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Arturo O'Farrill performs during the 65th GRAMMY Awards GRAMMY Celebration

Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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Here's What It's Like To Attend The 2023 Official GRAMMYs Celebration Afterparty

The party didn't stop after Sunday night's main awards ceremony — get an inside look at the official afterparty of Music's Biggest Night.

GRAMMYs/Feb 9, 2023 - 04:49 pm

Even after watching winners take home their golden gramophones at the 65th GRAMMY Awards, the celebration of music continued late into the night.

GRAMMY winners, nominees, celebrities, and industry executives flooded the Los Angeles Convention Center immediately after the main ceremony. Following an exquisite tropical theme, the massive space was beautifully filled with everything from floral to avian décor.

People hit the dancefloor as everyone from headliner Flo Rida to DJ Michelle Pesce took the main stage. Others wandered around for various drinks and food, tasting Chef Jason Fullilove's assorted menu celebrating global destinations like Havana, Jalisco, Jamaica, and Miami.

Here are some photo highlights from the after party celebrating Music's Biggest Night.

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty 2023 dancers

Fantastical and eccentric, performers in frilly, extravagant phoenix costumes circled the venue throughout the night, alongside a decorative aviary, nest, and pond. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty 2023 flo rida performance

In the main room, former GRAMMY nominee Flo Rida pumped up the party with performances of his hits like "Low" and "My House," joined on stage by Flavor Flav, Oya Baby and other big names. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective

Vibrant sounds and dancing from Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective filled the GRAMMY Celebration Jazz Lounge late into the whimsical evening. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty ACL Jacob

Along with thousands of other party goers, ACL Jacob was ready to dance the night away at the exclusive GRAMMY Celebration.(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty flo rida performance 2

An easy highlight of the night, Flo Rida's headlining performance thrilled the crowd, a swarm of raised glasses, outstretched hands and phone flashlights. (Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty flavor flav

Flavor Flav later joined Flo Rida on stage, turning up the energy even higher in his electric blue outfit. (Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty 2023 Oya Baby

Never hesitating to hype up the crowd or show off her dance moves, Oya Baby exhilarated her massive audience alongside Flo Rida and Flavor Flav. (Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty jazz room

With sleek composure, Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra flooded the GRAMMY Celebration Jazz Lounge with radiance well past midnight. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty 2023

The bustling jazz lounge was honored with smooth performances by GRAMMY-winning Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective, who were later joined by GRAMMY-winning singer La Marisoul. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The Official GRAMMYs Afterparty 2023 interior

Mesmerizing violet, magenta and crimson hues flooded the Los Angeles Convention Center as GRAMMY Afterparty goers excitedly trickled into the venue. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Head to live.GRAMMY.com all year long to watch all the GRAMMY performances, acceptance speeches, the GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet livestream special, the full Premiere Ceremony livestream, and even more exclusive, never-before-seen content from the 2023 GRAMMYs.

2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List

Omar Apollo Embraces Heartbreak On 'God Said No'
Omar Apollo

Photo: Aitor Laspiur

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Omar Apollo Embraces Heartbreak And Enters His "Zaddy" Era On 'God Said No'

Alongside producer Teo Halm, Omar Apollo discusses creating 'God Said No' in London, the role of poetry in the writing process, and eventually finding comfort in the record's "proof of pain."

GRAMMYs/Jun 27, 2024 - 01:21 pm

"Honestly, I feel like a zaddy," Omar Apollo says with a roguish grin, "because I'm 6'5" so, like, you can run up in my arms and stay there, you know what I mean?"

As a bonafide R&B sensation and one of the internet’s favorite boyfriends, Apollo is likely used to the labels, attention and online swooning that come with modern fame. But in this instance, there’s a valid reason for asking about his particular brand of "zaddyhood": he’s been turned into a Bratz doll.

In the middle of June, the popular toy company blasted  a video to its nearly 5 million social media followers showing off the singer as a real-life Bratz Boy — the plastic version draped in a long fur coat (shirtless, naturally), with a blinged-out cross necklace and matching silver earrings as he belts out his 2023 single "3 Boys" from a smoke-covered stage.

The video, which was captioned "Zaddy coded," promptly went viral, helped along by an amused Apollo reposting the clip to his own Instagram Story. "It was so funny," he adds. "And it's so accurate; that's literally how my shows go. It made me look so glamorous, I loved it."

The unexpected viral moment came with rather auspicious timing, considering Apollo is prepping for the release of his hotly anticipated sophomore album. God Said No arrives June 28 via Warner Records.

In fact, the star is so busy with the roll-out that, on the afternoon of our interview, he’s FaceTiming from the back of a car. The day prior, he’d filmed the music video for "Done With You," the album’s next single. Now he’s headed to the airport to jet off to Paris, where he’ll be photographed front row at the LOEWE SS25 men’s runway show in between Sabrina Carpenter and Mustafa — the latter of whom is one of the few collaborators featured on God Said No

Apollo’s trusted co-writer and producer, Teo Halm, is also joining the conversation from his home studio in L.A. In between amassing credits for Beyoncé (The Lion King: The Gift), Rosalía and J Balvin (the Latin GRAMMY-winning "Con Altura"), SZA ("Notice Me" and "Open Arms" featuring Travis Scott) and others, the 25-year-old virtuoso behind the boards had teamed up with Apollo on multiple occasions. Notably, the two collabed on "Evergreen (You Didn’t Deserve Me At All)," which helped Apollo score his nomination for Best New Artist at the 2023 GRAMMYs

In the wake of that triumph, Apollo doubled down on their creative chemistry by asking Halm to executive produce God Said No. (The producer is also quick to second his pal’s magnetic mystique: "Don't get it twisted, he's zaddy, for sure.") 

Apollo bares his soul like never before across the album’s 14 tracks,  as he processes the bitter end of a two-year relationship with an unnamed paramour. The resulting portrait of heartbreak is a new level of emotional exposure for a singer already known for his unguarded vulnerability and naked candor. (He commissioned artist Doron Langberg to paint a revealing portrait of him for the cover of his 2023 EP Live For Me, and unapologetically included a painting of his erect penis as the back cover of the vinyl release.) 

On lead single "Spite," he’s pulled between longing and resentment in the wake of the break-up over a bouncing guitar riff. Second single "Dispose of Me" finds Apollo heartsick and feeling abandoned as he laments, "It don’t matter if it’s 25 years, 25 months/ It don’t matter if it’s 25 days, it was real love/ We got too much history/ So don’t just dispose of me." 

Elsewhere, the singer offers the stunning admission that "I would’ve married you" on album cut "Life’s Unfair." Then, on the very next song — the bumping, braggadocious "Against Me" — Apollo grapples with the reality that he’s been permanently altered by the love affair while on the prowl for a rebound. "I cannot act like I’m average/ You know that I am the baddest bitch," he proclaims on the opening verse, only to later admit, "I’ve changed so much, but have you heard?/ I can’t move how I used to."

More Omar Apollo News & Videos

Given the personal subject matter filling God Said No — not to mention the amount of acclaim he earned with Ivory — it would be understandable if Apollo felt a degree of pressure or anxiety when it came to crafting his sophomore studio set. But according to the singer, that was entirely not the case.

"I feel like I wouldn’t be able to make art if I felt pressure," he says. "Why would I be nervous about going back and making more music? If anything, I'm more excited and my mind is opened up in a whole other way and I've learned so much."

In order to throw his entire focus into the album’s creation, Apollo invited Halm to join him in London. The duo set up shop in the famous Abbey Road Studios, where the singer often spent 12- to 13-hour days attempting to exorcize his heartbreak fueled by a steady stream of Aperol spritzes and cigarettes.

The change of scenery infused the music with new sonic possibilities, like the kinetic synths and pulsating bass line that set flight to "Less of You." Apollo and Halm agree that the single was directly inspired by London’s unique energy.

"It's so funny because we were out there in London, but we weren't poppin' out at all," the Halm says. "Our London scene was really just, like, studio, food. Omar was a frickin' beast. He was hitting the gym every day…. But it was more like feeding off the culture on a day-to-day basis. Like, literally just on the walk to the studio or something as simple as getting a little coffee. I don't think that song would've happened in L.A."

Poetry played a surprisingly vital role in the album’s creation as well, with Apollo littering the studio with collections by "all of the greats," including the likes of Ocean Vuong, Victoria Chang, Philip Larkin, Alan Ginsberg, Mary Oliver and more.

"Could you imagine making films, but never watching a film?" the singer posits, turning his appreciation for the written art form into a metaphor about cinema. "Imagine if I never saw [films by] the greats, the beauty of words and language, and how it's manipulated and how it flows. So I was so inspired." 

Perhaps a natural result of consuming so much poetic prose, Apollo was also led to experiment with his own writing style. While on a day trip with his parents to the Palace of Versailles, he wrote a poem that ultimately became the soaring album highlight "Plane Trees," which sends the singer’s voice to new, shiver-inducing heights. 

"I'd been telling Teo that I wanted to challenge myself vocally and do a power ballad," he says. "But it wasn't coming and we had attempted those songs before. And I was exhausted with writing about love; I was so sick of it. I was like, Argh, I don't want to write anymore songs with this person in my mind." 

Instead, the GRAMMY nominee sat on the palace grounds with his parents, listening to his mom tell stories about her childhood spent in Mexico. He challenged himself to write about the majestic plane tree they were sitting under in order to capture the special moment. 

Back at the studio, Apollo’s dad asked Halm to simply "make a beat" and, soon enough, the singer was setting his poem to music. (Later, Mustafa’s hushed coda perfected the song’s denouement as the final piece of the puzzle.) And if Apollo’s dad is at least partially responsible for how "Plane Trees" turned out, his mom can take some credit for a different song on the album — that’s her voice, recorded beneath the same plane tree, on the outro of delicate closer "Glow." 

Both the artist and the producer ward off any lingering expectations that a happy ending will arrive by the time "Glow" fades to black, however. "The music that we make walks a tightrope of balancing beauty and tragedy," Halm says. "It's always got this optimism in it, but it's never just, like, one-stop shop happy. It's always got this inevitable pain that just life has. 

"You know, even if maybe there wasn't peace in the end for Omar, or if that wasn't his full journey with getting through that pain, I think a lot of people are dealing with broken hearts who it really is going to help," the producer continues. "I can only just hope that the music imparts leaving people with hope."

 Apollo agrees that God Said No contains a "hopeful thread," even if his perspective on the project remains achingly visceral. Did making the album help heal his broken heart? "No," he says with a sad smile on his face. "But it is proof of pain. And it’s a beautiful thing that is immortalized now, forever. 

"One day, I can look back at it and be like, Wow, what a beautiful thing I experienced. But yeah, no, it didn't help me," he says with a laugh. 

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Flavor Flav and Miley Cyrus attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

PHOTO: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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13 Moments From The 2024 GRAMMYs You Might Have Missed

From Killer Mike's trifecta to excitement about Beyoncé, the 66th GRAMMY Awards candid moments between music’s biggest stars.

GRAMMYs/Feb 6, 2024 - 06:35 pm

The 2024 GRAMMYs have come and gone, but viewers haven’t stopped talking about their favorite highlights from the show. But between backstage, the red carpet and on the show floor itself, there were plenty of candid moments between music’s biggest stars that rival the biggest performances. 

The internet has already taken off running with some of the night’s best underseen GRAMMY moments —  from Miley Cyrus’ red carpet randomness to Flavor Flav linking up with boygenius and Dua Lipa bringing her dad as her date. Here are a few of our favorite GRAMMY moments you might have missed.

Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff Linked Up With Boygenius Backstage

Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff with boygenius backstage 2024 GRAMMYs

The boys were big at the GRAMMYs, winning three trophies, and fellow winners Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff had to join in on the fun! The group posed with their golden gramophones backstage. 

…And So Did Flavor Flav?

The Public Enemy rapper posed for photos with boygenius, writing "Getting educated on the genius of Boy Genius." He wasn’t the only one coming to class — Troye Sivan snuck in for the photo op too.

Miley's iPhone Confusion On the Red Carpet

"iPhones? What the hell?!" Before winning two GRAMMYs later that night, including Record of the Year, Miley’s surprise at cell phone photographers on the red carpet immediately went viral. What can we say, she’s just being Miley! 

Noah Kahan Brought His Mom

How sweet is Noah Kahan?The Best New Artist nominee decided to bring his own mother as his GRAMMYs date. If there was a GRAMMY for best son, he’d take it home easily. 

Tyla’s Parents Almost Upstaged Her

Kahan wasn’t the only GRAMMY nominee with parents in tow. After 22-year-old Tyla won Best African Performance, she told journalists backstage "My father already told me that it’s going in his room." Now that’s one proud papa! 

Killer Mike Celebrates A GRAMMY Trifecta

"Atlanta it’s a sweep! Atlanta it’s a sweep!!" Killer Mike couldn’t help but hide his excitement as he collected not one, not two, but three GRAMMYs during the Premiere Ceremony. 

Taylor Swift Fixes Lana Del Rey’s Hair On Red Carpet

Hours before paying tribute to her friend and collaborator in her Album Of The Year acceptance speech, Taylor Swift wanted to make sure Lana Del Rey’s beautiful black ensemble was just right on the red carpet. Giving Goth Loretta Lynn realness is easier with a bestie by your side!  

Ice Spice Meets Jay-Z And Beyoncé

She’s really In Ha Mood! The pop-rap princess and Best New Artist nominee was totally fangirling upon meeting Queen Bey herself, resplendent in a white wig and cowboy hat. A dream come true! 

Terry Crews And Jon Batiste Chop It Up

A late night pro and a former football star may seem like an odd couple, but Jon Batiste and actor Terry Crews got along pretty well. Batiste, a previous Album Of The Year winner and a nominee this year, also performed during the ceremony

Jay-Z Sips Cognac From His Global Impact Award

So much for a gold sippy cup! With Blue Ivy nearly grown, Jay-Z was able to keep his Dr. Dre Global Impact Award all to himself. He was seen sipping D’Ussé from the special black gramophone in celebration. 

Joni Mitchell Wins Best Folk Album

Before giving an astonishing, first-ever GRAMMYs performance during the GRAMMYs TV ceremony, Joni Mitchell collected a golden gramophone of her own, winning Best Folk Album during the Premiere Ceremony — 50 years after her first win. 

Lil Uzi Vert Hangs With Jay And Bey

As music’s most famous couple attempted to make a stylish exit, Lil Uzi Vert decided to join them! The Philly rapper could be seen sauntering between Hov and daughter Blue Ivy Carter as the Carter-Knowles clan left the arena. 

Celine Dion Makes A Bold Entrance Backstage

Even for a night filled with icons, none were so legendary as Celine Dion. The singer looked resplendent as she arrived backstage ahead of presenting the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year

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Beyonce 2023 GRAMMY Rewind Hero
Beyoncé at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Beyoncé's Heartfelt Speech For Her Record-Breaking Win In 2023

Relive the night Beyoncé received a gramophone for Best Dance/Electronic Album for 'RENAISSANCE' at the 2023 GRAMMYS — the award that made her the most decorated musician in GRAMMY history.

GRAMMYs/Feb 2, 2024 - 05:12 pm

Six years after her last solo studio album, Beyoncé returned to the music industry with a bang thanks to RENAISSANCE. In homage to her late Uncle Johnny, she created a work of art inspired by the sounds of disco and house that wasn't just culturally impactful — it was history-making.

At the 2023 GRAMMYs, RENAISSANCE won Best Dance/Electronic Album. Marking Beyoncé's 32nd golden gramophone, the win gave the superstar the record for most gramophones won by an individual act.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit the historic moment Queen Bey took the stage to accept her record-breaking GRAMMY at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

"Thank you so much. I'm trying not to be too emotional," Beyoncé said at the start of her acceptance speech. "I'm just trying to receive this night."

With a deep breath, she began to list her praises that included God, her family, and the Recording Academy for their continued support throughout her career. 

"I'd like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who is not here, but he's here in spirit," Beyoncé proclaimed. "I'd like to thank the queer community for your love and inventing this genre."

Watch the video above for Beyoncé's full speech for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind. 

Tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

A Timeline Of Beyoncé's GRAMMY Moments, From Her First Win With Destiny's Child to Making History With 'Renaissance'

Lizzo GRAMMY Rewind Hero
Lizzo at the 2023 GRAMMYs

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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GRAMMY Rewind: Lizzo Thanks Prince For His Influence After "About Damn Time" Wins Record Of The Year In 2023

Watch Lizzo describe how Prince’s empowering sound led her to “dedicate my life to positive music” during her Record Of The Year acceptance speech for “About Damn Time” at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

GRAMMYs/Jan 19, 2024 - 06:00 pm

Since the start of her career, four-time GRAMMY winner Lizzo has been making music that radiates positive energy. Her Record Of The Year win for "About Damn Time" at the 2023 GRAMMYs proved that being true to yourself and kind to one another always wins.

Travel back to revisit the moment Lizzo won her award in the coveted category in this episode of GRAMMY Rewind. 

"Um, huh?" Lizzo exclaimed at the start of her acceptance speech. "Let me tell you something. Me and Adele are having a good time, just enjoying ourselves and rooting for our friends. So, this is an amazing night. This is so unexpected."

Lizzo kicked off her GRAMMY acceptance speech by acknowledging Prince's influence on her sound. "When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music," she said. "This was at a time when positive music and feel-good music wasn't mainstream at that point and I felt very misunderstood. I felt on the outside looking in. But I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place so I had to be that change."

As tracks like "Good as Hell" and "Truth Hurts" scaled the charts, she noticed more body positivity and self-love anthems from other artists. "I'm just so proud to be a part of it," she cheered.

Most importantly, Lizzo credited staying true to herself despite the pushback for her win. "I promise that you will attract people in your life who believe in you and support you," she said in front of a tearful audience that included Beyoncé and Taylor Swift in standing ovation, before giving a shout-out to her team, family, partner and producers on the record, Blake Slatkin and Ricky Reed

Watch the video above for Lizzo's complete acceptance speech for Record Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

10 Must-See Moments From The 2023 GRAMMYs