Sunday's 65th Grammy Awards drew 12.4 million total viewers on several platforms, including CBS and Paramount+, up about 30 percent from the previous year's special, and the most since 2020. That total includes outside-the-home viewing.
Gracies to the (super-)star-studded guest list, which includes winners Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Beyoncé, for the bump.
Nielsen reported that the 2022 Grammy Awards would attract an initial 8.9 million viewers, placing the show well ahead of the record low reached in 2021. That year-ago show would adjust up to 9.6 million total viewers when included those who watched outside of their homes.
For lack of a better shorthand term, the Covid Grammys fell 53 percent from the January 26, 2020 special, which attracted 18.8 million viewers. For the first two, he was the anchor of Comedy Central's (also owned by Paramount Global) "The Daily Show." He's a free agent these days, and the Comedy Central program is trying out a slew of guest hosts.
Lizzo won Record of the Year for "About Damn Time," Harry Styles won Album of the Year for "Harry's House," Bonnie Raitt won Song of the Year for "Just Like That," and Samara Joy won Best New Artist. Adele won Best Pop Solo Performance for "Eay on Me," Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Unholy," and Beyoncé won Best Dance Recording for "Break My Soul."
Beyoncé won four gramophone awards last night, becoming the most-awarded artist in Grammys history with 32. Brandi Carlile also won four Grammys last night; the music of "Encanto" won three. Willie Nelson won for Best Country Album.
The 65th Grammys included (in alphabetical order) Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, Grandmaster Mele Mel with Scorpio and Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, The Lox, Questlove, Rahiem, Rakim, The Roots, Run-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Too