Beyoncé now Grammy queen; Bublé, Drake lead Canadians

— Beyoncé made music history and Canadian singer Michael Bublé made it back to the podium at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

Beyoncé was a constant presence throughout the night, even when she wasn’t in the room, especially once she won her 32nd award and surpassed late conductor Georg Solti in all-time Grammy wins.

“I’m trying not to be too emotional,” the superstar said after her historic win as her husband Jay-Z stood and applauded her. The singer thanked her late uncle, her parents, Jay-Z and her children for supporting her. “I’m just trying to receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.”

She added four trophies to her collection for her album Renaissance.

Canadian pop favourites Bublé and Drake each have a shiny new Grammy on their shelves, while singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. has two, thanks in part to Harry Styles.

One of them came as Styles’s Harry’s House won album of the year.

Styles beat out Beyoncé’s Renaissance, a favourite in the category, after she had smashed the record for the most-decorated artist earlier in the night.

His victory proved to be one for Jesso Jr. too, giving the North Vancouver native his second Grammy for co-writing the album’s track Boyfriends.

Already, Jesso Jr. had won the inaugural songwriter of the year, non-classical award, recognizing creators who penned some of the year’s standout pop tunes.

He took the opportunity of his first Grammy to celebrate the introduction of the new songwriting award.

“I think this is a big win for everyone — this is not just for me, this is for them,” he told the audience at the pre-broadcast ceremony where most Grammys are handed out.

Drake won best melodic rap performance for his appearance on Future’s Wait for U, while Vancouver crooner Bublé’s Higher was named best traditional pop vocal album.

Neither of them attended, in Bublé’s case because he was on tour overseas.

“I honestly feel this is the best album I’ve ever made, making the recognition from the Academy members that much more meaningful,” he tweeted after the fifth win of his lifetime.

Other big Canadian winners included Montreal conductor and pianist Yannick NézetSéguin who added two Grammys to his collection.

Nézet-Séguin took home best opera recording for Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones, and best classical solo vocal album for Voice Of Nature — The Anthropocene.

Two Canadians were part of the team that pocketed a best jazz instrumental album Grammy for New Standards Vol. 1.

Matthew Stevens, a Torontoborn guitarist and co-producer on the project, shared the win with jazz pianist and composer Kris Davis, who was born in Vancouver and grew up in Calgary.

Davis, a first-time winner, called the accomplishment “surreal” personally, but also “monumental” for the project, which is an effort by the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, where she teaches.

She said the goal of New Standards was to “give space to women composers and performers through the book and album.”

“It’s very meaningful for women at this moment,” Davis added.

Styles was emotional accepting his album of the year award, saying he was inspired by everyone in the category. “A lot of different times of my life, I’ve listened to everyone in these categories. It’s so important to remember that there is no such thing as best.”

Beyoncé won for best R&B song for Cuff It, dance-electric music recording for Break My Soul, traditional R&B performance for Plastic Off the Sofa and dance-electric album for Renaissance, which was nominated for album of the year.

Lizzo won record of the year for About Damn Time, delivering a rousing speech that brought many in the audience, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Adele, to their feet.

“Me and Adele were having a good time, rooting for our friends. This is an amazing night. This is so unexpected,” Lizzo said, dedicating her award to Prince.

Jazz singer Samara Joy won best new artist, shrugging off challenges by such acts as Wet Leg, Anitta and Maneskin. The New Yorker was virtually in tears when she collected the award and noted that her little brother was her date. “I’m so, so grateful. Thank you.” She has released two albums as a lead artist and also won the Grammy for best jazz vocal album earlier in the night.

Veteran singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt shrugged off bigname rivals like Adele, Swift and Beyoncé to win the song of the year award. “I’m so surprised. I don’t know what to say,” a visibly stunned Raitt said, adding that the song Just Like That explores organ donation. It capped a night when Raitt won two other Grammys — for best Americana performance and best American roots song.