Ever since 1959, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has honored performers, songwriters and composers, production personnel, and other key figures in the recorded music industry with their Grammy awards – considered the most prestigious in the industry.
Scores of artists are nominated each year and often a few of the nominees dominate the ceremony, sweeping up many of the gilded gramophones – the Grammy equivalent of the Oscar statuette. (These are the best-selling Grammy winners of all time.)
As is the case with the entertainment industry overall, Hollywood included, there is no shortage of controversy in the music business about the ways women are underrepresented and discriminated against, and the Grammys have had their share of problems in this area.
In 2018, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said that women need to “step up” if they want to win as many awards as men. Reaction to his statement was swift, with stars like Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, and Halsey calling him out and several female music business executives calling for Portnow to step down (which he did the following year). The episode also sparked the formation of a task force to address gender bias in the recording industry.
The fact remains that, to date, of the 17 artists – male or female – with the most awards in Grammy history, only two are women. Nevertheless, some female performers have amassed an impressive number of the awards.
To determine the women who have won the most Grammys, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Grammy Awards database, updated as of July 2022. Data on certified album sales comes from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Click here to see the women who have won the most Grammys of all time
At the top of our list, with 28 Grammys to her name, is Beyoncé – who made history at the award ceremony last year when she tied a living legend, producer-songwriter Quincy Jones, for most wins, becoming the most decorated woman in the award show’s history. (It’s no wonder she’s on our list one of 50 powerful women in entertainment.)
25. Hillary Scott (Lady A)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 16
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
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24. Rihanna
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 33
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 23 million
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23. Norah Jones
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 18
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million
22. Sheryl Crow
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 16 million
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21. Natalie Cole
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 21
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 14 million
20. Cheryl Bentyne (Manhattan Transfer)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 15
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
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19. Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer)
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 19
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
18. Mary J. Blige
> Grammy wins: 9
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 21 million
17. Bonnie Raitt
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 26
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million
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16. Dolly Parton
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 51
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 7 million
15. Chaka Khan
> Grammy wins: 10
> Grammy nominations: 22
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 3 million
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14. Taylor Swift
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 42
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 46 million
13. Linda Ronstadt
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 27
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 30 million
12. Shirley Caesar
> Grammy wins: 11
> Grammy nominations: 28
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
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11. Judith Sherman
> Grammy wins: 12
> Grammy nominations: 17
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
10. Leontyne Price
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 25
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: N/A
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9. Emmylou Harris
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 47
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 4 million
8. Lady Gaga
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 34
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 17 million
7. Ella Fitzgerald
> Grammy wins: 13
> Grammy nominations: 20
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 1 million
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6. CeCe Winans
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 31
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 3 million
5. Alicia Keys
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 30
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 20 million
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4. Adele
> Grammy wins: 15
> Grammy nominations: 18
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 28 million
3. Aretha Franklin
> Grammy wins: 18
> Grammy nominations: 44
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 10 million
2. Alison Krauss
> Grammy wins: 27
> Grammy nominations: 42
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 7 million
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1. Beyoncé
> Grammy wins: 28
> Grammy nominations: 79
> Certified U.S. solo album sales: 15 million
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