Updated: Historic Win At The Grammys For Sam Smith And Kim Petras
At the 2023 Grammy Awards, Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song Unholy. The song was included on Smith’s studio album Gloria and is the first song to win a grammy featuring an openly trans and non-binary singer, reports Pitchfork.
A WELL-DESERVED WIN
Beating out the likes of ABBA, Camilla Cabello, Ed Sheeran and BTS, Smith and Petras took to the stage to accept the award where Sam Smith allowed Kim Petras to make the acceptance speech, reports Pitchfork. In her speech, Petras thanked her mother for a lifetime of support, Madonna for fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights and also the late artist Sophie for inspiring her.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” says Petras. Sam Smith can be seen standing to side cheering and encouraging others to stand up and cheer too. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends who came before me and kicked these doors open for me so that I could be here tonight.”
UPDATE: Although Kim Petras is the first out transgender person to win a Grammy, one other before her has won the prestigious music award and been trans. Wendy Carlos is the first transgender woman to win a Grammy after she secured three in 1969. Wendy was a pioneer for electronic music and won Album of the Year, Classical; Best Classical Performance – Instrumental Soloist Or Soloists (With Or Without Orchestra) and Best Engineered Recording, Classical, reports LGBTQ Nation.
Petras was sure to say she was the first to win a Grammy in her award category, and others are making sure to recognise Wendy Carlos and to acknowledge her work and legacy.
