The Recording Academy put on its usual impressive show when it handed out the 2016 Grammys Monday night, but there were few surprises when it came to the night’s big winners. With Kendrick Lamar headed into the annual event with 11 nominations and both Taylor Swift and The Weeknd vying for seven awards each, odds were certainly in their favor that they’d head home with shiny new trophies.
When all was sung and done (and Pitbull had closed out the show), the three musicians did indeed emerge as winners. Lamar and Swift were the night’s most decorated artists, nabbing five and three Grammys, respectively. The rapper dominated his category, taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (These Walls), Best Rap Song (Alright), Best Rap Performance (Alright), Best Rap Album (To Pimp a Butterfly), and he shared Best Music Video with Taylor Swift for their collaboration on Bad Blood.
Swift may not have earned as many awards as Lamar, but she did manage to pull in the biggest: Album of the Year for her first official pop album, 1989. In addition to Best Music Video, she scored Best Pop Vocal Album, also for 1989. She won more than just awards, though; the pop superstar took her time in the spotlight to respond to controversial lyrics in Kanye West’s new song, Famous, making it clear that she’s responsible for her own fame, contrary to what the rapper claims.
The Weeknd’s night wasn’t a bust, either; Abęl Makkonen Tesfaye’s name was called twice. Mark Ronson doubled up too, winning both awards for Uptown Funk (featuring Bruno Mars), including Record of the Year. Perhaps no one was happier than Meghan Trainor, though, who broke into tears of happiness as she accepted the award for Best New Artist. It sounds like Ed Sheeran’s parents might have been just as thrilled with their son’s win: He shared that they’ve flown out from across the pond for the past four years without seeing him getting a Grammy until Monday night.
See the complete list of 2016 Grammy winners at Grammy.com.
