The 2023 65th Annual Grammy Awards was a night to remember for many reasons, and one of them is the historic win of Kim Petras. Kim Petras, the German singer-songwriter, won the best pop duo/group performance category alongside Sam Smith for their song “Unholy” and became the first transgender woman to ever win in this category. This momentous achievement is an inspiration to all current and future trans musicians who face discrimination in the music industry.
In this blog post, we are going to take a look at Kim Petras’s historic win and the journey that led her to this moment. Petras and Smith looked gorgeous when they walked the red carpet with drag artists Violet Chachki and Gottmik. As Sam and Petras walked up to accept their award, the English singer-songwriter gave the stage to Petras to have her moment. Petras expressed her admiration for the avant-garde pop producer and musician Sophie, who passed away at the age of 34 in 2021. She also honored Madonna for fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA+ musicians in the industry.
Petras shared that she wouldn’t be where she is without Madonna. She also mentioned that Smith had requested her to speak during the acceptance speech because of the achievement. She said getting a Grammy for making gay club music with Sam Smith was the “best feeling in the world,” reported The Economic Times. She gave her mother a heartfelt nod as she departed the platform and was given a warm embrace by Smith. Petras emphasized that it was her mother’s early confidence in her that helped her win the coveted prize.
The singer told PEOPLE in November 2022 that the success of their song is “a huge middle finger to all the [record] labels that were like, ‘We don’t know how to market you,’ and to everyone who doubted me and said I couldn’t achieve this because of my gender identity.” She added, “Look at me now, bitches!” She further recalled, “Ten years ago, the world was very different. That’s when I started going around to record labels, and a lot of f***ed up things were said to me. I was told, ‘You will never make it in this industry.’ I was treated very unfairly.”
Petras persisted in her grind and independently released songs despite the criticism. Petras, whose dance-pop hit “I Don’t Want It at All” originally achieved streaming fame in 2017, has amassed a fervent fan base that is largely queer and trans. Her Grammy win becomes an inspiration for all current and future trans musicians who face discrimination in the music industry.
Kim Petras’s historic win at the 2023 65th Annual Grammy Awards is a beacon of hope for all current and future trans musicians who face discrimination in the music industry. Her story of resilience and determination is an inspiration to all of us. Her win is a reminder that hard work and perseverance can help us achieve our dreams, no matter what the odds. We hope that her win will help create a more inclusive music industry where all musicians are given the same opportunities to succeed.
Source: scoop.upworthy.com