Grammys 2022: Jon Batiste wins Album of the Year award for first jazz-focused 'We Are'

The Grammy Awards 2022, became more prominent and special for singer Jon Batiste who won Album of the Year for his latest LP We Are. Batiste pitted against some of the iconic names of the industry including Kanye West aka Ye, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, and Doja Cat for the accolade. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, H.E.R., and Justin Bieber were also in the running for the award. 

This is not the singer’s first award at the starry gala event. Earlier during the evening, he took home four Grammys in different categories including Best Music Video for Freedom, Best American Roots Performance for Cry, and Best American Roots Song for Cry as well as Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Soul, which he wrote alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Jon Batiste wins Album of the Year Award at Grammys 2022

This year, the singer was one of the most-nominated artists during the 64th Grammy Awards. The singer was nominated in 11 categories. Aside from Album of the Year, he is up for Record of the Year for Freedom, Best Traditional R&B Performance for I Need You, Best R&B Album for We Are, Best Improvised Jazz Solo for Bigger Than Us, Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul, Best American Roots Performance for Cry, Best American Roots Song Cry, Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for Soul, alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Batiste: Movement 11, and Best Music Video for Freedom   

As for the Grammy winner album We Are, it was released through Universal Music Group’s Verve imprint. The song We Are is the first jazz-focused album to win album of the year since 2008 when Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters upset albums by Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, and Vince Gill. Apart from winning the awards, this year, the singer’s performance at the gala night, was also one of the much-loved ones for the stars and fans. 

IMAGE: Twitter/RecordingACAD/AP