Only 10 Black artists have won album of the year at the Grammys — here they all are
Callie Ahlgrim
- In the 61-year history of the Grammy Awards, only 10 Black artists have won album of the year.
- Stevie Wonder became the first Black artist to win in 1974 for his 16th studio album, "Innervisions."
- Wonder is also one of just three artists — along with Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon — who have won the award three different times.
- The remaining nine artists on this list have each won album of the year once.
- Lauryn Hill became the first-ever hip-hop artist to win album of the year in 1999 for "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."
- A Black artist or group hasn't won the Grammys' most prestigious award since Herbie Hancock in 2008.
"It's almost impossible for a black artist to win album of the year," John Legend told Entertainment Weekly in June.
Statistically, Legend is largely correct.
In the 61-year history of the Grammys, the ceremony's most prestigious award has only been given to Black artists 12 times — and since Stevie Wonder has won thrice, that leaves just 10 Black artists with the distinction.
In fact, a Black artist or all-Black group hasn't won album of the year in 12 years, since Herbie Hancock won in 2008 (for covering a collection of songs that were originally recorded by a white woman).
Contemporary Black artists have been repeatedly snubbed, despite creating seminal records: Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West have each been nominated three times, but have never won; Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange" lost to Mumford & Sons, and "Acoustic Soul" by India.Arie was beaten by the soundtrack from "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
The only Black artists who have won album of the year are listed below, in chronological order.
1. Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder became the first Black artist to win album of the year in 1974 for his 16th studio album, "Innervisions," 15 years after the inaugural Grammys ceremony.
He won again in 1975 for "Fulfillingness' First Finale," becoming just the second artist ever to win the award in consecutive years, after Frank Sinatra in the '60s.
Along with Sinatra and Paul Simon, Wonder is also one of just three artists who have won album of the year three different times; Wonder won again in 1977 for "Songs in the Key of Life."
2. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson won album of the year in 1984 for his magnum opus, "Thriller."
That year, Jackson became the first artist ever to win eight Grammy Awards in one night. The record was later tied by Santana in 2000.
3. Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie won album of the year in 1985 for "Can't Slow Down," his second solo album.
4. Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones won album of the year in 1991 for "Back on the Block," an album he produced that features various artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Ice-T, and Ray Charles.
5. Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole won album of the year in 1992 for "Unforgettable…With Love," her 12th studio album.
6. Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston won album of the year in 1994 for the soundtrack of "The Bodyguard," a film she starred in.
Houston recorded most of the soundtrack's songs, and also served as the album's co-executive producer with Clive Davis.
7. Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill won album of the year in 1999 for her debut solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill."
She became the first-ever hip-hop artist to win the prestigious award. Hill is also one of just five artists to win album of the year and best new artist in the same night, a feat most recently achieved by Billie Eilish.
8. Outkast
Outkast won album of the year in 2004 for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," the duo's fifth studio album.
9. Ray Charles
Ray Charles posthumously won album of the year in 2005 for "Genius Loves Company," his final album. The album's two co-producers, John Burk and Phil Ramone, accepted the award on Charles' behalf.
10. Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock won album of the year in 2008 for "River: The Joni Letters," a tribute album comprised of Joni Mitchell covers.
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