Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance | |
|---|---|
 "Folded" by Kehlani is the most recent recipient | |
| Awarded for | quality vocal or instrumental R&B recordings |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
| Currently held by | Kehlani – "Folded" (2026) |
| Website | grammy.com |
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards.[1] According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide it is designed for solo, duo/groups or collaborative (vocal or instrumental) R&B recordings and is limited to singles or tracks only.[2]
The award was originally awarded from 1959 to 1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance and then from 1962 to 1968 as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording before being discontinued. In 2012, the award was brought back combining the previous categories for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The restructuring of these categories was a result of the Recording Academy's wish to decrease the list of categories and awards and to eliminate the distinctions between male and female performances, and between solo and duo/groups performances.[3]
The award goes to the artist. The producer, engineer and songwriter can apply for a Winners Certificate.[4]
Recipients
1950s
| Year[I] | Performing artist(s) | Work |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 [5] | ||
| The Champs | "Tequila" | |
| Harry Belafonte | Belafonte Sings the Blues | |
| Nat King Cole | "Looking Back" | |
| Earl Grant | "The End" | |
| Perez Prado | "Patricia" |
1960s
2010s
2020s
| Year[I] | Performing artist(s) | Work |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 [23] | ||
| Anderson .Paak featuring André 3000 | "Come Home" | |
| Brandy and Daniel Caesar | "Love Again" | |
| H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller | "Could've Been" | |
| Lizzo featuring Gucci Mane | "Exactly How I Feel" | |
| Lucky Daye | "Roll Some Mo" | |
| 2021 [24] | ||
| Beyoncé | "Black Parade" | |
| Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend | "Lightning & Thunder" | |
| Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign | "All I Need" | |
| Brittany Howard | "Goat Head" | |
| Emily King | "See Me" | |
| 2022 [25] | ||
| Silk Sonic (TIE) | "Leave the Door Open" | |
| Jazmine Sullivan (TIE) | "Pick Up Your Feelings" | |
| Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon | "Peaches" | |
| Snoh Aalegra | "Lost You" | |
| H.E.R. | "Damage" | |
| 2023 [26] | ||
| Muni Long | "Hrs & Hrs" | |
| Beyoncé | "Virgo's Groove" | |
| Mary J. Blige featuring Anderson .Paak | "Here With Me" | |
| Lucky Daye | "Over" | |
| Jazmine Sullivan | "Hurt Me So Good" | |
| 2024 [27] | ||
| Coco Jones | "ICU" | |
| Chris Brown | "Summer Too Hot" | |
| Robert Glasper featuring Sir and Alex Isley | "Back to Love" | |
| Victoria Monét | "How Does It Make You Feel" | |
| SZA | "Kill Bill" | |
| 2025 [28] | ||
| Muni Long | "Made for Me" (Live on BET) | |
| Jhené Aiko | "Guidance" | |
| Chris Brown | "Residuals" | |
| Coco Jones | "Here We Go (Uh Oh)" | |
| SZA | "Saturn" | |
| 2026 [29] | ||
| Kehlani | "Folded" | |
| Justin Bieber | "Yukon" | |
| Chris Brown featuring Bryson Tiller | "It Depends" | |
| Leon Thomas | "Mutt" (Live from NPR's Tiny Desk) | |
| Summer Walker | "Heart of a Woman" |
^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Artists with multiple wins
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Artists with multiple nominations
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See also
References
- ^ "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Category Mapper". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Awards restructuring". Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ Grammy Blue Book (edition 2021)
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1959 (May)". Awards & Shows. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1959". Awards & Shows. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1961". Awards & Shows. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1962". Awards & Shows. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1963". Awards & Shows. Archived from the original on December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1964". Awards & Shows.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1965". Awards & Shows.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1966". Awards and Shows. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1967". Awards and Shows. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "Grammy Awards 1968". Awards & Shows. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ^ "2011 – 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: R&B Field". The Recording Academy. November 30, 2011.
- ^ "Grammys 2013: Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- ^ "2014 Nominees" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ "57th Grammy Nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- ^ Billboard.com, 7 December 2015
- ^ "59th Grammy Nominees". Grammy. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- ^ "Grammys 2018 Nominees: The Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Grammy.com, 7 December 2018
- ^ Grammy.com, 22 November 2019
- ^ Grammy.com, 24 November 2020
- ^ Grammy.com, 23 November 2021
- ^ Grammy.com, 15 November 2022
- ^ Grammy.com, 10 November 2023
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Willman, Chris (November 7, 2025). "Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar Leads With Nine as Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas Land Among Top Nominees". Variety. Retrieved November 7, 2025.