The 2019 Grammy Awards were expected to be a buffet of queer goodness this year, and last night’s show did not disappoint.
If the Grammys are any indication, it is going to be a banner year for queer women in the entertainment industry. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis described the importance of the evening, saying, “LGBTQ women like Brandi Carlile, Janelle Monae, St. Vincent, and Lady Gaga took center stage tonight at the Grammy Awards in an unprecedented and inspiring way. This year’s out winners not only entertain the masses with their talents but also use art to educate the masses and empower queer youth everywhere. The Recording Academy is making good on their commitment to include diverse artists and tonight’s awards should be a signal to the entire music industry that audiences and critics alike celebrate LGBTQ musicians. ”
Here are the best queer moments from last night’s awards.
Brandi Carlile Wins Three Grammys
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Brandi Carlile, iconic lesbian singer-songwriter, won awards in three categories, including Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song and Best Americana Album. She used her speech to talk about coming out and finding her home after feeling like a misfit. She told Variety, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so seen in my life. These nominations have changed my whole life, they have changed my visibility and my ability to represent my community in a way I’ll never forget.”
Janelle Monae Performed Her Bisexual Anthem
Pansexual artist and beloved heartthrob Janelle Monae performed “Make Me Feel” on stage. “Make Me Feel” has long been considered something of a bisexual anthem, and at last night’s performance slightly changed the lyrics to make the song even more explicitly queer, singing “Boy, you make me feel,” and “‘Girl, you make me feel.” The performance also featured the now-famous vagina pants from Monae’s “PYNK” video.
Dua Lipa and St. Vincent’s Seductive Duet
Queer artists Dua Lipa and St. Vincent performed a dark and sultry duet onstage, with St. Vincent rocking black knee-high boots and a black leotard.
https://twitter.com/MikeAdamOnAir/status/1094812630819237889?s=20
Kacey Musgraves Wins Album Of The Year
Country star Kacey Musgraves won Album Of The Year for her album Golden Hour. Musgraves has long been a favorite of the LGBTQ community and is an outspoken queer ally. She has even been a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
GRAMMY MOMENTS: @KaceyMusgraves holds her awards for best country album, best country song, best country solo performance and album of the year at the 61st annual #GRAMMYs in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) pic.twitter.com/gTRRrnMCJp
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 11, 2019
Lady Gaga Performs “Shallow”
Who needs Bradley Cooper? Lady Gaga sang both parts of the emotional duet on stage in a gripping performance.
Watch Lady Gaga perform her Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning song 'Shallow' at the 61st #GRAMMYs: pic.twitter.com/kOG36CelDG
— Lady Gaga Facts (@LGMonsterFacts) February 11, 2019
Dolly Parton Gets Her Due
Dolly Parton may not be gay, but she has certainly been a long-time queer favorite. This year, she was recognized at the Grammys as “Person of the Year,” which meant that many different musicians paid tribute to her throughout the night. She also performed a duet with Miley Cyrus of the perennial hit “Jolene,” which even got the boys of BTS dancing in the audience.
#BTS while Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus perform #Jolene at the #GRAMMYs https://t.co/SF69o7J9dF #BTSxGrammys pic.twitter.com/mxrBuJhtf2
— Variety (@Variety) February 11, 2019
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