What You Didn't See On TV At The 2021 Grammys
Another day, another award show that's taken place during the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 Grammy Awards, which were moved from January to March amid COVID concerns, took place in multiple venues across the country and featured a mix of in-person and virtual festivities.
But even besides the date change and the ongoing pandemic, the Grammys were mired in controversy. The Weeknd has vowed to boycott future Grammys shows, per The New York Times, after his 2020 album, After Hours, got snubbed. "Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys," The Weeknd said to NYT in March 2021. The singer was referring to what the newspaper called "anonymous expert committees," aka the people who decide the Grammy nominees.
Even without The Weeknd's support, though, the 63rd Grammy Awards were still a night to remember. Here are some of the things you didn't see on CBS.
Blue Ivy Carter's Grammy win was a family affair
At just 9 years old, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter is the second-youngest person to win a Grammy Award, per Entertainment Weekly. Blue Ivy Carter's Grammy win is for Beyoncé's music video for "Brown Skin Girl," which won the Best Music Video category at the March 2021 award show. As BuzzFeed noted, this is Beyoncé's 25th Grammy win — but it's the first for her daughter.
Beyoncé's win was announced before the official Grammy Awards broadcast started on CBS, and the Carter-Knowles family wasted no time celebrating. Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, shared an Instagram post honoring Blue Ivy's role in the music video. "Congratulations to my beautiful talented, grandaughter for being one of The youngest Grammy winners! For 'Brown Skin Girl' You go my Blue Blue!!! Soo proud of you!!!," Lawson wrote in her caption. There's clearly a lot of talent in this family, and plenty of love to go around, too.
DaBaby created his own red carpet
To slow any potential spread of the virus, no children were in attendance at the in-person Grammys events. But that wasn't a problem for DaBaby — the rapper made a "red carpet" at his house so that he and his daughter could walk it together, per Entertainment Tonight. Aw!
Even though they were only at home, the six-time Grammy nominee, his mom, and his daughter got dressed to the nines for their "red carpet" affair. In a photo DaBaby shared on Instagram, his daughter Princess Renny is sporting a yellow, princess-style dress, while he rocks a patterned suit and a teal fedora. "Due to Covid-19 Restrictions no kids are allowed in the Grammys, so we created our OWN red carpet just so my princess could walk the carpet & show her dress off," DaBaby wrote in his Instagram caption. "A hand-made dress that @alanitaylorco flew in from New York THIS MORNING to make."
The designer, Alani Taylor, also shared more about the experience in an Instagram post, explaining that she flew to DaBaby's house at the last minute to make the dress in time for the at-home red carpet — and it was an experience she'll never forget. "When I tell y'all @dababy is one of the sweetest, most genuine men I've met in the Industry so far. He loves his daughter more than life itself," Taylor wrote. It may have been celebrated at home, but this is one award show DaBaby and his family will treasure forever.
Lizzo and Harry Styles reunited and celebrated his Grammys win
Harry Styles' and Lizzo's friendship is one for the ages. The singers performed Lizzo's "Juice" together in Miami in January 2020, and they're clearly big fans of each other's work. Styles first covered "Juice" in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, Billboard noted, and Lizzo later covered Styles' "Adore You" for the same radio program. Safe to say, these two are thick as thieves.
It's only natural, then, that the two singers would meet up at the 2021 Grammy Awards. After opening the show with a performance of "Watermelon Sugar," Styles took home the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for the song. And Lizzo was right there to celebrate his victory.
Sharing a photo of the two of them embracing behind the scenes, Lizzo wrote in an Instagram post, "HARRY WON A GRAMMY !!!! @harrystyles." And really, that news was worth four exclamation points. Lizzo even shared a second photo of her sharing Styles' already-iconic feather boa, too. They're definitely friendship goals!
BTS fans had the 'Scammys' trending on Twitter
If there's one thing Twitter users know, it's that you don't mess with K-pop stans. And when the band lost at the 2021 Grammys, fans were quick to take action. BTS was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, but Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande took home the award. To express their displeasure, BTS fans started using the hashtag #Scammys, Page Six reported. You have to admit, fans are clever!
"Bts doesn't need the grammys but the grammys need bts," one fan tweeted. "Bts lost to rain on me FREAKING RAIN ON ME #scammys," another person wrote. "The category was best pop duo/group PERFORMANCE. bts performed dynamite THIRTY THREE times completely differently...and there's only one rain on me performance in existence," another fan tweeted.
BTS fans call themselves an Army for a reason, and it's no surprise they were active online the night of the Grammys. BTS didn't take home the award this time, but the fans will continue to stan.
Celebrities took home inclusive gift bags
It's award show tradition that performers and presenters go home with serious swag, though you won't see it on screen. This year's Grammy Awards gift bags took a different approach, though, with what The Hollywood Reporter called the Grammys' "most inclusive and diverse gift bags to-date."
This year's swag bags featured a number of gifts from brands that are BIPOC-owned and/or that have made major philanthropic strides, per THR. One such gift is a Bonfire T-shirt and tote bag that the company created with Grammys host Trevor Noah's charitable foundation, the Trevor Noah Foundation, which helps kids in South Africa. There are also products from companies run by people with disabilities, such as Hotsy Totsy Haus' bath products; the luxe line was founded by Christi Leonardi, who is deaf. Oh, and there are 3D-printed sneakers made from recycled water bottles — we'd love to see what those are like. All in, the gift bags were worth a reported $30,000, per PureWow.
Oh, and if you're curious, the swag bags won't be distributed via drive-thru, like they were for the 2021 Golden Globes. Instead, they were simply mailed to the stars.