By: Hasini Vijay Inbasri

Canadian icon Joni Mitchell accepts the Best Folk Album award for Joni Mitchell At Newport [Live] with American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile onstage during the Grammy Awards on Sunday evening, where she’ll perform for the first time. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

The 66th Grammy Awards kicked off Sunday evening with an early win for Miley Cyrus and performances by Joni Mitchell and Billie Eilish.

Among the many highlights of the night was the crowning of two new music royalty: Joni Mitchell and Miley Cyrus. Canadian folk icon Joni Mitchell was the big winner of the night, taking home the coveted Best Folk Album award for her live album “Joni Mitchell At Newport [Live].” It was a fitting tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter, who also made her first-ever Grammy performance on the night. Mitchell was joined on stage by American singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, who presented her with the award. Mitchell was emotional as she took to the stage, thanking her fans for their support. 

But Mitchell wasn’t the only queen of the night. Pop sensation Miley Cyrus also had a triumphant evening, taking home two awards for the Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her latest release in 2023, “Flowers”. Cyrus, who has reinvented herself as a rock star recently, was ecstatic as she accepted the award. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her fans for their support and dedicated the award to her late grandfather, who she said had inspired her to pursue music from a young age.

The Grammy Awards are always a night to remember, but this year’s ceremony will go down in history as a particularly special one. With Joni Mitchell and Miley Cyrus both claiming their crowns, the future of music looks brighter than ever.

Works Cited

CBC/Radio Canada. (2024, February 5). The 2024 Grammys: Taylor Swift announces new album, SZA and Miley Cyrus win | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/grammy-awards-2024-1.7104707