Grammy glory

UNITY: MICHELLE OBAMA ADDS POLITICAL SLANT Superstars Ariana Grande and Cardi B win their first awards.

South Africa again trumped the World Music category at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

This year, the Soweto Gospel Choir took home the award for Best World Music Album for Freedom.

In previous years, Wouter Kellerman has been a mainstay in the category, winning in 2014 and being nominated in 2015 and 2017.

This was the Soweto Gospel Choir’s fifth nomination in this category and the group have won it twice before.

Receiving the award on behalf of the choir were album producer Diniloxolo Ndlakuse, Shimmy Jiyane, Mary Mulovhedzi and Mulalo Mulovhedzi, whose late father David Mulovhedzi co-founded the group with Beverly Bryer 17 years ago.

The Grammy award-winning album Freedom was recorded last June as part of the group’s tribute to the 100 Years of Mandela celebrations.

The 2019 awards also started with a somewhat political stance when former American first lady Michelle Obama joined host Alicia Keys, as well as Jada Pinkett Smith, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, to share a message of unity.

“From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side, to the Who Run the World songs that fuelled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story,” Obama said.

“I know that’s true for everybody here.

“Whether we like country, rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves – our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in.

This year, the Grammys included a few surprises, including Drake accepting an award (he’s notoriously shy) as well as country music star Kelly Musgraves walking away with the Grammy for Album of the Year, Country Album of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Country Performance.

Cardi B also became the first solo female rapper to win Rap Album of the Year with her debut album Invasion of Privacy.

Childish Gambino and Lady Gaga were also big winners on the evening.

Gambino’s This Is America won awards for song and record of the year.

Gambino was, however, absent from the awards, as was Best Pop Vocal Album winner Ariana Grande who snubbed them.

She decided to not attend when Grammys producers dictated which song she was allowed to perform during the telecast.

On the red carpet, structured gowns made the biggest impact, with Katy Perry, Cardi B, Lady Gaga and Heidi Klum joining a list of guests wearing outfits in unique silhouettes. –

Picture: Getty Images/AFP Members of the Soweto Gospel Choir, winners of Best World Music Album for Freedom, accept their award on Sunday during the 61st annual Grammy Awards at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, Califonia.

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