26th Annual Grammy Awards

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26th Annual Grammy Awards
DateFebruary 28, 1984
LocationShrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
Hosted byJohn Denver
Most awardsMichael Jackson (8)
Most nominationsMichael Jackson (12)
Television/radio coverage
NetworkCBS
Viewership51.67 million viewers (record)[1]
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The 26th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1984, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983. Michael Jackson, who had been recovering from scalp burns sustained due to an accident that occurred during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, won a record eight awards during the show.[2][3] It is notable for garnering the largest Grammy Award television audience ever with 51.67 million viewers.[4]

Album of the Year and Record of the Year went to Michael Jackson for Thriller and "Beat It", and Song of the Year went to The Police for "Every Breath You Take".

Ratings[edit]

The 26th Grammy Awards had the highest ratings in the awarding body's history with 51.67 million viewers, a record unmatched as of 2024, and is the third most watched live awards show in U.S. television history (after the 1983 and 1998 editions of the Academy Awards).[1] Donna Summer opened the show with "She Works Hard for the Money", and a tribute to working women.

Performers[edit]

Artist(s) Song(s)
Donna Summer "She Works Hard for the Money"
Big Country "In a Big Country"
Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Chuck Berry
with George Thorogood & Stevie Ray Vaughan
"Maybellene"
"Roll Over Beethoven"
Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
Phil Driscoll "Amazing Grace"
Albertina Walker "Spread the Word"
Linda Ronstadt "What's New?"
Walter Charles "We Are What We Are" / "I Am What I Am"
(from La Cage aux Folles)
Herbie Hancock "Rockit"
The Oak Ridge Boys "Love Song"
John Denver & a Muppet Dialogue tune
Sheena Easton "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)"
Wynton Marsallis
with orchestra and quartet
"A Finale"
Irene Cara "Flashdance... What a Feeling"

Winners[edit]

General[edit]

Blues[edit]

Children's[edit]

Classical[edit]

Comedy[edit]

Composing and arranging[edit]

Country[edit]

Folk[edit]

Gospel[edit]

Historical[edit]

Jazz[edit]

Latin[edit]

Musical show[edit]

Music video[edit]

Packaging and notes[edit]

Pop[edit]

Production and engineering[edit]

R&B[edit]

Rock[edit]

Spoken[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Whitney Houston Tragic Grammys Draw 39.9 Million Viewers, Second Most Watched Ever". Deadline.com. February 13, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "Grammy honors thrill Jackson". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 29 February 1984. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  3. ^ "1983 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Grammys Ratings Soar, Nab Second-Largest Audience Ever". Billboard.