On February 5, 2023, the grammy for best pop duo/group performance was awarded to Kim Petras and Sam Smith for their hit song “Unholy.” Kim Petras made history by being the first openly transgender artist to receive a grammy.
If you don’t know her, Kim Petras is a pop artist originating from Germany. Petras first began making music in 2008 and has grown to be a well-known artist in the pop world. She was most notably the supporting act for Troye Sivan’s “The Bloom Tour” in 2018 and has even been a special guest for Charli XCX and Rita Ora. Petras’ music is eccentric and has been labeled as “bubble-gum pop.”
The Grammy-winning song “Unholy” was released on September 22, 2022, and became an instant TikTok sensation even before the release. Many users fell in love with the snippet posted by Sam Smith in august 2022 which features Smith and Petras dancing to the previously unreleased chorus of “Unholy.” The song not only went viral on TikTok, but it also achieved 5.9 million streams in the United Kingdom the first week after its release.
At the 65th annual grammy awards, “Unholy” won for best pop duo/group performance and was performed live shortly after the win. This award not only made history with Petras being the first openly transgender artist but with Smith being the first openly non-binary artist to win a grammy. Fans were ecstatic to see two artists within the LGBTQIA+ community achieve a first within the recording academy, but it definitely will not be the last. This win not only opens the door for many but inspires those within the LGBTQIA+ community to pursue their dreams regardless of their identity.
Congratulations to Grammy winners Kim Petras and Sam Smith!