As we reported on Tuesday (July 15), Beyoncé and Jay-Z are competing against each other at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards. Beyoncé Bowl, the Netflix special in which Beyoncé is both performer and executive producer, and The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar, which Jay-Z executive produced, are both nominated for outstanding variety special (live).
The other nominees in the category are The Oscars, SNL50: The Anniversary Special and SNL50: The Homecoming Concert.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Jay-Z has been nominated in that marquee category. He was also nominated as an executive producer of the halftime shows starring The Weeknd (2021); Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent (2022); Rihanna (2023); and Usher (2024). He won in 2022 for the hip-hop extravaganza.
This is Bey’s first nomination in this category, though she was nominated in a predecessor category, outstanding special class – short-format live-action entertainment programs, when she headlined the halftime show in 2013. And she has been nominated in closely-related categories. Beyoncé and Jay Z On the Run was nominated for outstanding special class program in 2015; Lemonade for outstanding variety special in 2016; and Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé for outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) in 2019. (Despite 10 nominations, she has yet to win a Primetime Emmy.)
It’s understandable that there would be so much media interest in a high-profile married couple competing against each other for a major award, but we should point out that Beyoncé and Jay-Z have competed against each other six times at the Grammy Awards and have lived to tell the tale. In three of those cases, they were together on one of the nominated entries, so they wouldn’t have had divided loyalties. But in the other three cases, as in the current Emmy showdown, they were flat-out rivals.
Here’s a summary of the six times Beyoncé and Jay-Z have gone head-to-head at the Grammys – and who won in each case. The years refer to the years of the Grammy ceremony.
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2004: Best rap/sung collaboration
Notes: Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” (featuring Jay) competed with Pharrell Williams’ “Frontin’,” on which Jay was featured. “Crazy in Love” was the lead single from Bey’s solo debut album, Dangerously in Love. “Frontin’” was the second single from The Neptunes Present… Clones, a compilation album by Pharrell and Chad Hugo. This one was no contest: “Crazy in Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and also landed a record of the year nod.
And the Grammy went to: “Crazy in Love”
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2006: Best rap/sung collaboration
Notes: The Jay-Z/Linkin Park collab “Numb/Encore” competed with Destiny’s Child’s “Soldier” (featuring T.I. and Lil Wayne). “Numb/Encore” was the only single released from the collab EP Collision Course. “Soldier” was the second single from the trio’s final studio album, Destiny Fulfilled.
And the Grammy went to: “Numb/Encore”
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2008: Record of the year
Notes: Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” went up against Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” on which Jay was featured. Both songs had long runs at No. 1 on the Hot 100 – 10 weeks and seven weeks, respectively. “Irreplaceable” was the third single from Bey’s second studio album B’Day. “Umbrella” was the lead single from Rihanna’s third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad.
And the Grammy went to: Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”
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2010: Best rap/sung collaboration
Notes: Beyoncé’s “Ego,” featuring Kanye West, which she recorded for the deluxe edition of her third studio album, I Am…Sasha Fierce, competed with “Run This Town,” on which Jay teamed with Rihanna and West. The latter smash was the second single from Jay’s 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3.
And the Grammy went to: “Run This Town”
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2014: Best rap/sung collaboration
Notes: Jay-Z’s “Part II (On the Run)” (featuring Beyoncé), the third single from his 12th studio album, Magna Carta…Holy Grail, competed with the lead single from that album, “Holy Grail” (featuring Justin Timberlake).
And the Grammy went to: “Holy Grail”
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2023: Song of the year
Notes: Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” (which Bey co-wrote with Jay, The-Dream and Christopher A. Stewart) competed with the DJ Khaled hit “God Did,” which Jay also co-wrote. “Break My Soul” was the lead single from Bey’s seventh studio album, Renaissance. “God Did” was the title track from DJ Khaled’s 13th studio album.
And the Grammy went to: Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That”
Great Job Paul Grein & the Team @ Billboard Source link for sharing this story.
