Before the 2023 Grammys, the record for most Grammy wins was held by the 31 claimed by classical music figure Georg Solti — a benchmark set all the way back in 1997 when he earned his final prize, for best opera recording. Solti died that same year.
However, there is a new record holder.
Beyoncé made history at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, presented on Feb. 5 in Los Angeles as she won four awards bringing her career total to 32 awards.
The superstar won best dance/electronic recording for “Break My Soul,” best traditional R&B performance for “Plastic Off the Sofa,” best R&B song for “Cuff It” and best dance/electronic album for Renaissance.
The superstar has been setting records at the Grammys for years. In 2010, she became the first female artist to win six Grammys in one night. In 2020, she became the woman with the most career Grammy wins (28), surpassing Alison Krauss.
Beyoncé won her first two Grammys with Destiny’s Child in 2001 for “Say My Name.” The classic took best R&B song and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal.
Beyoncé has received a record-tying 88 nominations, including nine this year.
Solti amassed his 31 Grammys between 1963 and 1998. The Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor won best opera recording in 1963 for Verdi: Aida. Solti won in that same category posthumously in 1998 for conducting Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg.
Solti’s biggest night at the Grammys came in 1984, when he won four awards, including two for Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D, which was voted best classical album and best orchestral recording. Solti was one of the night’s biggest winners, along with Michael Jackson, who took a record-setting eight awards, and Quincy Jones, who also won four. That was the highest-rated Grammy telecast in history.
Even though Beyoncé has taken the overall title, Solti remains the person born outside the U.S. with the most Grammys. Solti was born in Hungary. Solti received a trustees award in 1967 and a lifetime achievement award in 1996. He died in September 1997 at age 84.
