Batiste, joyful performances highlight Grammy Awards
ABC News
Jon Batiste may have won the most Grammy Awards with five on Sunday night, but in some ways he was a surprise
Jon Batiste had the most Grammy Award nominations and his five wins outpaced everyone, yet he somehow seemed the biggest surprise on a joyous night for music that washed away some of the bad taste left by the Oscars a week earlier.
Batiste's “We Are” won the prestigious album of the year award Sunday over music heavyweights like Tony Bennett, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Ye, who changed his name from Kanye West. Batiste ended his dance-filled performance of “Freedom” during the show by jumping on Eilish's table.
Silk Sonic won four Grammys, including song and record of the year for the duo's smooth soul hit, “Leave the Door Open.” Olivia Rodrigo's three awards included best new artist. Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton and CeCe Winans also won three each.
Yet Batiste captured the mood of a night where, despite some somber moments, the live performance skills of music's best artists were on full display after COVID-19 had put much of the concert industry on pause.