Grammys 2022: Jon Batiste wins album of the year, Silk Sonic takes record, song honours

Jon Batiste poses with his Grammys for Best American Roots Performance for 'Cry', Album of the year for 'We Are', Best American roots song, Best music video and Best score soundtrack for visual media for 'Soul', at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Reuters

Jon Batiste ruled on a Grammys night that celebrated young hitmaker Olivia Rodrigo and embraced the funk of Silk Sonic.

Batiste, who went into music's biggest night with a leading 11 nominations, won album of the year – the top prize of the night – for We Are at Sunday's (April 3) 64th Grammy Awards. Silk Sonic, the super duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, took home record and song of the year for Leave the Door Open while Rodrigo was named best new artist.

It was a night of many performances, by Justin Bieber, BTS and Lady Gaga, and also of important tributes. Billie Eilish wore a T-shirt honouring the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a prerecorded message at the Grammys paired with a rousing rendition of Free by John Legend.

Here are some of the highlights and winners from the prime-time Grammys:

Jon Batiste's We Are wins album of the year

After entering the night with 11 nominations and walking away with the Grammys' top prize, Batiste talks about how there shouldn't be such things as best new artiste, best actor or best record because art is subjective.

"They have like a radar to reach that person when they need it the most," Batiste says. In regard to music, "it's more than entertainment for me – it's a spiritual practice."

He also left the crowd with a positive message: "Be You. That's it. I love you even if I don't know you."

Carrie Underwood debuts new song Ghost Story

Hours after winning the Grammy for best roots gospel album, Underwood cranks up the wind machine so her dress can billow crazy wide as she belts her new power ballad Ghost Story. (It's a'ight.)

Carrie Underwood, winner of the award for best roots gospel album for 'My Savior'. Photo: AP

Silk Sonic scores record of the year for Leave The Door Open

Not only did they win song of the year, Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak take a second major Grammy. "We're really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,".Paak says. "But in the industry, we call that a clean sweep."

Silk Sonic performs during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Reuters

Doja Cat and SZA's Kiss Me More wins a Grammy, H.E.R. bangs the drums

"I have never taken such a fast (urination) in my whole life," an out-of-breath Doja Cat says when accepting the honour for best pop duo/group performance.

"I'm glad you made it back in time!" SZA adds.

Doja Cat can't stop crying. "This is a big deal," she says. Their win is followed by a performance from H.E.R., who sings Damage, plays drums on We Made It and is joined by Travis Barker and Lenny Kravitz for Are Gonna Go My Way.

Doja Cat, winner of the award for best pop duo/group performance for 'Kiss Me More'. Photo: AP

The Biebs gets his ballad on at the Grammys

Decked out in a backward baseball cap and hoodie, Justin Bieber sings his hit Peaches first at the piano when he's kicking it on the slow side and then is joined by R&B artists Daniel Caesar and Givēon.

Olivia Rodrigo takes Grammy No. 3, for pop vocal album

The young singer's Sour wins the category, and Rodrigo thanks her parents especially her mom "for being supportive of my dreams, no matter how crazy."

Olivia Rodrigo poses with her Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance Award for 'Drivers License'. Photo: Reuters

Lady Gaga gets jazzy for Love For Sale

Tony Bennett couldn't appear but he introduces Gaga, who channels her inner swing goddess. She fronts a big band singing the uptempo Love For Sale then settles down for the string-laden ballad Do I Love You.

She closes out her time with a message for Bennett: "I love you, Tony. We miss you."

Lady Gaga performs the song 'Love For Sale' from her album of the same name with Tony Bennett during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas. Photo: Reuters

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy appears on screen at the Grammys

"Our musicians wear body armour instead of tuxedos... but our music will break through anyway," Zelenskyy says in a virtual appearance asking to "support us in any way you can" as his country continues to fight the Russian invasion.

John Legend then sings Free as he's joined by Mika Newton, whose sister is serving in the Ukrainian army, and Lyuba Yakimchuk, a poet from Donbas who fled Ukraine just days ago.

Nas brings old-school hip hop back to the Grammys stage

The youngsters were gifted with an appearance from a legendary OG: With the help of a great horn section, rapper Nas performed a montage of tracks including I Can, Made You Look, One Mic and Rare.

Nas performs during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Reuters

Olivia Rodrigo (as expected) wins best new artiste

Two previous winners in the Grammy category, Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion, welcome the next best new artist to their fold: Olivia Rodrigo. "Whoa. This is my biggest dream come true," she says.

Billie Eilish performs Happier Than Ever in the weirdest bedroom ever

With her brother Finneas on acoustic guitar, the multi-time Grammy winner first sings her hit tune in a room where a couch is on the ceiling and she's walking around in water and then winds up on the rooftop of this very strange home to rock out like a champ.

Also of note: Eilish is wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who was unexpectedly found dead while on tour last month. – USA Today/Tribune News Service

Billie Eilish performs the song 'Happier Than Ever' during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Reuters

List of winners in the top categories at the 64th annual Grammy Awards:

Album of the year: We Are, Jon Batiste

Record of the year: Leave The Door Open, Silk Sonic

Song of the year (songwriter’s award): Leave The Door Open, Silk Sonic (Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars)

Best new artiste: Olivia Rodrigo

Best rap performance: Family Ties, Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar

Best country album: Starting Over, Chris Stapleton

Best R&B album: Heaux Tales, Jazmine Sullivan.

Best pop vocal album: Sour, Olivia Rodrigo

Best pop solo performance: Drivers License, Olivia Rodrigo

Best rock album: Medicine At Midnight, Foo Fighters

Best rock song: Waiting On A War, Foo Fighters

Best rock performance: Making A Fire, Foo Fighters

Best rap song: Jail, Kanye West featuring Jay-Z

Best rap album: Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator

Best alternative music album: Daddy’s Home, St. Vincent

Best traditional pop vocal album: Love For Sale, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

Best music video: Freedom, Jon Batiste

Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff

Best R&B song: Leave The Door Open, Silk Sonic

Best R&B performance: (tie) Leave The Door Open, Silk Sonic, and Pick Up Your Feelings, Jazmine Sullivan

Best music film: Summer Of Soul

Best country song: Cold, Chris Stapleton

Best country solo performance: You Should Probably Leave, Chris Stapleton

Best country do/group performance: Younger Me, Brothers Osborne

Best comedy album: Sincerely Louis CK, Louis C.K.

Best roots gospel album: My Savior, Carrie Underwood

Best gospel album: Believe For It, CeCe Winans

Best American roots performance: Cry, Jon Batiste

Best American roots song: Cry, Jon Batiste

Best musica urbana album: El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo, Bad Bunny

Best Latin rock or alternative album: Origen, Juanes

Best improvised jazz solo: Humpty Dumpty (Set 2), Chick Corea

Best Latin jazz album: Mirror Mirror, Eliane Elias with Chick Corea and Chucho Valdes

Best musical theatre album: The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: The United States Vs. Billie Holliday

Best score soundtrack for visual media: (tie) Soul, Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and The Queen’s Gambit, Carlos Rafael Rivera

Best dance/electronic album: Subconsciously, Black Coffee

Best global music: Mohabbat, Arooj Aftab

Best global music album: Mother Nature, Angelique Kidjo

Best traditional blues album: I Be Trying, Cedric Burnside

Best contemporary blues album: 662, Christone "Kingfish” Ingram

Best folk album: They’re Calling Me Home, Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Best historical album: Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) – AP