The start of every new year also brings out a new season that many look forward to – award season. Kickstarted with the Golden Globes, all of the biggest celebrities showcase red-carpet outfits as artists and actors alike receive awards for their hard work from the past year. Main events like the Emmys, Grammys and the Oscars will have millions of viewers worldwide, each hoping that their favorite movie, song or TV show will win an award.
While many are there for iconic looks and celebrity drama, awards season is to honor the hard work that has been put into the past year with the release of new movies, shows and music. The 2024 season was extra special, as the Emmys, postponed since September due to the SAGA-AFTRA strike, finally took place on Jan. 15, and with it, many hit TV shows such as “Succession,” “The Bear” and “Beef” took home multiple awards. The Emmys also made history, as Sir Elton John joined the EGOT club, having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony; Quinta Brunson won best actress in a comedy for her performance in “Abbott Elementary,” making her the first African American actress to do so since 1981.
The Emmys isn’t the only award show to make history this year, as the Oscar nominations have revealed that Lily Gladstone is in the running for Best Actress. Gladstone’s nomination for her performance in “Killers of a Flower Moon” makes her the first Native-American woman to be nominated for that category.
Despite the many achievements made this past year, there is still controversy over the award shows. The host for the Golden Globes, Jo Koy, has received immense backlash over social media due to his comments about “Barbie” and the meaning of the film. The Oscars have also received immense scrutiny, but not for its host. When the nominations were released, many rejoiced in the nominations of Lily Gladstone and America Ferrera, and many more were disappointed in the lack of nominations for female directors and actresses. There have been increased questions on why “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie were not nominated for their respective categories, especially due to the immense popularity of the film.
Ryan Gosling, a supporting actor in the hit film “Barbie,” received a nomination for his performance in the movie. He released a statement to social media concerning the controversy over the nominations.
“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement,” Gosling said in his post.
Margot Robbie, the lead actress in “Barbie,” later addressed the nominations in an interview with her fellow castmates. Rather than being angry about her own lack of nomination, she was more upset that the director, Greta Gerwig, did not receive a nomination for Best Director.
“Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director. What she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing. What she pulled off, it really is. But it’s been an incredible year for all the films,” Robbie said.
The 66th annual Grammys was held on Feb. 4, and was full of new music and surprises. Taylor Swift made history by being the first artist to ever win Album of the Year four times; Miley Cyrus won her first ever Grammy; and musical superstar Tracy Chapman made a surprise appearance to sing her hit song “Fast Car” with Luke Combs, who released a cover of the song in 2023.
Dorothy Salley (12) enjoyed watching the Grammys this year and celebrated the many ups and downs with her favorite artists.
“While I was disappointed that Noah Kahan didn’t win Best New Artist, I was really excited that Miley Cyrus finally won a Grammy. I also loved watching her perform ‘Flowers’,” Salley said.
Despite the various controversies that are sure to impact the shows each year, award season is in full swing, with celebrities from across the world coming together to celebrate each other’s achievements. Filled with magnificent red carpet outfits, celebrity drama, memorable speeches and some jokes that are laugh-worthy, the 2024 awards season has arrived.
