This was a Grammys of firsts

Awards prove to be pretty historical

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Emily Lazar, Grammy winner of Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for 'Colors' 

The 61st annual Grammy Awards were pretty historical, from women to rap and several "firsts."

Here are a few of the highlights:

Emily Lazar earned an on-air shout-out

Host Alicia Keys offered up during the televised portion of the show that Lazar had earlier become the first woman mastering engineer to ever win the best engineered album, non-classical for Beck's "Colors."

Brandi Carlile makes LGBTQ history

The singer became the first LGBTQ person to win a Grammy in the best Americana album category for "By the Way, I Forgive You."

Carlile also won awards for best American roots performance and best American roots song for "The Joke."

Childish Gambino posts two historical wins

"This Is America" became the first rap single to win both song of the year and record of the year.

There is a difference between the two awards.

Song of the year is awarded to the songwriters, while record of the year goes to the performer as well as those instrumental in creating the single, including the engineer and the producer(s).

Gambino -- aka Donald Glover -- did not attend the ceremony.


Cardi B. was flustered Sunday night when she accepted the best rap album Grammy for "Invasion of Privacy."

It was understandable, because she was the first solo woman artist to win.

She joked a bit about it while holding on to her husband Offset's hand for support.

"The nerves are so bad," she said. "Maybe I need to start smoking weed."
