LGBTQ women were honored several times last night at the Grammy Award ceremony, but former First Lady Michelle Obama stole the show.
Host Alecia Keys was joined by Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez and… Michelle Obama to open the awards show to speak about the power of music. Obama’s entrance and speech were met with thunderous applause.
“Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves,” she said. “Our dignity and its sorrows, our hopes and joys, it allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters. Every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right, ladies?”
And LGBTQ women won big at the show.
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Lesbian country singer Brandi Carlile took home three awards: Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Performance, and Best American Roots Song.
She talked about her coming out in her acceptance speech.
“I came out of the closet at 15-years old when I was in high school,” she said. “And I can assure you that I never got invited to any parties. I never got to attend a dance.”
Brandi Carlile in her acceptance speech earlier tonight: "I came out of the closet at 15-years old when I was in high school. And I can assure you that … [I] never got to attend a dance. To be embraced by this enduring and loving community has been the dance of a lifetime." pic.twitter.com/YJQNlGccdA
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 11, 2019
Related: ‘Pansexual’ became one of the most looked up words of 2018 after Janelle Monáe came out
Bi pop singer Lady Gaga won the awards for Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her tracks “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” and “Shallow.”
She also performed “Shallow” at the ceremony.
My god. The perfect blend of a Lady and a Gaga. YAAAASS GAGA! 💖pic.twitter.com/OHGkjrpSOG
— JOHN MICHAEL (@itsJMPena) February 11, 2019
Cardi B was one of the most talked about winners of the night: she is the first solo woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album for Invasion of Privacy.
“When I found out I was pregnant, my album wasn’t complete… I want to thank all the artists that took they time on my album, you, husband, thank you! Best Rap Album goes to @iamcardib! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ttHKdkrEQ9
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) February 11, 2019
St. Vincent got the Grammy for Best Rock Song for “Masseduction.” Her album also won Best Recording Package.
One of the queerest moments of the night was when she and Dua Lipa performed “Masseducation.”
Out songwriters Benj Pasek and Shane McAnally won Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Country Song, respectively.
Janelle Monae performed “Make Me Feel” at the ceremony and included references to both a boy and a girl.
Janelle Monae did that #MakeMeFeel performance at the #GRAMMYs! #PowerStarLive 🌟https://t.co/EkwNWXZ5uT
— PowerStarLive (@PowerStarLive) February 11, 2019
Ricky Martin appeared in Camila Cabello’s performance of “Havana.”
ICYMI: pure latin excellence by Camila Cabello, Ricky Martin and J Balvin #GRAMMYs https://t.co/VtUufmjcMo
— kyra loves camila 🥀💋🖤 (@kyrawrgail) February 11, 2019
