Britain’s Dua Lipa, 23, is named best new star as women rule the roost at Grammys
FROM London to LA... rising British star Dua Lipa was named Best New Artist at the Grammys on Sunday night in a ceremony dominated by female artists. London-born Lipa, who also won Best Dance Track for her hit Electricity, took a swipe at Grammys organiser Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, while accepting the gong on one of the biggest nights of the year for the music industry. Last year Portnow responded to criticism for a lack of female nominees, by suggesting women should “step up”. Addressing the star-studded audience at the Staples Center in
Los Angeles the 23-year-old singer said: “I’m honoured to be nominated alongside so many incredible female artists this year. I guess this year we’ve really stepped up.” Speaking on the red carpet earlier in the night, Lipa, whose parents are Albanian, said: “I can’t believe I’m standing here right now. I feel like for most of it I’ve been strapped to a rocket. I’ve really been learning to take a step back and try and be present in everything, because of all these milestones that have been happening. I really need to take them in and appreciate it.”
The prestigious event was hosted by singer-songwriter Alicia Keys who opened the show with a display of girl power, introducing Lady Gaga, Hollywood star Jennifer Lopez, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and former US First Lady Michelle Obama on stage.
Rocker
And at 73 and 26, Dolly Parton and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus certainly spanned the generations with a show-stopping duet of Parton’s hit Jolene.
Other female winners included Lady Gaga who walked away with an armful of awards for Best Pop Solo Performance for Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?), Best Song written for Visual Media for Shallow from the film A Star Is Born, which stars Gaga as an emerging pop star and
actor Bradley Cooper as an ageing rocker. The pair also won Best Pop Duo/Group performance for the same song.
Accepting the prize on stage, Gaga paid tribute to Cooper, who could not attend as he was in London for the Bafta film awards ceremony earlier in the evening.
She said: “I wish Bradley was here with me right now. Bradley, I loved singing this song with you. If I don’t get another chance to say this, I just want to say I’m so proud to be a part of a movie that addressed mental health issues – they’re so important.”
Country star Kacey Musgraves took home the Album of the Year for Golden Hour. She also secured three other wins: Best Country Album, Best Country Song for Space Cowboy and Best Country Solo performance for Butterflies.
Cardi B won Best Rap Album for Invasion of Privacy – the first female solo artist to win the award.