59th Annual Grammy Awards


The 59th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 12, 2017. The CBS network broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016.
James Corden hosted the ceremony for the first time. The pre-telecast ceremony was held on the same day prior to the main event and was hosted by comedian Margaret Cho.
The nominations were announced on December 6, 2016. Beyoncé acquired the most nominations with nine. Drake, Rihanna, and Kanye West received eight nominations each, while Chance the Rapper followed with seven nominations. Tom Elmhirst won six awards from six nominations as an engineer/mixer. Among the artists, Adele was the biggest winner of the night, receiving five trophies, including Album of the Year for 25, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for "Hello". Adele also became the first musician in history to win all three general field awards in the same ceremony twice, previously winning all three categories in 2012. David Bowie and Greg Kurstin followed with four trophies. Chance the Rapper won for Best New Artist alongside two other awards.
WWW grammy.com

Performers

Performers adapted from International Business Times.
ArtistSong
Adele"Hello"
The Weeknd
Daft Punk		"Starboy"
"I Feel It Coming"
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood		"The Fighter"
Ed Sheeran"Shape of You"
Lukas Graham
Kelsea Ballerini		"7 Years"
"Peter Pan"
Beyoncé"Love Drought"
"Sandcastles"
Bruno Mars"That's What I Like"
Katy Perry
Skip Marley		"Chained to the Rhythm"
William Bell
Gary Clark Jr.		"Born Under a Bad Sign"
Maren Morris
Alicia Keys		"Once"
AdeleTribute to George Michael
"Fastlove"
Metallica
Lady Gaga		"Moth into Flame"
Sturgill Simpson
The Dap-Kings		Tribute to Sharon Jones
"All Around You"
Demi Lovato
Tori Kelly
Little Big Town
Andra Day		Tribute to the Bee Gees
"Stayin' Alive"
"Tragedy"
"How Deep Is Your Love"
"Night Fever"
A Tribe Called Quest
Anderson.Paak
Busta Rhymes
Consequence		"Award Tour"
"Movin Backwards"
"We the People...."
The Time
Bruno Mars		Tribute to Prince
"Jungle Love"
"The Bird"
"Let's Go Crazy"
Pentatonix"[ABC (The Jackson Symphony No. 5 (Shostakovich)|5 song)|ABC]"
Chance the Rapper
Kirk Franklin
Francis and the Lights
Tamela Mann
Nicole Steen		"How Great"
"All We Got"
John Legend
Cynthia Erivo		In Memoriam
"God Only Knows"

Presenters

Source: Grammy.com

Premiere ceremony

In order of appearance:

Nominees and winners

  • Taken from the Grammys website.
  • The winners are in bold.

General

Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year"Hello"
Best New Artist

Pop

;Best Pop Solo Performance"Hello" – Adele
;Best Pop Duo/Group Performance"Stressed Out" – Twenty One Pilots
;Best Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumSummertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin – Willie NelsonCinema – Andrea BocelliFallen Angels – Bob DylanStages Live – Josh GrobanEncore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway – Barbra Streisand
;Best Pop Vocal Album25 – AdelePurpose – Justin BieberDangerous Woman – Ariana GrandeConfident – Demi LovatoThis Is Acting – Sia

Dance/Electronic

;Best Dance Recording"Don't Let Me Down" – The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
;Best Dance/Electronic AlbumSkin – FlumeElectronica 1: The Time Machine – Jean-Michel Jarre Epoch – TychoBarbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future – UnderworldLouie Vega Starring...XXVIII – Little Louie Vega

Contemporary Instrumental

;Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumCulcha Vulcha – Snarky PuppyHuman Nature – Herb AlpertWhen You Wish Upon a Star – Bill Frisell Way Back Home: Live from Rochester, NY – Steve Gadd BandUnspoken – Chuck Loeb

Rock

;Best Rock Performance"Blackstar" – David Bowie
;Best Metal Performance"Dystopia" – Megadeth
;Best Rock Song"Blackstar"
;Best Rock AlbumTell Me I'm Pretty – Cage the ElephantCalifornia – Blink-182Magma – GojiraDeath of a Bachelor – Panic! at the DiscoWeezer – Weezer

Alternative

;Best Alternative Music AlbumBlackstar – David Bowie22, A Million – Bon IverThe Hope Six Demolition Project – PJ HarveyPost Pop Depression – Iggy PopA Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead

R&B

;Best R&B Performance"Cranes in the Sky" – Solange
;Best Traditional R&B Performance"Angel" – Lalah Hathaway
;Best R&B Song"Lake by the Ocean"
;Best Urban Contemporary Album Lemonade – BeyoncéOlogy – GallantWe Are King – KINGMalibu – Anderson.PaakAnti – Rihanna
;Best R&B AlbumLalah Hathaway Live – Lalah HathawayIn My Mind – BJ the Chicago KidVelvet Portraits – Terrace MartinHealing Season – Mint ConditionSmoove Jones – Mýa

Rap

;Best Rap Performance"No Problem" – Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
;Best Rap/Sung Performance"Hotline Bling" – Drake
;Best Rap Song"Hotline Bling"
;Best Rap Album Coloring Book – Chance the Rapperand the Anonymous Nobody... – De La Soul Major Key – DJ Khaled Views – DrakeBlank Face LP – ScHoolboy QThe Life of Pablo – Kanye West

Country

;Best Country Solo Performance"My Church" – Maren Morris
;Best Country Duo/Group Performance"Jolene" – Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton
;Best Country Song"Humble and Kind"
;Best Country AlbumA Sailor's Guide to Earth – Sturgill SimpsonBig Day in a Small Town – Brandy ClarkFull Circle – Loretta Lynn Hero – Maren MorrisRipcord – Keith Urban

New Age

;Best New Age AlbumWhite Sun II – White SunOrogen – John BurkeDark Sky Island – Enya Inner Passion – Peter Kater & Tina Guo Rosetta – Vangelis

Jazz

;Best Improvised Jazz Solo"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" – John Scofield, soloist
;Best Jazz Vocal AlbumTake Me to the Alley – Gregory PorterSound of Red – René MarieUpward Spiral – Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt EllingHarlem on My Mind – Catherine RussellThe Sting Variations – The Tierney Sutton Band
;Best Jazz Instrumental AlbumCountry for Old Men – John ScofieldBook of Intuition – Kenny Barron TrioDr. Um – Peter ErskineSunday Night at the Vanguard – The Fred Hersch TrioNearness – Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau
;Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumPresidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom – Ted Nash Big BandReal Enemies – Darcy James Argue's Secret SocietyMONK'estra, Vol. 1 – John BeasleyKaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles – John DaversaAll L.A. Band – Bob Mintzer
;Best Latin Jazz AlbumTribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac – Chucho ValdésEntre Colegas – Andy GonzálezMadera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective on the Music of Woody Shaw – Brian Lynch & various artistsCanto América – Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquesta Sinfonietta30 – Trio Da Paz

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

;Best Gospel Performance/Song"God Provides" – Tamela Mann
;Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song"Thy Will" – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
;Best Gospel AlbumLosing My Religion – Kirk FranklinListen – Tim Bowman Jr.Fill This House – Shirley Caesar A Worshipper's Heart – Todd DulaneyDemonstrate – William Murphy
;Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumLove Remains – Hillary Scott & The Scott FamilyPoets & Saints – All Sons & DaughtersAmerican Prodigal – Crowder Be One – Natalie GrantYouth Revival|Youth Revival – Hillsong Young & Free
;Best Roots Gospel AlbumHymns That Are Important to Us – Joey + RoryBetter Together – Gaither Vocal BandNature's Symphony in 432 – The Isaacs Hymns and Songs of Inspiration – Gordon MoteGod Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson – ; Jeffrey Gaskill, producer

Latin

;Best Latin Pop AlbumUn Besito Más – Jesse & JoyIlusión – Gaby MorenoSimilares – Laura PausiniSeguir Latiendo – SanalejoBuena Vida – Diego Torres
;Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative AlbumiLevitable – ileL.H.O.N. (La Humanidad o Nosotros) – Illya Kuryaki and the ValderramasBuenaventura – La Santa CeciliaLos Rakas – Los RakasAmor Supremo – Carla Morrison
;Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)Un Azteca en el Azteca, Vol. 1 – Vicente FernándezRaíces – Banda El Recodo de Cruz LizárragaHecho a Mano – Joss FavelaGeneración Maquinaria Est. 2006 – La Maquinaria NorteñaTributo a Joan Sebastian y Rigoberto Alfaro – Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea
;Best Tropical Latin AlbumDonde Están? – Jose Lugo & Guasábara ComboConexión – FonsecaLa Fantasia Homenaje a Juan Formell – Formell y Los Van Van35 Aniversario – Grupo NicheLa Sonora Santanera en Su 60 Aniversario – Sonora Santanera

American Roots

;Best American Roots Performance"House of Mercy" – Sarah Jarosz
;Best American Roots Song"Kid Sister"
;Best Americana AlbumThis Is Where I Live – William BellTrue Sadness – The Avett BrothersThe Cedar Creek Sessions – Kris KristoffersonThe Bird and the Rifle – Lori McKennaKid Sister – The Time Jumpers
;Best Bluegrass AlbumComing Home – O'Connor Band with Mark O'ConnorOriginal Traditional – Blue HighwayBurden Bearer – Doyle Lawson & QuicksilverThe Hazel and Alice Sessions – Laurie Lewis & The Right HandsNorth by South – Claire Lynch
;Best Traditional Blues AlbumPorcupine Meat – Bobby RushCan't Shake the Feeling – Lurrie BellLive at the Greek Theatre – Joe Bonamassa Blues & Ballads – Luther DickinsonThe Soul of Jimmie Rodgers – Vasti Jackson
;Best Contemporary Blues AlbumThe Last Days of Oakland – Fantastic NegritoLove Wins Again – Janiva Magness Bloodline – Kenny NealGive It Back to You – The Record CompanyEverybody Wants a Piece – Joe Louis Walker
;Best Folk AlbumUndercurrent – Sarah JaroszSilver Skies Blue – Judy Collins & Ari HestUpland Stories – Robbie Fulks Factory Girl – Rhiannon GiddensWeighted Mind – Sierra Hull
;Best Regional Music AlbumE Walea – Kalani Pe'aBroken Promised Land – Barry Jean Ancelet & Sam BroussardIt's a Cree Thing – Northern CreeGulfstream – Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-StarsI Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country – ; Joshua Caffery & Joel Savoy, producers

Reggae

;Best Reggae AlbumZiggy Marley – Ziggy MarleySly & Robbie Presents... Reggae For Her – Devin Di Dakta & J.LRose Petals – J BoogEverlasting – Raging FyahFalling Into Place – RebelutionSOJA: Live in Virginia – SOJA

World Music

;Best World Music AlbumSing Me Home – Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road EnsembleDestiny – Celtic WomanWalking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers – Ladysmith Black MambazoLand of Gold – Anoushka ShankarDois Amigos, Um Século de Música: Multishow Live – Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil

Children's

;Best Children's AlbumInfinity Plus One – Secret Agent 23 SkidooExplorer of the World – Frances EnglandNovelties – Recess MonkeyPress Play – Brady Rymer And The Little Band That CouldSaddle Up – The Okee Dokee Brothers

Spoken Word

;Best Spoken Word Album In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox – Carol BurnettThe Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo – Amy SchumerM Train – Patti SmithUnder The Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk – Various ArtistsUnfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink – Elvis Costello

Comedy

;Best Comedy AlbumTalking for Clapping – Patton Oswalt...America...Great... – David CrossAmerican Myth – Margaret ChoBoyish Girl Interrupted – Tig NotaroLive at the Apollo – Amy Schumer

Musical Theatre

; Best Musical Theater AlbumThe Color Purple – Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson, principal soloists; Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Joan Raffe, Scott Sanders & Jhett Tolentino, producers;

Music for Visual Media

;Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaMiles Ahead –
;Best Score Soundtrack for Visual MediaStar Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams, composerBridge of Spies – Thomas Newman, composerThe Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone, composerThe Revenant – Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composersStranger Things, Vol. 1 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composersStranger Things, Vol. 2 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
; Best Song Written for Visual Media

Composing

;Best Instrumental Composition"Spoken at Midnight"
  • * Ted Nash, composer
  • "Bridge of Spies (End Title)"
  • * Thomas Newman, composer
  • "The Expensive Train Set "
  • * Tim Davies, composer
  • "Flow"
  • * Alan Ferber, composer
  • "L'Ultima Diligenza Di Red Rock – Verisione Integrale"
  • * Ennio Morricone, composer

Arranging

;Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"You and I"
;Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals"Flintstones"

Packaging

;Best Recording PackageBlackstar
;Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition PackageÉdith Piaf 1915–2015

Historical

;Best Historical AlbumThe Cutting Edge 1965–1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 12
  • * Steve Berkowitz & Jeff Rosen, compilation producers; Mark Wilder, mastering engineer Music of Morocco from the Library of Congress: Recorded By Paul Bowles, 1959
  • * April G. Ledbetter, Steven Lance Ledbetter, Bill Nowlin & Philip D. Schuyler, compilation producers; Rick Fisher & Michael Graves, mastering engineers Ork Records: New York, New York
  • * Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers Vladimir Horowitz: The Unreleased Live Recordings 1966–1983
  • * Bernard Horowitz, Andreas K. Meyer & Robert Russ, compilation producers; Andreas K. Meyer & Jeanne Montalvo, mastering engineers Waxing The Gospel: Mass Evangelism & the Phonograph, 1890–1990
  • * Michael Devecka, Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin, compilation producers; Michael Devecka, David Giovannoni, Michael Khanchalian & Richard Martin, mastering engineers

Engineered Album

;Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalBlackstar
Best Engineered Album, ClassicalThe Ghosts of Versailles
  • * Mark Donahue, Fred Vogler & David L Williams, engineers Dutilleux: Sur le même accord; Les Citations; Mystère de l'instant & Timbres, espace, mouvement
  • * Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, engineers Reflections
  • * Morten Lindberg, engineer Shadow of Sirius
  • * Silas Brown & David Frost, engineers; Silas BrownShostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow – Symphonies Nos. 5, [Symphony No. Symphony No. 8 (Shostakovich)|8 (Shostakovich)|8] & [Symphony No. Symphony No. 9 (Shostakovich)|9 (Shostakovich)|9]
  • * Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer

Producer

;Producer of the Year, Non-ClassicalGreg Kurstin
Producer of the Year, ClassicalDavid Frost

Remixer

;Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical"Tearing Me Up"

Surround Sound

Best Surround Sound AlbumDutilleux: Sur le même accord; Les Citations; Mystère de l'instant & Timbres, espace, mouvement
  • * Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, surround mix engineers; Dmitriy Lipay, surround mastering engineer; Dmitriy Lipay, surround producer Johnson: Considering Matthew Shephard
  • * Brad Michel, surround mix engineer; Brad Michel, surround mastering engineer; Robina G. Young, surround producer Maja S.K. Ratkje: And Sing...
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Primus & The Chocolate Factory
  • * Les Claypool, surround mix engineer; Stephen Marcussen, surround mastering engineer; Les Claypool, surround producer Reflections
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer

Classical

Best Orchestral PerformanceShostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow – Symphonies Nos. 5, 8 & 9
;Best Opera RecordingCorigliano: The Ghosts of Versailles
;Best Choral PerformancePenderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1
;Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble PerformanceThird Coast Percussion
Best Classical Instrumental SoloDaugherty: Tales of Hemingway
  • * Zuill Bailey; Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor Adams, J.: Scheherazade.2
  • * Leila Josefowicz; David Robertson, conductor Dvorák: Violin Concerto & Romance; Suk: Fantasy
  • * Christian Tetzlaff; John Storgårds, conductor Mozart: Keyboard Music, Vols. 8 & 9
  • * Kristian Bezuidenhout1930's Violin Concertos, Vol. 2
  • * Gil Shaham; Stéphane Denève, conductor
Best Classical Solo Vocal AlbumSchumann & Berg
Best Classical CompendiumDaugherty: Tales of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon a Castle
Best Contemporary Classical CompositionDaugherty: Tales of Hemingway

Music Video/Film

;Best Music Video"Formation" – Beyoncé
;Best Music FilmThe Beatles: Eight Days a Week The Touring Years –

Special Merit Awards

[MusiCares Person of the Year]

Lifetime Achievement Award">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award">Lifetime Achievement Award

Trustees Award">Grammy Trustees Award">Trustees Award

[Technical Grammy Award]

Music Educator Award

  • Keith Hancock

Grammy Hall of Fame inductions

TitleArtistRecord labelYear of releaseGenreFormat
"ABC"The Jackson 5Motown1970R&BSingle
"Changes"David BowieRCA1971Art popSingle
"City of New Orleans"Arlo GuthrieReprise Records1972FolkSingle
"(Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin' Jive"Cab Calloway and His OrchestraVocalion1939SwingSingle
"I Can't Make You Love Me"Bonnie RaittCapitol1991PopSingle
"I Get Around"The Beach BoysCapitol1964California SoundSingle
"I Got You Babe"Sonny & CherAtco1965PopSingle
"Jailhouse Rock"Elvis PresleyRCA1957Rock and rollSingle
Lady Sings the BluesBillie HolidayClef1956JazzAlbum
"Losing My Religion"R.E.M.Warner Bros.1991Alternative rockSingle
"Maggie May"Rod StewartMercury1971RockSingle
"Mission: Impossible"Lalo SchifrinDot1967Theme musicSingle
Okie from MuskogeeMerle HaggardCapitol1969CountryAlbum
Sign o' the TimesPrincePaisley Park and Warner Bros.1987R&BAlbum
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"NirvanaDGC1991GrungeSingle
"Smoke on the Water"Deep PurpleWarner Bros.1973Hard RockSingle
"Stack O' Lee Blues"Mississippi John HurtOkeh1928BluesSingle
"Statesboro Blues"Blind Willie McTellVictor1928BluesSingle
Straight Outta ComptonN.W.ARuthless and Priority1988Gangsta rapAlbum
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"Sly & The Family StoneEpic1969FunkSingle
"Wake Up Little Susie"The Everly BrothersCadence1957CountrySingle
"The Wanderer"DionLaurie1961R&BSingle
"When the Saints Go Marching In"Louis Armstrong and His OrchestraDecca1938JazzSingle
"You Always Hurt the One You Love"Mills BrothersDecca1944Pop standardSingle
"You Don't Own Me"Lesley GoreMercury1963PopSingle

In Memoriam

Prior to the "In Memoriam" segment, Pentatonix paid tribute to Al Jarreau who died on the same day as the ceremony. The following people appeared in the In Memoriam segment:

Multiple nominations and awards

The following received multiple nominations:
Nine:
Eight:
Seven:
Six:
Five:
Four:
Three:
Two:
The following received multiple awards:
Six:
Five:
Four:
Three:
Two:

Changes

In June 2016, the Grammy organization announced a few minor changes to the voting and awarding process.
As of 2017, recordings released solely through streaming services will be eligible to enter the award process. These recordings will have to be available through streaming platforms. Applicable streaming services are paid subscription, full catalog, on-demand streaming/limited download platforms that have existed as such within the United States for at least one full year as of the submission deadline. All recordings entered must have an assigned International Standard Recording Code.

[Best New Artist] guidelines

Existing Best New Artist rules were amended to remove the album barrier given current trends in how new music and developing artists are released and promoted. Currently many new artists first release singles, tracks, or EPs rather than full albums. To become eligible in the category of Best New Artist, the artist, duo, or group:
  • Must have released a minimum of five singles/tracks or one album, but no more than 30 singles/tracks or three albums.
  • May not have entered the category more than three times, including as a performing member of an established group.
  • Must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the eligibility period.

Blues categories

The Best Blues Album category will branch into two distinct categories:
It means a return to the situation prior to 2012, the year the categories were merged in a major overhaul.

[Best Rap/Sung Collaboration] category renamed

The Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category will be renamed as Best Rap/Sung Performance, to allow solo performances, a result of "the current state and future trajectory of rap by expanding the category beyond collaborations between rappers and vocalists to include recordings by a solo artist who blurs the lines between rapping and singing."
Additional amendments were made to the number and type of music creators recognized in the categories of Best Choral Performance and Best Jazz Vocal Album.