Everipedia Logo
Everipedia is now IQ.wiki - Join the IQ Brainlist and our Discord for early access to editing on the new platform and to participate in the beta testing.
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[1] to female recording artists for quality R&B songs. Awards in several categories are distributed annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position."[2]

According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award was presented to artists that performed "newly recorded solo R&B vocal performances". Solo numbers by members of an established group were not eligible for the award as "separate entries from the duo or group performances."[3] Albums were also considered for the accolade until 1992.

As a part of the major overhaul of Grammy categories, the award was discontinued in 2011. The Female R&B Vocal Performance category, Male R&B Vocal Performance category and all duo/group vocal performances in the R&B category shifted to the Best R&B Performance category in 2012.[4]

The award for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was first presented to Aretha Franklin at the 10th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1968 for the song "Respect". Franklin received the most wins with eleven, followed by Anita Baker with five. Franklin also holds the record for the most nominations with twenty-three, while Chaka Khan is second with eight nominations. Fantasia Barrino became the final recipient of the award, when her song "Bittersweet" won the award in 2011. The award was presented to artists from the United States each year.

Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Awarded forquality R&B songs
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1968
Last awarded2011
Websitegrammy.com [49]

Recipients

In 1976, Natalie Cole won the award for her song "This Will Be", only the second artist to win the award back then.

In 1976, Natalie Cole won the award for her song "This Will Be", only the second artist to win the award back then.

Thelma Houston became the third artist to win the award, in 1978.

Thelma Houston became the third artist to win the award, in 1978.

Chaka Khan won the award in 1984 for her album Chaka Khan as well as in 1985 and 1993.

Chaka Khan won the award in 1984 for her album Chaka Khan as well as in 1985 and 1993.

Anita Baker won the award first in 1987. In total, she has won the award five times, making her the artist with second most wins.

Anita Baker won the award first in 1987. In total, she has won the award five times, making her the artist with second most wins.

Janet Jackson was nominated six times in the category, but did not win.

Janet Jackson was nominated six times in the category, but did not win.

Vanessa L. Williams, five-time nominee in the category

Vanessa L. Williams, five-time nominee in the category

Four-time award winner, Alicia Keys. Keys first won the award in 2002 for her song "Fallin'".

Four-time award winner, Alicia Keys. Keys first won the award in 2002 for her song "Fallin'".

Toni Braxton has won the award four times since her debut in 1993.

Toni Braxton has won the award four times since her debut in 1993.

Whitney Houston's song "It's Not Right but It's Okay" won her the award in 2000, making her the first winner of the millennium.

Whitney Houston's song "It's Not Right but It's Okay" won her the award in 2000, making her the first winner of the millennium.

Beyoncé Knowles' songs "Dangerously in Love 2" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" won her the awards in 2004 and 2010, respectively.

Beyoncé Knowles' songs "Dangerously in Love 2" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" won her the awards in 2004 and 2010, respectively.

Mariah Carey's chart topper "We Belong Together" won the award in 2006.

Mariah Carey's chart topper "We Belong Together" won the award in 2006.

Seven-time nominee, including two-time award winner Mary J. Blige.

Seven-time nominee, including two-time award winner Mary J. Blige.

Fantasia Barrino became the last winner in the category, in 2011. She won the award for her song "Bittersweet".

Fantasia Barrino became the last winner in the category, in 2011. She won the award for her song "Bittersweet".

Year[I]Performing artistsWorkNomineesRef.
1968Aretha Franklin"Respect"
  • Etta James – "Tell Mama"
  • Gladys Knight – "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
  • Nina Simone – "You'll Go to Hell"
  • Carla Thomas – "The Queen Alone"
[5]
1969Aretha Franklin"Chain of Fools"
  • Barbara Acklin – "Love Makes a Woman"
  • Erma Franklin – "Piece of My Heart"
  • Etta James – "Security"
  • Ella Washington – "He Called Me Baby"
[6]
1970Aretha Franklin"Share Your Love with Me"
  • Gloria Taylor – "You Gotta Pay the Price"
  • Ruth Brown - "Yesterday"
  • Tina Turner – "The Hunter"
  • Dee Dee Warwick – "Foolish Fool"
[7]
1971Aretha Franklin"Don't Play That Song"
  • Esther Phillips – "Set Me Free"
  • Nina Simone – Black Gold
  • Candi Staton – "Stand by Your Man"
  • Dee Dee Warwick – "She Didn't Know"
[8]
1972Aretha Franklin"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
  • Jean Knight – "Mr. Big Stuff"
  • Janis Joplin – "Pearl"
  • Freda Payne – "Contact"
  • Diana Ross – "(I Love You) Call Me"
[9]
1973Aretha FranklinYoung, Gifted And Black
  • Merry Clayton – "Oh No Not My Baby"
  • Esther Phillips – "From a Whisper to a Scream"
  • Candi Staton – "In the Ghetto"
  • Betty Wright – "Clean Up Woman"
[10]
1974Aretha Franklin"Master of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)"
  • Etta James – Etta James
  • Ann Peebles – "I Can't Stand the Rain"
  • Esther Phillips – "Alone Again (Naturally)"
  • Sylvia – "Pillow Talk"
[11]
1975Aretha Franklin"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
  • Shirley Brown – "Woman to Woman"
  • Thelma Houston – "You've Been Doing Wrong for So Long"
  • Millie Jackson – "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right"
  • Etta James – "St. Louis Blues"
  • Ann Peebles – "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
  • Tina Turner – Tina Turns the Country On!
[6]
1976Natalie Cole"This Will Be"
  • Gloria Gaynor – "Never Can Say Goodbye"
  • Gwen McCrae – "Rockin' Chair"
  • Esther Phillips – "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes"
  • Shirley & Company – "Shame, Shame, Shame"
[6]
1977Natalie Cole"Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady)"
  • Aretha Franklin – "Something He Can Feel"
  • Dorothy Moore – "Misty Blue"
  • Melba Moore – "Lean On Me"
  • Diana Ross – "Love Hangover"
[12]
1978Thelma Houston"Don't Leave Me This Way"
  • [Natalie Cole]] – "I've Got Love on My Mind"
  • Aretha Franklin – "Break It to Me Gently"
  • Dorothy Moore – "I Believe You"
  • Diana Ross – "Your Love Is So Good for Me"
[13]
1979Donna Summer"Last Dance"
  • Alicia Bridges – "I Love the Nightlife"
  • Natalie Cole – "Our Love"
  • Aretha Franklin – Almighty Fire
  • Chaka Khan – "I'm Every Woman"
[14]
1980Dionne Warwick"Déjà Vu"
  • Natalie Cole – I Love You So
  • Minnie Riperton – Minnie
  • Amii Stewart – "Knock on Wood"
  • Donna Summer – "Bad Girls"
  • Anita Ward – "Ring My Bell"
[15]
1981Stephanie Mills"Never Knew Love Like This Before"
  • Roberta Flack – Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway
  • Aretha Franklin – "I Can't Turn You Loose"
  • Minnie Riperton – Love Lives Forever
  • Diana Ross – "Upside Down"
[16]
1982Aretha Franklin"Hold On! I'm Comin'"
  • Patti Austin – "Razzamatazz"
  • Chaka Khan – What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
  • Teena Marie – It Must Be Magic
  • Stephanie Mills – Stephanie
[17]
1983Jennifer Holliday"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"
  • Aretha Franklin – "Jump to It"
  • Diana Ross – "Muscles"
  • Patrice Rushen – "Forget Me Nots"
  • Donna Summer – "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)"
  • Deniece Williams – "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"
[18]
1984Chaka KhanChaka Khan
  • Aretha Franklin – Get It Right
  • Jennifer Holliday – Feel My Soul
  • Patti LaBelle – "The Best Is Yet to Come"
  • Stephanie Mills – Merciless
  • Deniece Williams – I'm So Proud
[19]
1985Chaka Khan"I Feel for You"
  • Patti Austin – Patti Austin
  • Shannon – "Let the Music Play"
  • Tina Turner – "Let's Stay Together"
  • Deniece Williams – "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
[20]
1986Aretha Franklin"Freeway of Love"[21]
1987Anita BakerRapture[22]
1988Aretha FranklinAretha
  • Natalie Cole – Everlasting
  • Whitney Houston – "For the Love of You"
  • Jody Watley – "Looking for a New Love"
  • Nancy Wilson – Forbidden Lover
[23]
1989Anita Baker"Giving You the Best That I Got"
  • Taylor Dayne – "I'll Always Love You"
  • Pebbles – "Girlfriend"
  • Karyn White – "The Way You Love Me"
  • Vanessa Williams – "The Right Stuff"
[24]
1990Anita BakerGiving You the Best That I Got[25]
1991Anita BakerCompositions
  • Regina Belle – "Make It Like It Was"
  • Janet Jackson – "Alright"
  • Patti LaBelle – "I Can't Complain"
  • Pebbles – "Giving You the Benefit"
[26]
1992Lisa Fischer
Patti LaBelle		"How Can I Ease the Pain"
Burnin'
  • Aretha Franklin – What You See Is What You Sweat
  • Gladys Knight – Good Woman
  • Vanessa Williams – "Running Back to You"
[27]
1993Chaka KhanThe Woman I Am
  • Oleta Adams – "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
  • Whitney Houston – "I Belong to You"
  • Shanice – "I Love Your Smile"
  • Vanessa Williams – "The Comfort Zone"
[28]
1994Toni Braxton"Another Sad Love Song"[29]
1995Toni Braxton"Breathe Again"
  • Anita Baker – "Body And Soul"
  • Aretha Franklin – "A Deeper Love"
  • Gladys Knight – "I Don't Want to Know"
  • Meshell Ndegeocello – "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)"
[30]
1996Anita Baker"I Apologize"
  • Brandy – "Baby"
  • Toni Braxton – "I Belong To You"
  • Mariah Carey – "Always Be My Baby"
  • Vanessa Williams – "The Way That You Love"
[31]
1997Toni Braxton"You're Makin' Me High"
  • Brandy – "Sittin' Up in My Room"
  • Mary J. Blige – "Not Gon' Cry"
  • Tamia – "You Put a Move on My Heart"
  • Whitney Houston – "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"
[32]
1998Erykah Badu"On & On"
  • Chaka Khan – "Summertime"
  • Mariah Carey – "Honey"
  • Patti LaBelle – "When You Talk About Love"
  • Whitney Houston – "I Believe in You and Me"
[33]
1999Lauryn Hill"Doo Wop (That Thing)"[34]
2000Whitney Houston"It's Not Right but It's Okay"
  • Brandy – "Almost Doesn't Count"
  • Mary J. Blige – "All That I Can Say"
  • Faith Evans – "Love Like This"
  • Macy Gray – "Do Something"
[35]
2001Toni Braxton"He Wasn't Man Enough"
  • Aaliyah – "Try Again"
  • Erykah Badu – "Bag Lady"
  • Kelly Price – "As We Lay"
  • Jill Scott – "Gettin' in the Way"
[36]
2002Alicia Keys"Fallin'"
  • Aaliyah – "Rock the Boat"
  • India.Arie – "Video"
  • Mary J. Blige – "Family Affair"
  • Blu Cantrell – "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)"
  • Jill Scott – "A Long Walk"
[37]
2003Mary J. Blige"He Think I Don't Know"
  • Aaliyah – "More Than a Woman"
  • Ashanti – "Foolish"
  • Eartha – "I'm Still Standing"
  • Jill Scott – "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)"
[38]
2004Beyoncé Knowles"Dangerously in Love 2"
  • Ashanti – "Rain on Me"
  • Erykah Badu – "Back in the Day"
  • Mary J. Blige – "Ooh!"
  • Heather Headley – "I Wish I Wasn't"
[39]
2005Alicia Keys"If I Ain't Got You"[40]
2006Mariah Carey"We Belong Together"
  • Amerie – "1 Thing"
  • Fantasia – "Free Yourself"
  • Alicia Keys – "Unbreakable"
  • Beyoncé – "Wishing on a Star"
[41]
2007Mary J. Blige"Be Without You"
  • India.Arie – "I Am Not My Hair"
  • Natalie Cole – "Day Dreaming"
  • Beyoncé – "Ring the Alarm"
  • Mariah Carey – "Don't Forget About Us"
[42]
2008Alicia Keys"No One"
  • Mary J. Blige – "Just Fine"
  • Fantasia – "When I See U"
  • Chrisette Michele – "If I Have My Way"
  • Jill Scott – "Hate On Me"
[43]
2009Alicia Keys"Superwoman"
  • Beyoncé – "Me, Myself and I (Live)"
  • Keyshia Cole – "Heaven Sent"
  • Jennifer Hudson – "Spotlight"
  • Jazmine Sullivan – "Need U Bad"
[44]
2010Beyoncé Knowles"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
  • Melanie Fiona – "It Kills Me"
  • Lalah Hathaway – "That Was Then"
  • Ledisi – "Goin' Thru Changes"
  • Jazmine Sullivan – "Lions, Tigers & Bears"
[45]
2011Fantasia Barrino"Bittersweet"
  • Faith Evans – "Gone Already"
  • Monica – "Everything to Me"
  • Kelly Price – "Tired"
  • Jazmine Sullivan – "Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)"
[46]

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

See also

  • List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart

  • List of Grammy Award categories

  • List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)

References

[1]
Citation Linktheenvelope.latimes.com"Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.grammy.org"Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[3]
Citation Linkwww2.grammy.com"52nd OEP Category Description Guide" (PDF). National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.grammy.org"Awards Category Comparison Chart" (PDF). National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. p. 1. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[5]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"1967 Grammy Awards Finalists". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 80 (7): 10. 1968-02-17. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[6]
Citation Linkarchive.orgO' Neil, Thomas (1993). The Grammys. New York: Perigee Books. p. 714. ISBN 0-399-52477-0.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Blood, Sweat and Tears Tops Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. 1970-02-09. p. C24.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[8]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"Grammy Award Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 83 (6): 12. 1971-02-06. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[9]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"Grammy Award Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 84 (6): 12. 1972-02-05. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[10]
Citation Linknews.google.com"3 Lead Nominations For Grammy Awards". Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. 1973-01-22. p. 11. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[11]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgHilburn, Robert (1974-01-18). "Grammy Nominee List Headed by Stevie Wonder". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. E1.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[12]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"19th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 89 (3): 110. 1977-01-22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[13]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"20th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 90 (3): 17. 1978-01-21. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[14]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"21st Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 91 (3): 122. 1979-01-20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[15]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgSantosuosso, Ernie (1980-02-24). "Pickin' Hits for Grammies". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. p. 1.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[16]
Citation Linknews.google.com"Here's complete list of the Grammy nominees". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing Co. 1981-02-21. p. 38. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[17]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"24th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 94 (3): 90. 1982-01-23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[18]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"25th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 95 (3): 67. 1983-01-22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[19]
Citation Linknews.google.com"Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards". Schenectady Gazette. The Daily Gazette Company. 1984-01-09. p. 12. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM
[20]
Citation Linkportal.issn.org"27th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 97 (4): 78. 1985-01-26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
Sep 21, 2019, 3:34 PM