clark picked her first win after 17 past nominations, t0gether with Brandi Carlile, for Best Americana Performance for the song “Dear Insecurity.”
“It’s a journey home for me, and a journey home to make the record with Brandi since we’re both from the Pacific Northwest, and sonically it’s a journey home because it is the rawest,” Clark said.
Among other early women winners, Best R&B Album went to Victoria Monet for Jaguar II, Best American Roots Performance went to folk singer Alison Russell for her song “Eve Was Black,” amd Susan Carol picked up a trophy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Good Morning.”
Larkin Poe, the sister duo of multi-instrumentalists Rebecca and Megan Lovell won their first Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Blood Harmony. The recognition’s role in advancing women in the genre was not lost on them.
“We feel really lucky to be able to be performing for all women around the world and to have American Music as our inspiration, traditional American music that was forged by the forefathers and foremothers of American music—and definitely emphasis on the foremothers,” Rebecca Lovell said backstage. “Being able to write songs from our perspective will weave our stories into the greater story of American music,”
Women eclipse men in nominations for many of the major categories this year. SZA leads the pack with nine nominations, followed by Monet and Bridgers (including her Boygenius noms) with seven. Alongside Boygenius, Taylor Swift, Bilie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, and Brandy Clark are up in six categories.