Can Taylor Swift create history as the first artist to secure Album of the Year at the Grammys four times? And will she take the stage for a performance?
At the upcoming CBS Sunday show, the “Midnights” artist is in the running for six Grammy Awards. Joining the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon, Taylor Swift has already clinched Album of the Year three times. Sinatra was the first to achieve back-to-back wins, while Wonder secured all three of his awards within a four-year span. The question now lingers: will Taylor Swift make Grammy history with a fourth win?
Three accomplished engineers, Şerban Ghenea, John Hanes, and Tom Coyne, have achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Album of the Year award four times, contributing to works by artists like Taylor Swift, Adele, and Bruno Mars. Notably, Swift expressed her gratitude to Ghenea during her acceptance speech for “Folklore.” Ghenea, now nominated as part of the “Midnights” team, stands the chance to elevate his Album of the Year wins to five if Swift secures the victory.
Swift, a twelve-time Grammy winner with 52 nominations, is in contention for six awards this year. Her nominations include
“Anti-Hero” for pop solo performance,
“Karma” for pop duo/group performance featuring Ice Spice,
“Anti-Hero” for song of the year by Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift,
“Anti-Hero” for record of the year,
“Midnights” for pop vocal album, and
“Midnights” for album of the year. Notably, Swift has graced the Grammys stage every year she clinched the Album of the Year, leaving fans eager to see if she will perform a track from “Midnights” or possibly revisit a vault track from “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” or “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Relive Swift’s past memorable acceptance speeches and performances in the links below.
‘Fearless,’ ‘1989’ and ‘Folklore’ win album of the year
In 2010, after winning album of the year for “Fearless,” Taylor Swift graciously expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much! This is album of the year! Oh my God! Thank you so much. I just hope that you know how much this means to me and to Nathan, my producer, and to all these musicians on this stage, that we get to take this back to Nashville. Our families are freaking out in their living rooms. My dad and my little brother are losing their minds right now, and this is for my dad.
Thank you for all those times you said I could do whatever I wanted in life. And my mom, you’re my best friend. And this is the story, all of us, when we are 80 years old and we are telling the same stories over and over again to our grandkids and they’re so annoyed with us. This is the story we’re going to be telling over and over again. In 2010, that we got to win album of the year at the Grammys. Thank you!”
2016 brought the Grammy win for “1989,” and in that moment, I want to express my gratitude. Thanks to the fans who have been with me for the past decade and to the Recording Academy for this incredible honor. My appreciation extends to all my collaborators sharing this stage, especially my co-executive producer, Max Martin, whose talent has earned him a place here over the last 25 years.
Being the first woman to win album of the year at the Grammys twice holds significant meaning for me. To all young women out there, expect challenges – people trying to undermine your success or steal credit for your achievements. Stay focused on your work; don’t let them distract you.
When you reach your destination, you’ll realize it was your effort and the support of those who love you that got you there. And that feeling will be unparalleled. Thank you for sharing this moment with me.
Upon winning the 2021 “Folklore” award, the elation was palpable: “Oh God! I want to express gratitude to all my collaborators on this stage. A special thanks to Şerban Ghenea and Justin Vernon – I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting you someday. Huge shoutout to Joe, my go-to person for every song I write; we had the best time creating during quarantine.
James, Inez, Betty, and their parents – the second and third audience for each new song of mine, thank you. Above all, our heartfelt thanks to the fans who embraced the imaginary world we created. Your support is an eternal honor for us. A big thank you to the Recording Academy; we’ll never forget your gesture. Thank you so much.”
Prior to Swift’s speech, her close friend and co-producer Aaron Dessner reflected, “It’s surreal to stand up here with one of the greatest living songwriters who trusted me to collaborate in this tumultuous time we all experienced.”
From ‘Fearless’ to ‘Evermore’: Swift’s seven Grammys performances
In 2021, Taylor Swift brought the “Folklore” cottage experience to Los Angeles, treating fans to a captivating 5-and-a-half-minute medley of “Cardigan,” “August,” and “Willow.” The camera opened with an intimate shot of Swift’s face, bathed in moonlight on the enchanting moss-covered roof.
A backdrop of stars gracefully danced in a projected silhouette forest as the camera seamlessly transitioned from the roof into a charming attic setting. During a musical interlude, her co-producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner took the spotlight until Swift reappeared with a guitar, singing the evocative lyrics “salt air and the rust on your door.” The mesmerizing performance concluded with the soulful rendition of the first track from “Evermore.”
In 2016, Swift kicked off the Grammys with “Out of the Woods,” showcasing her live prowess on the “1989” track, belting out the powerful bridge with the memorable line “20 stitches in the hospital room.” Clad in a sparkly pantsuit and sporting a sleek blond bob, Swift commanded the stage set in a dreamy forest, with co-producer Jack Antonoff on guitar and a live band amid a backdrop of white lights dancing to the synth beats.
Fast forward to 2014, before the extended 10-minute version dropped on “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Swift treated the audience to a 5-minute acoustic rendition of “All Too Well.” The intimate performance made waves for Swift’s seven head bangs punctuating her piano playing before the bridge.
At 3:56, Swift’s piercing eyes captured the essence of the song, especially with the line “But you keep my old scarf.” Although the extended version earned the best music video award in 2023, it fell short of winning song of the year.
In 2013, Swift emerged in the midst of a white, red, and black circus to perform “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The ringmaster, adorned in a bedazzled white outfit with a silver staff and top hat, led the performance with circus-inspired dancers donning checkerboard skirts and rabbit ears.
During the bridge, Swift, with a touch of humor, rolled her eyes and adopted a British accent to imitate an ex professing love, to which her response was a resolute, “I’m sorry. I’m busy opening up the Grammys, and we are never getting back together. Like ever.”
“Someday, I’ll be singing this at the Grammys,” Swift proclaimed in 2012. Transitioning to her “Speak Now” era, the country music star strummed “Mean” on her “13” banjo. Amidst a scene devastated by a tornado, her live band performed around her, with remnants like an unhinged salon door, a bare ladder, a wooden bed frame, and a picket fence creating a makeshift backdrop.
In 2010, Ryan Seacrest introduced the young Taylor Swift at the Grammys. Swift treated the audience to a brief rendition of “Today Was a Fairytale” before acknowledging the presence of a legend. “Sharing a stage with Stevie Nicks is both a fairy tale and an honor.” The duo then captivated the audience with a performance of Nicks’ “Rhiannon,” seamlessly transitioning into a slower, folksy rendition of “You Belong With Me.
“Swift’s Grammys debut in 2009 was marked by a performance of “Fifteen” from her album “Fearless,” alongside Miley Cyrus. Seated in chairs surrounded by fans, Swift donned a translucent white dress over a sleek black outfit. Strumming her polish-stained guitar, she took on the first verse. Cyrus joined in, passionately belting out the chorus with the memorable line “cause when you’re 15.” The two artists skillfully exchanged lyrics throughout the nearly four-minute, emotionally charged performance.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift and the Grammys: Singer could make history this weekend