Adele, the English pop singer scored a perfect five awards at the 59th Grammy Awards, sweeping the top categories of album, record and song of the year.
She also restarted a tribute to George Michael.
As she accepted the album of the year award for the blockbuster “25,” the singer, born Adele Adkins, paid homage to Beyoncé.
Adele’s hit single “Hello” also collected the song award, which recognizes songwriting, and record of the year, which factors in vocal performance and record production.
In addition, she won the awards for pop vocal album and solo performance.
Beyonce, who received the most nominations this year, won two of her nine categories;
“Lemonade” won for urban contemporary album, and “Formation” won the music video award.
David Bowie’s final album “Blackstar” also picked up five Grammy Awards for alternative music album, rock song, rock performance, engineered nonclassical album and recording package.
Far more direct was the call-out to “President Agent Orange” from hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest.
The music was choreographed with people taking the stage in burkas and other attire representing a variety of ethnicities and genders.
Chance the Rapper, also had a big night with three Grammys. In the first award handed out, he was crowned best new artist, solidifying the industry’s broader definition of “record” and “album.”
His first Grammy, in the rap performance category, was for the track “No Problem,” featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz.
Beyoncé was not the only artist with a wide nomination/win gap. Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West had eight nominations each, yet only Drake won a Grammy; his single “Hotline Bling,” won for rap/sung performance.
Comedy album winner Patton Oswalt, nominee and award presenter Margaret Cho and sibling pop duo Jesse & Joy, who won the Latin pop album Grammy for “Un Besito Mas,” also referenced social and political issues.
Country artist Sturgill Simpson, the long-shot overall album-of-the-year nominee for his boundary-pushing effort, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” won the country album category.
