Raye called her grandmother Agatha Dawson on stage with her as she picked up Album of the Year at the Brits on Saturday, and viewers at home were left in tears.
Looking at her grandmother, the 26-year-old singer said through tears: ‘I want to thank my grandmother for her prayers. My grandmother is up until 3 in the morning praying for me and my beautiful sisters. I love you a lot.’
Raye, who was wearing a stunning white dress, then looked out at the audience and revealed: “My middle name is Agatha and this is Agatha Dawson, ladies and gentlemen.”
She stood back and allowed Agatha, looking beautiful in traditional Ghanaian kente, to enjoy the enthusiastic applause that filled every corner of the O2.
The ‘Escapism’ singer continued: ‘I’m so sorry, I want to thank all the writers. I’m ugly crying on national television. I love music. All I wanted to be was an artist and now I’m an artist with an Album of the Year. Thank you very much, come on grandma, let’s go.’
Raye, 26, called her grandmother Agatha Dawson on stage with her as she picked up Album of the Year at the Brits on Saturday, and fans can’t get enough.
Raye said through tears: ‘I want to thank my grandmother for her prayers. My grandmother is up until 3 in the morning praying for me and my beautiful sisters. I love you a lot’
Raye won six British awards on Saturday night, the most any artist has won at once, and she celebrated in her slippers.
Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter, and said: ‘I’m not sitting here crying about Raye n.No one deserves it more than her!!! And a shout out to grandma in the kente!!!’
“Me telling my grandkids that Raye brought her grandmother Agatha on stage at the #BritAwards to accept album of the year: (GIF of man saying ‘pretty amazing’).”
“Having Raye bring her grandmother up on stage to win her album of the year and then start crying makes me emotional.”
“Raye CLEANING and his old manager gave him the album of the year award while carrying his grandmother on stage, I’m actually sobbing.”
‘Raye is emotional and crying after winning Album of the Year. We’re all excited and crying, Big up Raye and Grandma Agatha #BritAwards #Brits.’
Raye owes me a whole box of tissues! How sweet it was to go on stage with her #BRITs grandma.’
‘Raye and her grandmother make me sob. What a beautiful moment of pure love. I’m very happy for her ❤️ #thebritawards.’
‘Just saw RAYE winning ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the #BritAwards and what a beautiful tribute to her grandmother!! And I could see exactly how much this meant to her. I really cried.’
‘I don’t get excited for Raye when she brings her grandmother on stage. This is A MOMENT and she deserves it all. #BRIT.’
‘Crying for @raye and how independent she is and has been since the beginning of her career, touching moment inviting her grandmother on stage to take home another much deserved win! A true heroine. #britawards2024 @BRITAwards.’
Raye fans and regular Brit viewers flocked to X, most moved to tears by Raye and Grandma Agatha.
This year’s BRITS were organized by Love Island’s maya jamaRoman Kemp and Clara Amfoand will also feature a number of guest presenters.
Raye took home the first gong presented that night, Song of the Year for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the gong for R&B Act and Best New Artist.
He was crying his eyes out when he later accepted Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
The star now holds the record for the most BRITs won in a single ceremony, a record that was previously four, held jointly by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).
She had been nominated seven times (the most ever for a single artist in one year), but couldn’t have won more than she did, as she was shortlisted twice for song of the year: for Escapism, which won the title. , and by Prada.
In addition to Raye’s big hits, Dua Lipa won best pop act, while Kylie Minogue, who made a huge comeback last year with Padam Padam, took home the global icon award. The night was dominated by the winners, who won gongs in all but four categories.
Dua Lipa picked up the fan-voted Pop Act gong and gushed to her fans: “I guess for more reasons than one my fans are the reasons I’m here today, so I want to give a huge thank you to everyone and each one of them”. Only one of you has voted for me.
A record 98 artists entered the new BRIT 2024 award, which has been designed by British visual artist and painter Rachel Jones.
Raye then looked at the audience and revealed, “My middle name is Agatha, and this is Agatha Dawson, ladies and gentlemen.”
Miley Cyrus was noticeably absent that night, sending her thanks for her International Song Award win for her smash hit Flowers in a video message.
She said: ‘Hello everyone at Brits. “I wanted to thank you so much for voting for Flowers as international song of the year, and a special thank you for giving me a place to wear this dress,” she said, holding up her tiny gold number.
‘It’s amazing to win, but the real prize is having this amazing song reach everyone. I know this video is a little short but I just wanted it to match my dress.’
Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding pulled out all the stops as they led the proceedings.
Double nominee Dua, 28, opened the ceremony with her new song Training Season from her upcoming third studio album.
The singer looked incredible in an all-leather look as Ellie, 37, burst onto the stage just a week after announcing the end of her marriage.
The evening ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, giving way to the Australian pop star’s final performance.
‘It’s okay, I’m just going to be sobbing to Raye, you did that!’ said an excited Kylie as she took the stage.
‘You did that. Brits, thank you very much. I really tried to think hard about what to say tonight, but I knew I couldn’t plan anything and I knew it would just be about emotion.’
‘For some of you it has been a lifetime: 36 years and counting of experiences together and what really gets me is the love of music and the connection with people… I have friends in this room that I have worked with over the years. ‘
The pop superstar then took to the stage to perform a medley of her greatest hits, including her recent chart-topper Padam Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Slow and Love At First Sight.
BRIT AWARDS 2024 WINNERS
THE SONG OF THE YEAR
Calvin Harris – Miracle
Casso x RAYE – Prada – WINNER
Central Cee – Let it go
Dave – sprinter
Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
J Hus – Who told you?
Kenya Grace – Strangers
Lewis Capaldi – I wish you the best
Pink Panther – The boy is a liar
RAYE – Escapism
Rudimental – Dancing is healing
Stormzy – Firebae
Change nightclub – React
Venebee – Messy in the Sky
BEST NEW ARTIST
mahalia
Olivia Dean
Pink Panther
RAYE – WINNER
Yuseff Dayes
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Arlo Parks
Central EEC
David
Dua Lipa
Fred again…
J Hus
Jessie Ware
little simz
Olivia Dean
RAYE – WINNER
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blur
Persecution and status
Headie Uno and K-Trap
Jungle – WINNER
young fathers
INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Blink 182
Boygenius – WINNER
foo fighters
gabriels
Paramore
DANCE ACT
Barry can’t swim
becky hill
Calvin Harris – WINNER
Fred again…
Romy
R&B Law
Cleo Sol
jorja smith
mahalia
RAYE – WINNER
sault
ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Blur
Bring me the horizon – WINNER
The Rolling Stones
young fathers
Yusseff Dayes
HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT
Casidead – WINNER
Central EEC
David
J Hus
little simz
POP ACT
Calvin Harris
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa – WINNER
Olivia Dean
RAY
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST
asake
burned boy
Carolina Polachek
CMAT
Minogue Kylie
King’s wool
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
SZA – WINNER
Taylor Swift
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – What was I made for?
David Kushner – Daylight
Doja Cat – Paint the town red
Jazzy – Giving me
Libyanca – People
Coach Meghan – Made you look
Miley Cyrus – Flowers – WINNER
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Oliver Tree – I miss you
Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
Peggy Gou – Says like
Rema – Calm down
SZA – Kill Bill
Tate McRae – Greedy –
Tyla – Water
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Blur – the ballad of darren
J Hus – Beautiful
Little Simz – No thanks
RAYE – My 21st Century Blues – WINNER
Young Parents – Heavy Heavy
RISING BRITISH STAR
Caity Baser
Sekou Island
The Last Supper – WINNER