Bonnie Raitt was a surprise winner of the Song of the Year award at the Grammys on Sunday, prevailing in a star-studded field of nominees that included Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Harry Styles, Beyonce and Adele.
The 73-year-old singer’s Just Like That staved off competition from Taylor Swift (All Too Well (10 Minute Version), Lizzo (About Damn Time), Harry Styles (As It Was), Steve Lacy (Bad Habit), GAYLE (abcdefu), Beyonce (Break My Soul), Adele (Easy On Me), DJ Khaled (God Did), and Kendrick Lamar (The Heart Part 5) to take home the prize.
The Burbank, California-born performer stunned when she was named the winner and made her way out on stage.
‘I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to say,’ she said. ‘I don’t write a lot of songs but I’m so proud that you appreciate this one. I’m totally humbled.’
Raitt was presented the award at Sunday’s show by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
Her victory marked the first time a song penned by a solo songwriter had been victorious since the classic Rehab from the late Amy Winehouse won in 2008.
She also paid tribute to the late singer-songwriter John Prine, who died of coronavirus in April of 2020.
Raitt described her victory in the loaded category as an ‘unreal moment’ in honor of the track, which she said was inspired by organ donors, and the late singer-songwriter Prine.
Raitt also cited songwriters in her speech, describing them as the ‘soul-digging, hard-working people who put these ideas to music.’
Raitt, during the Grammy Premiere ceremony earlier in the evening, also won the Best Americana Performance for Made Up Mind and Best American Roots Song for Just Like That.
The victorious evening brought Raitt’s total number of Grammys won to 13 over 30 all-time nominations.
Her most recent win at the show prior to Sunday came in 2013, when she collected the award for Best Americana Album for Slipstream.
Raitt said she was especially ‘proud’ to have been nominated for Song of the Year.
‘I’m always really proud to be acknowledged,’ she told People on the red carpet at the Crypto.com Arena. ‘To be acknowledged for song of the year this time is pretty big – so, for one of my tunes? That’s a big thing for me, so I’m very proud.’
Raitt – the daughter of Broadway performer John Raitt and pianist Marge Goddard – was 21 when she was signed by Warner Bros. Records, put out her self-titled debut album in 1971.
Her first Grammy nomination came at the 22nd annual Grammy Awards in 1979 for her Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female for her song You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming (Track).
Raitt had breakout success with her 1989 album Nick Of Time, which included singles including the title track, Thing Called Love, Have a Heart.
Raitt won her first four Grammy Awards with the success of the quintuple platinum album, in the categories Album Of The Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; and Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female.
She also took home the trophy for Best Traditional Blues Recording that year for the John Lee Hooker collaboration I’m In The Mood.
Her follow-up album, Luck of the Draw, in 1991 went seven-times platinum.
It spawned her highest-charting singles, Something to Talk About and I Can’t Make You Love Me.