Why Isn't Beyoncé at the Grammys?

Jay Z and Beyoncé at the pre-Grammy gala

(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

published 27 January 2020

The Grammys this year have been a mix of all my favorite things: songs getting the recognition that have been stuck in my head for months; sweet tributes to some of the greats; and, of course, red carpet fashion. What seems to be the only thing missing is the Queen B herself, Beyoncé Knowles.

The icon had four nominations tonight for her The Lion King: The Gift album—Best Pop Solo Performance ("Spirit"), Best Pop Vocal Album (The Lion King: The Gift), Best Song Written for Visual Media ("Spirit"), and Best Music Film (Homecoming).

Short answer: We don't know why Beyoncé gave tonight a miss, but she must have had a good reason. Given that we're now inching towards the end of the evening, even Béyonce isn't likely to be that fashionably late. And while she may not been at the event tonight, she previously attended two pre-Grammy events this weekend: the Roc Nation brunch and Clive Davis Pre-Grammys Gala, where she obviously looked stunning. At the Roc Nation brunch, the 23-time Grammy winner sported a gray minidress by Italian designer Francesco Murano—and then she turned it up a notch in a hot red Valdrin Sahiti gown.

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)
A photo posted by on

In a recent interview with ELLE, Beyoncé spoke about whether or not she was sad that Lemonade didn't win any of the Grammys' most prestigious categories when it was nominated during the 2017 ceremony. "I began to search for deeper meaning when life began to teach me lessons I didn’t know I needed. Success looks different to me now. I learned that all pain and loss is, in fact, a gift."

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Bianca Rodriguez is the Audience Development Manager at Future, covering fashion, beauty, and more for Marie Claire, Who What Wear US and Who What Wear UK. In addition to spearheading SEO content across brands—whether writing about wardrobe must-haves or strategizing how to make eye-catching content—she is also an avid reader with a deep love and knowledge for books of all genres. More often than not, you can find her lounging with a good book on the weekend.