Nothing marks success in a musician’s career quite like a Grammy Award — especially the most coveted statue in the race, album of the year. Though several musicians have been decorated many times over with golden gramophones, only an elite few have secured the top prize since America’s grandest music ceremony began in 1959.
Some more recent album of the year winners include Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Jon Batiste, Kacey Musgraves, Bruno Mars, Adele, Beck, Daft Punk and Mumford & Sons, but the honor dates all the way back to Henry Mancini’s inaugural win for The Music From Peter Gun, which beat out industry legends like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Sinatra, however, ranks among the select group of repeat album of the year winners, which also includes Tom Coyne, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.
Two of the award’s more recent recipients, Adele and Swift, are the only women to have taken home the high honor more than once, for 21 and 25, as well as Folklore, Fearless and 1989, respectively. With Fearless, Swift surpassed Alanis Morissette as the category’s youngest victor at 20 years old. Styles is the current album of the year holder, winning in 2023 for Harry’s House.
This year, the nominees for album of the year are World Music Radio (Jon Batiste), the record (boygenius), Endless Summer Vacation (Miley Cyrus), Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Lana Del Rey), The Age Of Pleasure (Janelle Monáe), GUTS (Olivia Rodrigo), Midnights (Taylor Swift) and SOS (SZA). The winner will be revealed Sunday when the 66th annual Grammy Awards are handed out.
Read about more of the past album of the year champs below.
This story was originally published on Feb. 14, 2016.
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1959: The Music From Peter Gunn
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Henry Mancini
Producer: Simon Rady
Other Grammy Wins: Best Arrangement
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1960: Come Dance With Me!
Image Credit: GAB Archive/Redferns Artist: Frank Sinatra
Producer: Dave Cavanaugh
Other Grammy Wins: Best Vocal Performance (Male)
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1961: The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart
Image Credit: Gerald Smith/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Artist: Bob Newhart
Other Grammy Wins: Best Comedy Performance (Musical), Best New Artist
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1962: Judy at Carnegie Hall
Image Credit: Bettmann Archive Artist: Judy Garland
Other Grammy Wins: Best Solo Vocal Performance (Female)
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1963: The First Family
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Vaughn Meader
Producers: Bob Booker, Earle Doud and George Foster
Other Grammy Win: Best Comedy Performance
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1964: The Barbra Streisand Album
Image Credit: Columbia Records/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Artist: Barbra Streisand
Producer: Mike Berniker
Other Grammy Wins: Best Vocal Performance (Female)
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1965: Getz/Gilberto
Image Credit: PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Artist: Joao Gilberto & Stan Getz
Producer: Creed Taylor
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year (“The Girl From Ipanema”), Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Small Group or Soloist with Small Group
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1966: September of My Years
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Frank Sinatra
Producer: Sonny Burke
Other Grammy Wins: Best Vocal Performance (Male) (“It Was A Very Good Year”)
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1967: A Man and His Music
Image Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images Artist: Frank Sinatra
Producer: Sonny Burke
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) (“Strangers In The Night”)
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1968: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Image Credit: John Downing/Getty Images Artist: Beatles
Producer: George Martin
Other Grammy Wins: Best Contemporary Album
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1969: By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Glen Campbell
Producer: Al De Lory
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1970: Blood, Sweat and Tears
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Blood, Sweat and Tears
Producer: James William Guercio
Other Grammy Wins: Best Contemporary Instrumental Performance (“Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie”)
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1971: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Image Credit: Bettmann Archive Artist: Simon and Garfunkel* Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel
Producers: Roy Halee & Simon and Garfunkel
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Contemporary Song, and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”)
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1972: Tapestry
Image Credit: Jim McCrary/Redferns Artist: Carole King
Producer: Lou Adler
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year (“It’s Too Late”), Song of the Year (“You’ve Got a Friend”), Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female)
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1973: The Concert for Bangladesh
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artists: George Harrison, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar & Ringo Starr
Producers: George Harrison & Phil Spector
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1974: Innervisions
Image Credit: CBS via Getty Images Artist: Stevie Wonder
Producer: Stevie Wonder
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Performance (“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”), Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male) & Best Rhythms & Blue Song (“Superstition”)
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1975: Fulfillingness First Finale
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Stevie Wonder
Producer: Stevie Wonder
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male), Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male), Best Rhythms & Blues Song (“Living for the City”)
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1976: Still Crazy After All These Years
Image Credit: CBS via Getty Images Artist: Paul Simon
Producers: Paul Simon, Phil Ramone
Other Grammy Win: Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male)
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1977: Songs in the Key of Life
Image Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Artist: Stevie Wonder
Producer: Stevie Wonder
Other Grammy Wins: Best Producer of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, Best R&B Vocal Performance (Male) (“I Wish”)
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1978: Rumours
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Producers: Fleetwood Mac, Ken Caillat & Richard Dashut
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1979: Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
Image Credit: Bettmann Archive Artist: Bee Gees
Producers: Ably Galuten, Arif Mardin, Bee Gees* (Barry Gibb*, Maurice Gibb*, Robin Gibb*), Bill Oakes, Bobby Martin, Broadway Eddie, David Shire*, Freddie Perren, Harry Wayne Casey*, K.G. Productions, Karl Richardson, Ralph MacDonald*, Richard Finch*, Ron Kersey, Thomas J. Valentino & William Salter
Other Grammy Wins: Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Producer of the Year
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1980: 52nd Street
Image Credit: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Artist: Billy Joel
Producer: Phil Ramone
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male)
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1981: Christopher Cross
Image Credit: Tom Gates/Getty Images Artist: Christopher Cross
Producer: Michael Omartian
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Song of the Year & Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists (“Sailing”), Best New Artist
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1982: Double Fantasy
Image Credit: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images Artist: John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Producer: Jack Douglas, John Lennon & Yoko Ono
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1983: Toto IV
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Artist: Toto
Producer: Bobby Kiumbal, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Michael Porcaro, Steve Porcaro
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year (“Rosanna”), Producer of the Year
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1984: Thriller
Image Credit: CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection Artist: Michael Jackson
Producer: Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male (“Beat It”), Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male) (“Thriller”), Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male & Best Rhythm & Blues Song (“Billie Jean”), Best Recording for Children (“E.T. The Extra Terrestrial”), Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)
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1985: Can’t Slow Down
Image Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images Artist: Lionel Richie
Producer: James Anthony Carmichael & Lionel Richie
Other Grammy Wins: Producer of the Year (Non-Classical
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1986: No Jacket Required
Image Credit: Bettmann Archive Artist: Phil Collins
Producer: Hugh Padgham & Phil Collins
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)
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1987: Graceland
Image Credit: Bettmann Artist: Paul Simon
Producer: Paul Simon
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1988: Joshua Tree
Image Credit: Bettmann Artist: U2
Producer: Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
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1989: Faith
Image Credit: Frans Schellekens/Redferns Artist: George Michael
Producer: George Michael
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1990: Nick of Time
Image Credit: CBS via Getty Images Artist: Bonnie Raitt
Producer: Don Was
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female) & Best Rock Vocal Performance (“Nick of Time”), Best Traditional Blues Recording (“I’m in the Mood”)
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1991: Back on the Block
Image Credit: Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images Artist: Quincy Jones
Producer: Quincy Jones
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, Best Jazz Fusion Performance & Best Arrangement on an Instrumental (“Birdland’), Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)
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1992: Unforgettable with Love
Image Credit: Rick Maiman/Sygma via Getty Images Artist: Natalie Cole
Producers: Andre Fischer, David Foster & Tommy LiPuma
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Traditional Pop Performance (“Unforgettable”)
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1993: Unplugged
Image Credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Artist: Eric Clapton
Producer: Russ Titelman
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Song of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance (“Tears in Heaven”), Best Rock Vocal Performance (Male), Best Rock Song (“Layla”)
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1994: The Bodyguard Soundtrack
Image Credit: Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images Artist: Whitney Houston
Producer: Babyface, BeBe Winans, David Cole, David Foster, L.A. Reid, Narada Michael Walden & Robert Clivilles
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female (“I Will Always Love You”)
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1995: MTV Unplugged — Tony Bennett
Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Artist: Tony Bennett
Producer: David Kahne
Other Grammy Wins: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance
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1996: Jagged Little Pill
Image Credit: Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Artist: Alanis Morissette
Producer: Glen Ballard
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rock Album, Best Rock Vocal Performance (Female) & Best Rock Song (“You Oughta Know”)
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1997: Falling Into You
Image Credit: JON LEVY/AFP via Getty Images Artist: Celine Dion
Producers: Aldo Nova, Billy Steinberg, Dan Hill, David Foster, Humberto Gatica, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jeff Bova, Jim Steinman, John Jones, Ric Wake, Rick Hahn, Rick Nowels, Roy Bittan & Steven Rinkoff
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Album
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1998: Time Out of Mind
Image Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images Artist: Bob Dylan
Producer: Daniel Lanois
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rock Vocal Performance (Male) (“Cold Irons Bound”), Best Contemporary Folk Album
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1999: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Image Credit: SGranitz/WireImage Artist: Laurlyn Hill
Producer: Lauryn Hill
Other Grammy Wins: Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance & Best Rhythm & Blues Song (“Doo Wop”), Best R&B Album
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2000: Supernatural
Image Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images Artist: Santana
Producer: Alex Gonzales, Art Hodge, Charles Goodan, Clive Davis, Dante Ross, Dust Brothers, Fher Olvera, Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis, KC Porter, Lauryn Hill, Matt Serletic, Stephen M. Harris & Wyclef Jean
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Smooth”), Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“El Farol”), Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Put Your Lights On”), Best Rock Instrumental Performance (“The Calling”), Best Rock Album
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2001: Two Against Nature
Image Credit: Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images Artist: Steely Dan
Producers: Donald Fagen & Walter Becker
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Cousin Dupree”), Best Pop Vocal Album
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2002: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Image Credit: SGranitz/WireImage Artist: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Producer: T Bone Burnett (pictured)
Other Grammy Wins: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“The Lucky One”), Best Bluegrass Album
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2003: Come Away With Me
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage Artist: Norah Jones
Producers: Arif Mardin, Craig Street, and Jay Newland & Norah Jones
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female) (“Don’t Know Why”), Best New Artist, and Best Pop Vocal Album
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2004: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Image Credit: Getty Images Artist: OutKast
Producers: Andre 3000, Big Boi & Carl Mo
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rap Album, Best Urban/Alternative Performance (“Hey Ya!”)
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2005: Genius Loves Company
Image Credit: M. Caulfield/WireImage for The Recording Academy Artist: Ray Charles (award accepted by Joe Adams, manager of the late singer)
Producers: Don Mizell, Herbert Waltl, John R. Burk, Phil Ramone and Terry Howard
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year & Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (“Here We Go Again”), Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical), Best Surround Sound Album, Best Gospel Performance
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2006: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Image Credit: Dan MacMedan/WireImage for The Recording Academy Artist: U2
Producer: Brian Eno, Chris Thomas, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Jacknife Lee & Steve Lillywhite
Other Grammy Wins: Song of the Year & Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”), Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song (“City of Blinding Lights”)
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2007: Taking the Long Way
Image Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage Artist: Dixie Chicks
Producer: Rick Rubin
Other Grammy Wins: Best Country Album, Record of the Year & Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Not Ready to Make Nice”)
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2008: River — The Joni Letters
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Artist: Herbie Hancock
Producers: Larry Klein, Herbie Hancock
Other Grammy Wins: Best Contemporary Jazz Album
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2009: Raising Sand
Image Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images Artist: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Producer: T Bone Burnett
Other Grammy Wins: Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album, Record of the Year (“Please Read the Letter”), Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (“Rich Woman”)
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2010: Fearless
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Artist: Taylor Swift
Producers: Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift
Other Grammy Wins: Best Country Album, Best Female Country Vocal Performance & Best Country Song (“White Horse”)
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2011: The Suburbs
Image Credit: Getty Images Artist: Arcade Fire
Producers: Arcade Fire (William Butler, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Jeremy Gara, Timothy Kingsbury, Sarah Neufeld, Richard Reed Parry) & Markus Dravs
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2012: 21
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Artist: Adele
Producer: Adele, Dan Wilson, Fraser T. Smith, Jim Abbiss, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin & Ryan Tedder
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year & Song of the Year & Best Short Form Music Video (“Rolling in the Deep”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Someone Like You”)
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2013: Babel
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/WireImage Artist: Mumford & Sons
Producer: Markus Dravs
Other Grammy Wins: Best Long Form Music Video (“Big Easy Express”)
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2014: Random Access Memories
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Artist: Daft Punk
Producer: Thomas Bangalter, Julian Casablancas, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, DJ Falcon & Todd Edwards
Other Grammy Wins: Best Dance/Electronica Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical), and Record of the Year & Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Get Lucky”)
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2015: Morning Phase
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Artist: Beck
Producer: Beck Hansen
Other Grammy Wins: Best Rock Album, Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical)
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2016: 1989
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Artist: Taylor Swift
Producer: Max Martin, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Nathan Chapman, Imogen Heap, Greg Kurstin, Mattman & Robin, Ali Payami, Shellback, Ryan Tedder, Noel Zancanella
Other Grammy Wins: Pop Vocal Album, Music Video (“Bad Blood”)
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2017: 25
Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Artist: Adele
Producer: Danger Mouse, Samuel Dixon, Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Ariel Rechtshaid, Shellback, The Smeezingtons & Ryan Tedder
Other Grammy Wins: Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year (“Hello”), Record of the Year (“Hello”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“Hello”)
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2018: 24K Magic
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS Artist: Bruno Mars
Producer: Shampoo Press & Curl, The Stereotypes, Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker
Other Grammy Wins: Best R&B Album, Record of the Year (“24K Magic”), Song of the Year (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Performance (“That’s What I Like”)
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2019: Golden Hour
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Artist: Kacey Musgraves
Producer: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, producers
Other Grammy Wins: Best Country Album, Best Country Song (“Space Cowboy”), Best Country Solo Performance (“Butterflies”)
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2020: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Artist: Billie Eilish
Producer: Finneas O’Connell
Other Grammy Wins: Record of the Year (“Bad Guy”), Song of the Year (“Bad Guy”), Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (and Producer of the Year — Non-Classical for Finneas)
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2021: Folklore
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Artist: Taylor Swift
Producer: Joe Alwyn, Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift
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2022: We Are
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Artist: Jon Batiste
Producer: Jon Batiste, Mikey Freedom Hart, DJ Khalil, King Garbage, Kizzo, Sunny Levine, Nate Mercereau, David Pimentel, Ricky Reed, Autumn Rowe, Jahaan Sweet & Nick Waterhouse
Other Grammy Wins: Best American Roots Performance (“Cry”), Best American Roots Song (“Cry”), Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Soul), Best Music Video (“Freedom”)
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2023: Harry’s House
Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Artist: Harry Styles
Producers: Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon and Sammy Witte
Other Grammy wins: Best Pop Vocal Album; Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
