‘Tis the season to acknowledge queer art, and what better way to do so than to look back at which queer artists have been acknowledged. While historically LGBTQIA+ musicians have often been sidelined and denied the recognition that they so often have deserved, there have been quite a few who have fought for their flowers, especially in recent years. At the Grammys, as cultural acceptance has increased, the number of queer winners has also increased. Here’s a look at the biggest queer winners at this awards show.
Pierre Boulez (unconfirmed) – 26 wins
There are reasons to believe that classical conductor Pierre Boulez was a queer man, especially given his close relationship with his assistant Hans Messner. Boulez never publicly came out, but if he was indeed gay, then that makes him the most awarded queer artist in Grammy history. Throughout his illustrious career, the conductor and composer won 26 times, tied with John Williams for the second most wins by a classical artist.
Vladimir Horowitz – 25 wins
Fellow classical musician Vladimir Horowitz was in a similar situation as Boulez, widely believed to be gay but not publicly confirmed by the man himself. His assistant Kenneth Leedom alleged a relationship with him. And according to his biography, written by author Glen Plaskin, Horowitz underwent intense psychiatric procedures in attempts to rid himself of his homosexuality. Throughout his career, the virtuoso won 25 Grammys, the fourth most for a classical artist.
Leonard Bernstein – 16 wins
Composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is next, with 16 wins. Throughout his life he had relationships with both men and women. His Grammy-awarded discography includes Album of the Year – Classical winners “Bernstein: Symphony No. 3 ‘Kaddish,'” “Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand)” and “Concert of the Century.”
Lady Gaga – 13 wins
Lady Gaga is a gay icon and a bisexual woman herself, so it’s an honor to say that she is also the most awarded queer woman in Grammy history. Gaga has won 13 times throughout her career, winning her first two in 2010 for Best Dance/Electronic Album (“The Fame”) and Best Dance/Electronic Recording (“Poker Face”). The singer-songwriter is also one of the most celebrated artists in pop, tied for the most wins by a woman in that field with seven.
Brandi Carlile – 11 wins
Americana superstar Brandi Carlile has collected a whopping 11 golden gramophones, which is even more impressive when you take into account that her first win was just five years ago. Carlile was first nominated for Best Americana Album, but didn’t win, for her album “The Firewatcher’s Daughter.” Then came her real breakthrough at the 2019 Grammys with “By The Way, I Forgive You,” which earned six nominations, including Album, Song and Record of the Year, and swept the Americana categories for a total of three Grammys. Her performance that year of her two-time winning “The Joke” helped boost Carlile’s profile significantly, especially with the song’s uplifting message directed towards queer people and women. Carlile has won Grammys almost every year since, both for her own work as well as for her work as a producer for legends like Tanya Tucker and Joni Mitchell. Carlile has also been a genre chameleon at the awards, getting multiple nominations for pop, country, Americana, and rock, winning in all but the first.
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