The evening’s first television award, after three extended performances, was a big one: “Leave the Door Open”, by throwback soul and R&B duo Silk Sonic, won song of the year, a category with a total of 10 nominees and fierce competition. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The Grammy, awarded to the songwriters of a song, went to the group’s members, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, along with Christopher Brody Brown and Dernst Emile II, better known as D’Mile, who dedicated the win to his mother. , who died on Wednesday. †
“Thanks to you Andy and I will sing this song forever,” Mars said at the microphone.
Anderson .Paak, whose first comments squeaked when he seemed to adjust the zipper on his pants, agreed: “For the rest of our lives! We love you!”
“Leave the Door Open” topped an extensive field that also included Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License”; “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish; “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat (with SZA); Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” (with Daniel Caesar and Giveon); “Right on Time” by Brandi Carlile; Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”; “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran; “A Beautiful Noise” by Carlile and Alicia Keys; and “Fight for You” by HER, which last year won the award for a protest song, “I Can’t Breathe.”
The award was presented by Questlove, who previously won the preshow, for “Summer of Soul,” which was named Best Music Film. Referring to the film’s win at the Oscars last weekend — a celebration that immediately followed Will Smith punching Chris Rock — Questlove said, “I trust you guys to stay 150 feet away from me.”
