It’s been 25 years since an album by a Black girl gained the album of the yr Grammy Award. The yr was 1999 and Lauryn Hill’s heroic and creative solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, took dwelling the coveted prize. The win additionally marked the primary time a rap-based challenge gained the Grammys’ highest honor.
Hill joined an elite membership of Black ladies to win the award: Natalie Cole was the primary to take action in 1992 with Unforgettable… with Love, an album wherein she lined requirements carried out by her father Nat King Cole; the album gained 5 Grammys together with report of the yr for “Unforgettable,” a duet with dad created after his dying by fashionable digital expertise. Two years later, Whitney Houston gained album of the yr with The Bodyguard soundtrack, led by the worldwide hit “I Will At all times Love You,” additionally named report of the yr. Hill earned 5 Grammys on the night time she turned simply the third Black girl to win album of the yr. And all the wins by Black ladies occurred within the ‘90s.
All of the Black ladies who’ve launched albums nominated for album of the yr on the Grammy Awards
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Because the Grammys launched in 1959, solely 37 albums by 25 Black ladies have earned nominations for album of the yr. 4 Beyoncé albums have been nominated for the highest prize — a report for Black ladies — whereas Houston, Mariah Carey and H.E.R. have competed 3 times. And different prolific Black ladies, from Tina Turner, Donna Summer season and Roberta Flack to Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott and Rihanna, have earned album of the yr nominations with out profitable.
That might make a win for SZA’s SOS all of the extra particular, regardless that historical past has proven that Black artists — particularly these performing R&B and rap music — have a small probability of profitable prime awards on the Grammys. If Beyoncé can’t do it, who can?
SZA and SOS are robust contenders. The album is each a industrial and significant success that has had a historic run on the charts. It’s reached triple platinum standing with greater than 11 billion streams; it spent 10 weeks on prime of the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, marking the longest-running No. 1 album launched by a lady in practically seven years; on the R&B albums chart, it has spent 56 out of 59 weeks at No. 1; and the album launched 5 Prime 10 pop hits, together with the No. 1 smash “Kill Invoice” in addition to “Snooze,” the one track to spend each week on the Sizzling 100 chart final yr. The track continues to be awake: On this week’s chart, the groove sits comfortably at No. 9.
SZA additionally carried out the album on an explosive tour that I needed to attend twice as a result of it was that good. She has equally as many male followers as she does feminine; like her 2017 debut Ctrl, she continues to be the voice of this era, spitting out lyrics which might be relatable and wild and gritty and introspective. It’s clear she had THE album of the yr, and her 9 Grammy nominations — making her the highest contender — solely drives the purpose dwelling.
However Sunday is not going to go down with no combat. Album of the yr contenders embrace Taylor Swift, who might make historical past by profitable the dignity for a fourth time; Jon Batiste, a Grammy favourite who gained the highest award two years in the past; Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey might win their first-ever Grammys; Olivia Rodrigo hit the phrase “sophomore stoop” within the guts, actually, along with her masterful second album; boygenius proceed to be indie darlings; and like SZA, Janelle Monáe might make historical past for Black ladies if she wins.
Sarcastically, the primary girl to be nominated for album of the yr on the inaugural Grammys in 1959? A Black girl. It was Ella Fitzgerald with Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook. She misplaced to Henry Mancini’s The Music from Peter Gunn.
And there’s an opportunity SZA might additionally lose on Sunday. However everyone knows that profitable on the Grammys will not be equal to profitable at life. Simply ask Beyoncé.
A listing of all of the albums by Black ladies which have competed for album of the yr on the Grammy Awards.
1959: Ella Fiztgerlad, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook (winner: Henry Mancini, The Music from Peter Gunn)
1974: Roberta Flack, Killing Me Softly With His Music (winner: Stevie Marvel, Innervisions)
1980: Donna Summer season, Dangerous Ladies (winner: Billy Joel, 52nd Avenue)
1985: Tina Turner, Non-public Dancer (winner: Lionel Richie, Can’t Sluggish Down)
1986: Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston (winner: Phil Collins, No Jacket Required)
1987: Janet Jackson, Management (winner: Paul Simon, Graceland)
1988: Whitney Houston, Whitney (winner: U2, The Joshua Tree)
1989: Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (winner: George Michael, Religion)
1991: Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey (winner: Quincy Jones, Again on the Block)
1992: Natalie Cole, Unforgettable… with Love [winner]
1994: Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard soundtrack [winner]
1996: Mariah Carey, Daydream (winner: Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Capsule)
1997: Fuguees (Lauryn Hill), The Rating (winner: Celine Dion, Falling into You)
1999: Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill [winner]
2000: TLC, Fanmail (winner: Santana, Supernatural)
2002: India.Arie, Acoustic Soul (winner: Varied artists, Brother, The place Artwork Thou? soundtrack)
2004: Missy Elliott, Beneath Development (winner: OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Under)
2005: Alicia Keys, The Diary of Alicia Keys (winner: Ray Charles, Genius Loves Firm)
2006: Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi (winner: U2, Learn how to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
2010: Beyoncé, I Am … Sasha Fierce (winner: Taylor Swift, Fearless)
2012: Rihanna, Loud (winner: Adele, 21)
2015: Beyoncé, Beyoncé (winner: Beck, Morning Section)
2016: Alabama Shakes (Brittany Howard), Sound & Shade (winner: Taylor Swift, 1989)
2017: Beyoncé, Lemonade (winner: Adele, 25)
2019: Janelle Monáe, Soiled Laptop (winner: Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour)
2019: H.E.R., H.E.R.
2019: Cardi B, Invasion of Privateness
2020: Lizzo, Cuz I Love You [Deluxe] (winner: Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, The place Do We Go?)
2020: H.E.R., I Used to Know Her
2021: Jhené Aiko, Chilombo (winner: Taylor Swift, Folklore)
2022: Doja Cat, Planet Her [Deluxe] (winner: Jon Batiste, We Are)
2022: H.E.R., Again of My Thoughts
2023: Beyoncé, Renaissance (winner: Harry Types, Harry’s Home)
2023: Mary J. Blige, Good Morning Attractive (Deluxe)
2023: Lizzo, Particular
2024: SZA, SOS
2024: Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure