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 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.