(Screenshot from YouTube)
Kim Petras made history as the first openly transgender person to win a Grammy at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards Feb. 5.
Petras won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her collaboration with Sam Smith on their hit song, “Unholy.”
Smith, who identifies as nonbinary, gave Petras the microphone as the duo took the stage to accept their award.
Among those who Petras thanked were music icon Madonna, who introduced Smith and Petras’ performance that night, and SOPHIE, a Grammy-nominated transgender DJ who died in a tragic accident in January 2021.
“I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” Petras said. “SOPHIE, especially, my friend who passed away two years ago, who told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, SOPHIE. I adore you and your inspiration will always be in my music.”
Also making history last night was Beyoncé, who picked up several more Grammys for her album “Renaissance,” taking her total to a record 32 wins. She officially has the most Grammys of any other artist in history.
During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé thanked her late Uncle Johnny, who died from AIDS, and the queer community “for your love and for inventing the genre [of dance music].”
Other winners at the 65th Grammys included Harry Styles, who took home the prize for Album of the Year; Bonnie Raitt, who won Song of the Year for “Just Like That”; Lizzo, whose hit “About Damn Time” won Record of the Year; and jazz singer Samara Joy, who won Best New Artist.
