In light of the Time’s Up movement, celebrities walked the Grammys red carpet holding white roses to support Time’s Up.
Kesha sang her song “Praying” after legal disputes with her former producer, Dr. Luke, who allegedly sexually assaulted her. Women like Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels, Bebe Rexha and Andra Day joined her onstage as she gave an emotional performance.
The audience clapped and cheered to support Kesha and the movement; however, only one woman won a major televised award: Alessia Cara for best new artist.
Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman also won best country duo/group performance as a part of Little Big Town.
Variety reported that despite Lorde being the only female in the album of the year category, yet she was not offered to perform solo. She turned down a performance in tribute to Tom Petty with the song “American Girl.”
Every other artist up for that award was offered a solo performance, which Jay-Z also turned down. Lorde, SZA, Kesha and Lady Gaga are just a few female artists who were nominated and didn’t receive any awards.
When asked about the lack of female winners, USA Today reported Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said women need to “step up” to win more awards.
Portnow later said that he does not have personal experience with “the brick walls that women face,” but hearing that women need to step up after the musical success they’ve received recently is a little out of place.
The hashtag #GrammysSoMale surfaced after the lack of female representation was apparent, which is no surprise after The New York Times reported of the 899 people nominated for Grammys in the past six years, only nine percent were women.
