R&B artist HER won the Grammy for Song of the Year for her George Floyd-inspired track I Can't Breathe.
Written in response to the Black Lives Matter protests caused by the deaths of black Americans Floyd and Eric Garner in police custody, soul singer HER (real name Gabriella Wilson) won the marquee prize amid a strong nominees list that included Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Beyonce.
With the title taken from the final words of Floyd, who suffocated to death in 2020 during an arrest attempt in Minneapolis, the haunting song went on capture the anger and anguish that resulted in nationwide mass protests across the US.
While grateful the song played as a soundtrack to an important moment in US race relations, HER, 23, said she composed I Can't Breathe to also sooth her own despair.
"I didn't imagine that my fear and that my pain would turn into impact," she said while accepting the award. "I want to thank God for giving me the gift of a voice and a pen and using me as a vessel to create change."
She also described how the intimacy of the song, with its languid drums, guitar strums and restrained bass lines, stems from being composed at home.
"I recorded this song by myself in my bedroom at my mom's house," she said. "And I want to thank my dad – he cried. He was in tears when I wrote the song and I played it for him. He was the first person I played it for."
HER finished her speech with a plea to continue supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Remember, we are the change that we wish to see, and that fight that we had in us. The summer of 2020 – keep that same energy."
The Song of the Year award capped a successful night for the singer-songwriter who won two awards out of three nominations.
In the pre-televised portion of the ceremony, she also picked up the Best RnB Song for Better Than I Imagined, a collaboration with jazz musician Robert Glasper and singer Meshell Ndegeocello.
In 2020, she lost out in all five Grammy categories she was nominated for, including Song of the Year for Hard Place.
Scroll through our gallery below to see top moments from the 63rd Grammy Awards.
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From left: Laura Sisk, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Low and Aaron Dessner accept the Album of the Year award for ‘Folklore’ onstage during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. AFP -
HER, left, and Tiara Thomas accept the Song of the Year award for 'I Can't Breathe' onstage during the 63rd Grammy Awards. AFP -
Billie Eilish and Finneas accept the Record of the Year award for 'Everything I Wanted' from Ringo Starr onstage during the 63rd Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. AFP -
BTS performing 'Dynamite' during the 63rd Grammy Awards ceremony. EPA -
Bruno Mars, right, and Anderson .Paak, left, perform during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AFP -
Chris Martin and Brittany Howard perform during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AFP -
K-Pop band BTS performs during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. AFP -
US country singer Miranda Lambert performs during the 63rd Grammy Awards. AFP -
Maren Morris and John Mayer perform onstage during the 63rd Grammy Awards. AFP -
Beyonce and Megan Thee Stallion accept the Best Rap Performance award for 'Savage' onstage during the 63rd Grammy Awards. AFP -
HER winner of the Best R&B Song award for 'Better Than I Imagined' and the Song of the Year award for 'I Can't Breathe' poses in the media room during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. AFP -
Taylor Swift reacts after being named winner of the Album of the Year award for ‘Folklore’ during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AFP -
US singer Doja Cat performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. Getty Images -
US singer Beyonce accepts the Best R&B Performance award for 'Black Parade' onstage during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. Getty Images -
British singer Dua Lipa accepts the Best Pop Vocal Album for 'Future Nostalgia' onstage during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. Getty Images -
Lil Baby performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards Ceremony broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Getty Images -
British singer Harry Styles bumps elbow with US singer Billie Eilish as they attend the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. AFP -
US rapper Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AFP -
US rapper Cardi B performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Getty Images -
US rapper Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. Getty Images -
US country singer Miranda Lambert accepts the Best Country Album award for 'Wildcard' onstage during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center. Getty Images -
Kaytranada poses with the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Dance Recording in the media room during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. Getty -
US rapper Lizzo announces the Best New Artist award onstage during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Getty Images -
Este Haim, Alana Haim, and Daneille Haim of HAIM perform onstage during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. Getty Images -
US singer Billie Eilish performs with her brother Finneas during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AFP -
British singer Harry Styles performs during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. Getty Images
