Last night's Grammys were all about drama, drama, and drama

Remember when the Did the Grammys used to suck every year? These days nobody does. The Grammys have been on a roll since 2021, when they finally figured out how to stop being a regular awards show and turn it into (as host Trevor Noah put it) “a concert where we give out awards.” Grammy night has now evolved into a ritual that truly feels like a full-on fan celebration. Last night's excellent Grammy Awards had no stupid comedy skits, no crazy host — just memorable musical moments, along with some dog vomit. Oh, and the drama. Lots of drama.

Taylor Swift — you remember her, right? She made history as the first artist to win album of the year four times — but she also chose tonight to tell the world about it young album. Jay-Z Roasted The Academy For Getting Hip-Hop Wrong As Well As Never Getting It Right By Beyoncé. Joni Mitchell brought the tears. SZA killed the hell out of Bill. Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa and so many other stars had glorious live moments. Hell, so did Billy Joel. Tracy Chapman sang with Luke Combs. Killer Mike was taken out of the room in handcuffs, booked for battery due to an “argument”. Oprah was in the audience, rocking hard all night.

Swift won album of the year for Midnight, setting a new record as the first four-time winner. Before that, she was in the three-way club with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon (and the only female artist to win even twice). “Unreal!” he said. “For me the prize is the project. All I want to do is keep doing this.” She dragged Lana Del Rey on stage with her, calling her “a legend in her prime.” At this point, they're probably renaming the award for album of the Year: Taylor's Version.

But Taylor wouldn't dream of passing up any chance to make a big mess, would she? So she dropped a bombshell tonight: her new album, Department of Tormented Poets, coming April 19. She got the news early while winning Best Pop album – her 13th Grammy. It's total insanity that she made an album in her spare time during the terrible Eras tour, not to mention two new Taylor Publications and the busy schedule of her psychologists. It's the second time in a row that she's unveiled her new album during an awards show — she announced Midnight during the VMAs in August 2022, or on Taylor's Timeline, three Number One albums before.

Taylor also revealed the album cover – it's going to be black and white again, like Folklore and Reputation—as well as a handwritten note. “All is fair in love and poetry,” he signed it. “Sincerely, The President of the Tortured Poets Department.” (That album title absolutely screams Return of the Quill Pen Taylor.)

Jay-Z gave the funniest, saltiest speech of the night, accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. He said his wife Beyoncé never won album of the year, despite winning more Grammys than anyone else in history. “I don't want to embarrass this young lady,” Jay-Z said. “But he's got more Grammys than anyone and he's never won album of the year, so even by your own metrics, that doesn't work.” As for other non-winners, he was not retained. “Some of you are going to go home tonight feeling like you've been robbed,” he said. “Some of you might get robbed. Some of you don't fit the bill!' But he didn't apologize. “When I'm nervous, I tell the truth.”

SZA had a huge night, belting out 'Snooze' and 'Kill Bill', shouting 'I did it! I did it!” in a killer moment of triumph. She also debuted a new song during a commercial break, “Saturn.” When she won best R&B song for “Snooze,” she gave the most emotional speech of the night , running slowly with a hug for host Lizzo. (SZA knows how to make a grand entrance at the Grammys — a few years ago, she was on crutches, so Lady Gaga helped her up the stairs.) She told the crowd: ” Sorry to take my breath away because I was changing. then I took a shot and ran over here.”

He gave an emotional tribute to Lizzo, recalling their early days playing together in tiny clubs. “I've come a long, long way,” SZA said. “And I can't believe this is happening and it's so fake.” She also called out to one of her fans: “Hey Taylor!” — and ended by saying, “I'm not attractive crying. Good afternoon.”

Joni Mitchell broke hearts everywhere with 'Both Sides Now'. It was a big occasion – her first time playing the Grammys, despite her many wins over the years. But he was here to make history. Mitchell, 80, sat regally in an armchair, singing a song she wrote at 25 about “the messes of life,” but without irony — just going back to her old diary and finding new stories in it. She was supported by an intimate group, including Brandi Carlile, who introduced her as “the matriarch of fantasy.” She played the lyrics in her deepest voice, singing, “They're shaking their heads and saying, 'Johnny, you've changed!'” At the end, she was laughing softly to herself, tapping her cane, fully aware that she had the whole room — and the whole world— under her spell. It was a rock star moment for the ages.

Miley Cyrus belted out 'Flowers' in her Tina Turner-cosplay in an impressive performance, asking the crowd, “Why are you acting like you don't know this song?” She was the first winner of the night, receiving her award from Mariah Carey, and then won again for Record of the Year. At the end of her speech, Miley said: “I don't think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten the underwear.”

Dua Lipa kicked off the night with a high-energy disco set with 'Dance The Night', 'Houdini' and an unreleased banger, 'Training Season'. Karol G had (incredibly) her first Grammy win. “Hi to all!” he said. “My name is Karol G. I'm from Medellín, Colombia. It's my first time at the Grammys and it's my first time holding mine mine Grammy!” Mythical. Victoria Monét had another emotional highlight of the night when she won Best New Artist for her major label success, Jaguar II. “I like to liken myself to a plant, and you can see the music industry as soil,” Monét said. “I feel like today I'm growing, finally above the ground.”

Tracy Chapman made a triumphant comeback, singing the 1988 folk-rock classic “Fast Car” with Luke Combs, which made it one of the biggest country hits of 2023. (It won Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards, (no mean feat for a song she wrote in the eighties.) This was Chapman's first public live performance in years, and it made for an extremely poignant moment, as Combs watched her in awe and reverence.

Olivia Rodrigo sang a stripped-down, devastating “Vampire.” Kacey Musgraves previewed her new music in a video with a hawk on her shoulder, raising hopes that Kacey could be stepping into her mega-glam Roxy Music Avalon time. Burna Boy became the first Afrobeats artist to rule the Grammy stage, doing it in style with Brandy and 21 Savage. Billie Eilish did a great 'What Was I Made For?', with her brother Finneas on piano. When she pulled out her 1950s-style shades mid-song, it felt like one big dramatic flourish. When the song won Record of the Year, he told the crowd: “I'm shocked out of my balls!”

Lainey Wilson won Best Country album for Bell Bottom Country, and gave one of the most moving speeches of the night. “I'm a fifth-generation farmer's daughter,” Wilson said. “I would consider myself a farmer, too. Everyone I surround myself with, I think, are also farmers — they're farmers with history. It's about getting up every day and planting those seeds and watering them and watching them grow.”

On Grammy night, you expect some crap farmers, and Travis Scott delivered a painfully boring “Fe!n.” U2 performed live from The Sphere in Las Vegas, where their residency has garnered raves, but given the hype, it was an odd choice to play “Atomic City,” a little-known new song that doesn't exactly rank with their best — not the most flattering way to spend a high-profile Grammy slot. On the other hand, Celine Dion, making a surprise appearance to hand out album of the year, received one of the most loving applauses of the night. “I love you right back!” Dion said. “You look beautiful.”

Billy Joel has made a brilliant comeback with the much-hyped – his first new song in 30 years. (He actually released a new song 17 years ago, but no one seems to remember, and that's probably for the best.) “Turn The Lights Back On” was a vintage BJ ballad, with a fancy piano-man solo, in form the underrated classic of the eighties The nylon curtain. Billy closed the show with one of his Eighties hits, “You May Be Right” — but it's a shame he didn't do “Uptown Girl,” considering Olivia Rodrigo was right there in the room.

The memorial section was a performance in itself, clocking in at over 20 minutes, starting with Stevie Wonder paying tribute to his old friend Tony Bennett. Annie Lennox sang “Nothing Compares 2 U” for Sinead O'Connor, with Wendy and Lisa, who were playing with Prince at the time she wrote it. (As every Prince fan believed, Wendy was by his side the night he met Joni — and played “A Case of You.”) Lenny Kravitz introduced Jon Batiste for a Bill Withers medley in honor of Clarence Avant . But Fantasia really went through the roof with her sporty tribute to Tina Turner, filling the entire room with “Proud Mary.” Tina also received a moving tribute from Oprah, who called her “forever our rock and roll goddess.” This is a crown that Tina will wear forever.