Grammys 2020: Billie Eilish wins big; Brian Lynch sole Wisconsin winner
Singer Billie Eilish made history at the Grammy Awards Sunday. Not only did the 18-year-old become the youngest person to win one of Grammy’s top awards — record, song and album of the year, and best new artist — she is the first artist to sweep all four since Christopher Cross in 1981.
A couple of Eilish’s big wins came at the expense of Eau Claire-based Bon Iver, which lost to Eilish for album and record of the year. Bon Iver, led by Justin Vernon, also was edged out in the other two categories the band was nominated in: best alternative music album (losing to Vampire Weekend) and best recording package (losing to Chris Cornell’s self-titled posthumous album).
Bon Iver was one of several Wisconsin-born or -based artists to walk away empty-handed Sunday. But there was one winner.
Milwaukee-born jazz composer and trumpet player Brian Lynch bagged his second Grammy; the Brian Lynch Big Band took home the award for best large jazz ensemble album for “The Omni-American Book Club.”
Milwaukee-born producer Bizness Boi was also competing for album of the year, for his contribution to Lil Nas X’s “7.” Born Andre Robertson, Bizness Boi also did production work for “Revenge of the Dreamers III”; it was nominated for best rap album, losing to Tyler, The Creator’s “Igor.”
Nicolet High School alum Tierney Sutton was vying for her first Grammy from her ninth nomination over her career. She lost, for best jazz vocal album, to Esperanza Spalding.
Milwaukee-born pianist Dan Nimmer was nominated with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for best Latin jazz album, losing Sunday to Chick Corea & the Spanish Heart Band.
Milwaukee native Danny Gokey lost in the best contemporary Christian music album and best contemporary Christian music performance/song categories to For King & Country.
Thomas Rhett’s “Center Point Road” album, featuring a songwriting credit for Greenfield native Joe London, lost to Tanya Tucker’s “While I’m Livin’ ” for best country album. And Jim Gaffigan, whose Milwaukee-born wife Jeannie is his writing partner, lost for best comedy album to Dave Chapelle.
The night’s winners included Lizzo, who took home three Grammys including best pop solo performance for “Truth Hurts”; and Gary Clark Jr., who also won three, including best rock song and rock performance for “This Land.”