Who has won the most Grammys in the history of the award ceremony?

The music industry’s premier, most prestigious awards ceremony The Grammys celebrates its 64th edition in Los Angeles on Sunday. As always, the gala will acknowledge the accomplishment of the very best musicians, performers, songwriters and producers of the past year.

Over the years, many household names have been awarded Grammys - especially those involved in popular music. Stars and living legends such as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, U2 have won multiple awards. Then there are perhaps lesser known artists such as conductor Sir Georg Solti, who is acclaimed for his worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sir Georg Solti, multi-Grammy winner

Up until quite recently (last year to be precise), Solti held the record as the individual to have won the most Grammys. He won a total of 31 during his lifetime, and was nominated 74 times. He collected his first award, Best Opera Recording, in 1962 for his rendition of Verdi’s Aida, performed by the Rome Opera House Orchestra. It was the first of eight awards that he would win in that category -  others followed in 1966, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1994 and posthumously in 1997, the year of his death, or his conducting of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg.

Beyoncé, Queen of the Grammys

In 2023, Solti was surpassed by American R’n’B soul singer Beyoncé, who holds the record with 32 Grammys - more than any other solo artist or group. The 42-year-old Texan singer, who incidentally is also the artist to have the most Grammy nominations in history with 88 (she shares that honor with her husband, Jay-Z), picked up her first Grammy award in 2002 when she was still a member of Destiny’s Child. With her bandmates, she won three Grammys: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song (“Say My Name”) in 2001, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals again the following year for “Survivor”.

The Crazy in Love singer was just one away from a clean sweep of awards at the 46th edition, held in February 2004. Out of six nominations, she won five for her critically acclaimed solo debut Dangerously in Love. But that wasn’t her most prolific night at the Grammys - in 2010, Beyoncé received 10 nominations and went home with six awards (Michael Jackson and Carlos Santana jointly share the record, taking home eight each in 1984 and 2000 respectively).

The 2024 Grammys, which will be hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, will take place on Sunday 4 February 2024, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. There will be three new categories at the 2024 Grammys: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.