meta-scriptGRAMMY Rewind: Watch Helen Reddy Accept A GRAMMY For "I Am Woman" In 1973 | GRAMMY.com
Helen Reddy at the 1973 GRAMMYs

Helen Reddy at the 1973 GRAMMYs

news

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Helen Reddy Accept A GRAMMY For "I Am Woman" In 1973

For the latest edition of GRAMMY Rewind, see the Aussie pop artist accept her golden gramophone for "I Am Woman," her 1971 hit pop song that became a rallying cry for fellow feminists

GRAMMYs/May 29, 2020 - 11:47 pm

"Oh yes, I am wise / But it's wisdom born of pain. / Yes, I've paid the price / But look how much I gained. / If I have to, I can do anything. / I am strong / I am invincible / I am woman," Australian-born pop artist Helen Reddy sings on her pivotal '70s anthem, "I Am Woman."

For the latest episode of the Recording Academy's GRAMMY Rewind video series, we revisit the singer's big win for the hit song, which earned her Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 15th GRAMMY Awards in 1973. Watch her brief yet powerful acceptance speech below, and read on to learn more about her and her breakout song.

"Thank you. I only have 10 seconds, so I'd like to thank everyone concerned at Capitol Records, I would like to thank Jeff Wald [her then-husband and manager] because he makes my success possible," Reddy said while wearing a flowing magenta dress.

"And I would like to thank God, because she makes everything possible," she concluded with conviction, as the crowd burst into applause.

Watch Another GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Perform "The Rising" At The 2003 GRAMMYs

While the song did earn her pop star status, a GRAMMY win and her first No. 1 hit, as NPR explained in 2018, it was a fight to get Capitol to record the song and then to get radio stations to play it. The single was released in 1971, but it took a year of going to stations across the country, finally hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1972.

But once they did, it struck a chord with women across the nation her where organizing and finding their power in the social justice movements of the '70s. As the outlet asserts, publically referring to God a woman—almost a half-century before Ariana Grande's epic "God is a woman"—at the time was bold, yet appropriate, shortly after the Equal Rights Amendment passed the Senate and Roe v. Wade made history.

"It really resonated for a lot of people," Nadine Hubbs, a professor of musicology at the University of Michigan told NPR. "She was putting into words some really important social changes that were going on at the moment."

"I am a feminist," Reddy told CBC in 1972.

"I would like get into the hearts and minds of women who, for example, wouldn't have a copy of [Gloria Steinem's] Ms. magazine in their house. But these women can be reached and ... I'm trying to find a way to reach them, ... to give them a confidence in themselves that they've never had."

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Captain & Tennille Win Record Of The Year At The 1976 GRAMMYs

Megan Thee Stallion at the 2021 GRAMMYs
Megan Thee Stallion at the 2021 GRAMMYs.

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

video

GRAMMY Rewind: Megan Thee Stallion Went From "Savage" To Speechless After Winning Best New Artist In 2021

Relive the moment Megan Thee Stallion won the coveted Best New Artist honor at the 2021 GRAMMYs, where she took home three golden gramophones thanks in part to her chart-topping smash "Savage."

GRAMMYs/Apr 5, 2024 - 05:25 pm

In 2020, Megan Thee Stallion solidified herself as one of rap's most promising new stars, thanks to her hit single "Savage." Not only was it her first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, but the "sassy, moody, nasty" single also helped Megan win three GRAMMYs in 2021.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit the sentimental moment the Houston "Hottie" accepted one of those golden gramophones, for Best New Artist.

"I don't want to cry," Megan Thee Stallion said after a speechless moment at the microphone. Before starting her praises, she gave a round of applause to her fellow nominees in the category, who she called "amazing."

Along with thanking God, she also acknowledged her manager, T. Farris, for "always being with me, being by my side"; her record label, 300 Entertainment, for "always believing in me, sticking by through my craziness"; and her mother, who "always believed I could do it."

Megan Thee Stallion's "Savage" remix with Beyoncé also helped her win Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance that night — marking the first wins in the category by a female lead rapper.

Press play on the video above to watch Megan Thee Stallion's complete acceptance speech for Best New Artist at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards, and remember to check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

Black Sounds Beautiful: How Megan Thee Stallion Turned Viral Fame Into A GRAMMY-Winning Rap Career

Beyonce on stage accepting the GRAMMY Award for "Halo" During Her Record-Setting Night In 2010
Beyonce on stage accepting the GRAMMY Award for "Halo" During Her Record-Setting Night In 2010

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

video

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Beyoncé Win A GRAMMY For "Halo" During Her Record-Setting Night In 2010

As you dive into Beyoncé's new album, 'COWBOY CARTER,' revisit the moment Queen Bey won a GRAMMY for "Halo," one of six golden gramophones she won in 2010.

GRAMMYs/Mar 29, 2024 - 05:05 pm

Amongst Beyoncé's expansive catalog, "Halo" is easily one of her most iconic songs. Today, the 2009 single is her most-streamed song on Spotify; it was her first video to reach one billion views on YouTube; and it helped her set one of her GRAMMY records in 2010.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, watch the superstar take the stage to accept Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Halo" in 2010 — the year she became the first female artist to win six GRAMMYs in one night.

"This has been such an amazing night for me, and I'd love to thank the GRAMMYs," she said, admitting she was nervous before taking a deep breath.

Before leaving the stage, Beyoncé took a second to thank two more special groups: "I'd love to thank my family for all of their support, including my husband. I love you. And I'd like to thank all of my fans for their support over the years."

The five other awards Beyoncé took home that night were for the coveted Song Of The Year ("Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)") and four R&B Categories: Best Contemporary R&B Album (I Am... Sasha Fierce), Best R&B Song ("Single Ladies"), Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Single Ladies"), and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (for her cover of Etta James' "At Last"). 

As of 2024, Beyoncé has won the most GRAMMY Awards in history with 32 wins.

Press play on the video above to relive Queen Bey's "Halo" win for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

Enter The World Of Beyoncé

Linda Ronstadt at the 1977 GRAMMYs
(L-R) Linda Ronstadt and Peter Asher at the 1977 GRAMMYs.

Photo: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

video

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Linda Ronstadt's Sweet & Simple Acceptance Speech In 1977

When Linda Ronstadt won a GRAMMY for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance — for her seventh album, 'Hasten Down the Wind' — she only had one special person in mind: her producer, Peter Asher.

GRAMMYs/Mar 22, 2024 - 04:32 pm

With Hasten Down the Wind, Linda Ronstadt became the first female artist with three million-selling albums in a row — and furthered her legacy as one of the pioneers of women in rock music.

The album also helped Ronstadt snag her second GRAMMY, as it won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1977. (The year prior, she took home Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her cover of Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You).")

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, relive the moment Linda Ronstadt won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Hasten Down the Wind in 1977.

Ronstadt kept her acceptance speech short and sweet: "I'd especially like to thank Peter Asher," the producer of the pop rock LP. "Thank you," she added with a smile.

To date, Ronstadt has won 11 GRAMMYs and received 27 nominations. In 2011 and 2016, respectively, she received a Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award.

Press play on the video above to watch Linda Ronstadt take the stage to accept Best Pop Vocal Performance at the 19th Annual GRAMMY Awards and remember to keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

5 Songs To Get Into Kim Gordon's Solo Work, From "Change My Brain" To "I'm A Man"

Tina Turner at the 1985 GRAMMYs
Tina Turner at the 1985 GRAMMYs.

Photo: CBS via Getty Images

video

GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Tina Turner Win Her First Solo GRAMMY In 1985 For "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Relive the moment Tina Turner won a golden gramophone for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female — an opportunity she had been waiting for "for such a long time."

GRAMMYs/Mar 15, 2024 - 05:04 pm

During her remarkable 83 years of life, the late Tina Turner received eight GRAMMY awards, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, and three introductions into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, we travel to 1985, when Turner won a golden gramophone for one of her many iconic hits, "What's Love Got to Do with It?," in the Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, category.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity for such a long time," she said in her acceptance speech. "I have to thank many people. And all of you that I don't get to thank, you must know that it's in my mind."

Among those "many people," Turner praised Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, who wrote the track; John Carter, her A&R "who played a wonderful part" in relaunching her career with Capitol Records in the '80s; and Roger Davies, her manager, "a great man who has done a great job with her career."

Later that night, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" helped Turner win Record Of The Year; she also took home Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, for "Better Be Good to Me." Though the 1985 ceremony marked Turner's first solo awards, she first won a GRAMMY in 1972 alongside her ex-husband, Ike Turner, for their recording of "Proud Mary."

Press play on the video above to watch Tina Turner's full acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, and remember to check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.

10 Essential Tina Turner Songs From the '70s: How Her Forgotten Era Set The Stage For A Dramatic Debut As A Solo Performer