Music History Events: Awards and Honors
April 4, 1960 Frank Sinatra's version of "High Hopes" from the movie A Hole In The Head wins the Oscar for Best Original Song.
November 29, 1959 At the second Annual Grammy Awards, Bobby Darin wins for Best New Artist and also takes the award for Record of the Year for "Mack The Knife," which is still at #1 on the Hot 100. This is the first time the event is televised, and also the only time the ceremony is held at the end of the year instead of early the following year, meaning nothing in December 1959 is Grammy eligible. This faux pas is rectified with awards for 1960 given out in early 1961.
May 4, 1959 The very first Grammy Awards are held in Los Angeles, with Record of the Year going to Domenico Modugno's "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu (Volare)" and Henry Mancini's The Music From Peter Gunn soundtrack winning Album of the Year. The Champs' "Tequila," for some reason, takes home Best Rhythm and Blues Performance.
May 28, 1957 The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) is established. They become known for their Grammy Awards, which kicks off in 1958.
February 1, 2026 A week before his Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny becomes the first Spanish-language artist to win the Grammy for Album Of The Year when Debí Tirar Más Fotos takes the prize. Kendrick Lamar picks up five trophies (including Record Of The Year for "Luther") to become the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history with 27.
December 18, 2025 At the first US TikTok Awards, Alex Warren wins Breakthrough Artist Of The Year, Katseye are named Global Artist Of The Year, and Global Song Of The Year goes to "Pretty Little Baby," the obscure Connie Francis song that went viral on the platform over the summer.
September 7, 2025 Mariah Carey, long a fixture on MTV but never a VMA winner, finally gets her due with the Video Vanguard Award. Video Of The Year goes to Ariana Grande for Brighter Days Ahead, a 26-minute short film.
February 2, 2025 On her fifth rodeo getting nominated for the Album Of The Year Grammy, Beyoncé finally wins for Cowboy Carter. The other big winner is Kendrick Lamar, who wins five awards for "Not Like Us," including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Music Video.
February 2, 2025 The Beatles win the Best Rock Performance Grammy for "Now And Then," the first Grammy-nominated song made with help from AI, which was used to create John Lennon's vocal. It's their fourth post-breakup Grammy, matching their total from when the band was active.
November 10, 2024 Pasco Street in Tallahassee, where T-Pain used to walk to school, is renamed T-Pain Lane in his honor.
October 19, 2024 Ozzy Osbourne, already in with Black Sabbath, is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist along with Mary J. Blige, Cher, The Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang and A Tribe Called Quest.
March 19, 2024 Dr. Dre gets a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent join him at the ceremony.
February 4, 2024 Taylor Swift wins the Album Of The Year Grammy for Midnights, making her the first artist to win that award four times. Miley Cyrus gets Record Of The Year for "Flowers" and Billie Eilish takes Song Of The Year for "What Was I Made For?" from the movie Barbie.
January 15, 2024 Elton John wins an Emmy for his Farewell From Dodger Stadium live special, completing his EGOT collection. He won his first Grammy in 1987 ("That's What Friends Are For"), his first Oscar in 1994 ("Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King) and a Tony in 2000 for scoring Aida.
December 6, 2023 Taylor Swift is named Time magazine's 2023 Person Of The Year, the first entertainer ever picked.More
July 12, 2023 Sheila E. becomes the first female solo percussionist to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ringo Starr and H.E.R. join her at the ceremony.
February 5, 2023 Beyoncé wins four Grammys, breaking the record for most all-time Grammy wins with 32. There's also a 50 years of hip-hop celebration, and the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, given to... Dr. Dre.
February 5, 2023 73-year-old Bonnie Raitt wins the Grammy for Song Of The Year, beating out songs by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Harry Styles with the title track to her album Just Like That. Her first Grammy wins came in 1990, when she was 40, after releasing her album Nick Of Time.
February 5, 2023 Harry Styles, the breakaway solo star from One Direction, wins the Album Of The Year Grammy for his third album, Harry's House, the one with "As It Was" and "Late Night Talking."
May 11, 2022 Lionel Richie accepts the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a celebration where Gloria Estefan sings "Dancing On The Ceiling," Chris Stapleton does "Say You, Say Me," and his fellow American Idol judge Luke Bryan performs "Lady."
April 3, 2022 Jon Batiste and Silk Sonic are the big winners at the Grammy Awards, where Batiste takes Album Of The Year for We Are, and Silk Sonic win Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year for "Leave The Door Open."
March 27, 2022 Summer Of Soul, directed by Questlove of The Roots, wins the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The film features never-before-seen footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, including performances by Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Sly & the Family Stone.
March 27, 2022 Hans Zimmer wins the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the 2021 film Dune. The composer crafted an experimental soundscape that eschewed the traditional orchestra in favor of electronic textures, choral chants, and bagpipes to reflect the movie's space-desert setting. Zimmer previously won an Oscar for scoring The Lion King (1994).
January 28, 2018 Bruno Mars goes six for six at the Grammys, winning every award he's nominated for, including Album Of The Year for 24K Magic and Song Of The Year for "That's What I Like" (he gets a trophy for that one because he co-wrote the song). Best New Artist goes to Alessia Cara.
December 3, 2017 LL Cool J, 49, becomes the youngest person to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, and the first rapper to do so.
August 28, 2016 At the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé wins Video of the Year for "Formation." In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, she brings four mothers of shooting victims with her onto the red carpet. By the end of the evening, Bey (along with her production designer, choreographer, director, cinematographer and editor) has eight trophies.More
November 4, 2015 Chris Stapleton has a big night at the CMA Awards, winning New Artist Of The Year, Male Vocalist Of The Year, and Album Of The Year for Traveller, his solo debut. He also mesmerizes the crowd with a performance of "Tennessee Whiskey" with Justin Timberlake that goes viral.
April 27, 2012 Bob Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded to a United States civilian citizen, from US President Barack Obama. Dylan is only the 29th musician to receive the award; previous recipients include Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Irving Berlin.
April 21, 2012 Keith Urban becomes the first Australian inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and also the first born outside of North America.
October 11, 2011 Esquire names Rihanna the Sexiest Woman Alive. She's the only musician ever to win the award, which they bestow from 2004-2015. Other winners include Minka Kelly and Halle Berry.More
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