Winning any Grammy is a feat, but it’s undeniable that Album of the Year is the most prestigious. Artists dream of taking home that golden gramophone for this category specifically. It’s a reflection of the breadths of their medium. Unlike Single of the Year (which celebrates a stand alone hit), this category acknowledges a musician’s ability to create a body of work with the chops to beat out all the rest. Many artists have taken home this award. Revisit four of them, below.
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Revisit These Past Grammy Album of the Year Winners
1. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2019)
Though this has changed in recent years, country hasn’t always been a genre that got the premiere spots at the Grammys. Those were typically reserved for whatever genre was the pop music of the day. Country has yet to secure that spot. However, Kacey Musgraves did much to give the genre its flowers when she won Album of the Year for Golden Hour. This blushing record saw Musgraves head over heels in love. That sentiment rubbed off on Grammy voters, who gave her the most prestigious award of the night.
All that I know
Is you caught me at the right time
Keep me in your glow
‘Cause I’m havin’ such a good time with you
Baby, don’t you know
That you’re my golden hour
The color of my sky
You set my world on fire
And I know, I know everything’s gonna be alright
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Alison Krauss & Union Station (2002)
It’s not every day that a soundtrack for a film beats out some of the most beloved pop albums of the day. That, however, did happen in 2002 when the accompanying album for O Brother, Where Art Thou? took home the top award of the night. Anyone who has seen this movie, will know just how imaginative this musical retelling of Homer’s Odyssey is.
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O brothers let’s go down
Let’s go down, come on down
Come on brothers let’s go down
Down in the river to pray
3. Unplugged – Eric Clapton (1993)
Eric Clapton’s Unplugged documents one of the most famous episodes of MTV’s Unplugged series. Clapton runs through many of his greatest hits with an acoustic twist. It was a reinvention for the rock giant, who ultimately took home Album of the Year for the effort in 1993.
What will you do when you get lonely
No one waiting by your side?
You’ve been running, hiding much too long
You know it’s just your foolish pride
Layla, you’ve got me on my knees
Layla, you’re begging, darling, please
Layla, darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?
4. Thriller – Mitchel Jackson (1984)
Is it any wonder that Michael Jackson took home Album of the Year for Thriller in 1984? Without even considering the title track, the tracklist reads like a greatest hits album. “P.Y.T,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean”…Not to mention a duet with the Paul McCartney. It’s certainly an effort befitting this laud.
It’s close to midnight
And something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream
But terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze
As horror looks you right between the eyes
You’re paralyzed
[RELATED: 9 of the Most Memorable Pop Album Covers]
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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