The 66th Grammy Awards saw a significant shift in recognizing women's achievements in music, with four women winning the night's top prizes and female artists dominating performances. Taylor Swift made history with her record-breaking fourth album of the year win, while Annie Lennox delivered a powerful tribute and raised a fist in solidarity with Palestinians. The ceremony also featured a poignant duet between Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs, highlighting a quiet moment of mutual gratitude amidst the glitz and glamour.
Annie Lennox sparked backlash after calling for a ceasefire during her emotional Grammys performance, with critics accusing her of denying Israel's right to defend itself and giving in to Hamas' agenda. The gesture was met with swift condemnation on social media, with some calling for her to address the release of hostages held by Hamas. Despite the criticism, Lennox's demonstration echoed similar statements from other artists at the awards ceremony, with some showing support for Palestine. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to controversy in Hollywood, with differences in opinions leading to professional ramifications for some performers.
Annie Lennox called for a ceasefire in Gaza during her tribute to Sinéad O’Connor at the Grammys, becoming the first artist to do so at a major awards show this year. Other artists, like Boygenius, also advocated for peace, with protestors demonstrating in support of Palestine outside the event. The moment at the Grammys reflects a departure from Hollywood's response to such statements, as some have faced consequences for expressing support for a ceasefire.
The 2024 Grammys featured a heartfelt In Memoriam segment with live performances by Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste, and Fantasia Barrino, paying tribute to late artists such as Sinéad O’Connor, Tina Turner, Jimmy Buffett, and many others who passed away in 2023.
Joni Mitchell played her first headline show in over 20 years, accompanied by famous admirers like Annie Lennox, Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile. The show, in Washington State, was billed as a "Joni Jam", recreating the loose, wine-fuelled sessions Mitchell hosted for other musicians in her California house during her rehabilitation. Critics uniformly described the concert as a joyful celebration of Mitchell's life and work. Many marvelled at how her voice had recovered and matured since her aneurysm.
Brandi Carlile hosted her fourth annual Echoes Through The Canyon festival at the Gorge, where she brought out several stars for Friday's festivities, including Annie Lennox to sing "Why" during the encore. The festival's closing-night headliner is Joni Mitchell, her first official ticketed performance in 20 years.
Annie Lennox performed Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" at the Gershwin Prize tribute to Mitchell, and executive producer Ken Ehrlich said that everyone wanted to perform the song. Lennox's performance was described as "performance art" and "drama." Lennox spoke about her love for Mitchell and how she prepared for the performance. She also added a bit of her own song "Why" at the end of "Both Sides Now" as a tribute to Mitchell's influence on her. The Gershwin Prize special is available for streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.
