1.
Lionel Richie (1983 vs. 2021)
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, Theo Wargo / Getty Images
Then: He won his first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. (He was nominated for Grammy Awards before this, but the 1983 ceremony had the earliest photos we could find.)
Now: He performed for the “In Memoriam.”
2.
Beyoncé (2000 vs. 2021)
Ron Davis / Getty Images, Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best R&B Song with Destiny’s Child.
Now: She was a guest and won Best R&B Performance, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. She also made history by winning her 28th Grammy Award — the most for any female artist.
3.
Taylor Swift (2008 vs. 2021)
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best New Artist.
Now: She was a performer and won Album of the Year.
4.
John Legend (2003 vs. 2021)
Carlo Allegri / Getty Images, Arturo Holmes / Getty Images
Then: He was nominated for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
Now: He was a virtual performer and won Best R&B Album.
5.
Chrissy Teigen (2005 vs. 2021)
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images, @chrissyteigen / instagram.com
Then: She was attending with John Legend in support of his noms.
Now: She attended the ceremony virtually from her home.
6.
John Mayer (2003 vs. 2021)
Robert Gauthier / Getty Images, Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Then: He won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Now: He performed alongside Maren Morris.
7.
Bruno Mars (2011 vs. 2021)
Kevin Mazur / WireImage, Theo Wargo / Getty Images
Then: He won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Now: He was a performer and debuted his first Silk Sonic song with Anderson .Paak.
8.
Brandi Carlile (2016 vs. 2021)
Valerie Macon / Getty Images, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best Americana Album.
Now: She was a performer and won Best Country Song.
9.
Miranda Lambert (2008 vs. 2021)
Lester Cohen / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Now: She performed and won Best Country Album.
10.
Maren Morris (2017 vs. 2021)
Mark Ralston / Getty Images, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She won her first Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance.
Now: She was a performer and nominated for Best Country Song.
11.
Haim (2015 vs. 2021)
Dan Macmedan / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: They were nominated for Best New Artist.
Now: They performed and were nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance.
12.
Jack Antonoff (2013 vs. 2021)
Dan Macmedan / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: He won Song of the Year and Best New Artist with his band Fun.
Now: He was nominated for Best Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and won Album of the Year with Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner.
13.
Aaron Dessner (2014 vs. 2021)
Jeff Vespa / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: He was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album with the National.
Now: He won Album of the Year with Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift.
14.
Anderson .Paak (2017 vs. 2021)
Mark Ralston / Getty Images, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: He was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Now: He won Best Melodic Rap Performance and, as I said earlier, debuted his first Silk Sonic song.
15.
Brittany Howard (2013 vs. 2021)
Kevin Mazur / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was a performer and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rock Performance with Alabama Shakes.
Now: She won for Best Rock Song.
16.
Chris Martin (2003 vs. 2021)
Michael Caulfield Archive / WireImage, Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Then: His band, Coldplay, won Best Rocker Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Alternative Music Album. They also won Best Alternative Music Album the year before, but Chris wasn’t at the ceremony.
Now: He performed for the “In Memoriam.”
17.
Jhené Aiko (2015 vs. 2021)
Jeff Vespa / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Now: She hosted the pre-gala ceremony and was nominated for Album of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best Progressive R&B Album.
18.
Julia Michaels (2018 vs. 2021)
Dan Macmedan / WireImage, Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Then: She was nominated for Best New Artist and Song of the Year.
Now: She was nominated for Song of the Year.
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