Jon Batiste Clinches Major Victories at Grammys

The 2022 Grammy awards ceremony took place last night, showcasing the prowess and triumphs of numerous stalwarts in today’s music scene, such as Billie Eilish, Silk Sonic, Olivia Rodrigo, and others. A standout among the achievers of the event undoubtedly is Jon Batiste, who walked away with an impressive haul of five Grammy awards, with several of them being the most sought-after prizes.

While having received nominations for 11 categories, Batiste emerged victorious in best American roots performance, best American roots song, best score soundtrack for visual media, and best music video for “Freedom.” However, his crowning achievement lies in winning the album of the year title for his contribution to We Are. This milestone not only adds to the list of Batiste’s consistently outstanding career achievements but also marks a historic moment as he becomes the first Black artist to claim this award since Herbie Hancock’s victory for River: The Joni Letters back in 2008.

.@JonBatiste secured Album of the Year at the 2022 #GRAMMYs https://t.co/OhakZvpdXi

— billboard (@billboard) April 4, 2022

During his acceptance speech, Batiste remarked, “I dedicate myself daily to honing my craft… It transcends mere entertainment for me; it’s a form of spiritual devotion. Just be authentic, that’s all.” He further expressed that the notion of a “best” song or album is subjective, stating that “a song or album is created with an inherent ability to resonate with an individual precisely when they need it the most.”