At the start of 2023, Kim Petras and Sam Smith took the industry by storm with their scandalous hit "Unholy." Little did the pair know, the song would go from causing controversy to making history.
In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit Petras and Smith's 2023 win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which marked the first win by an openly transgender woman in the category.
First thanking Smith for the "incredible journey" the song created for her, she noted that they were also going to give her the spotlight. "Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I'm the first transgender woman to win," Petras revealed, prompting a standing ovation in the crowd.
Petras went on to thank the transgender artists who paved the way — most notably, DJ and producer SOPHIE. "[She] told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, SOPHIE," Petras praised. "I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music."
Before heading off the stage, Petras acknowledged Madonna for being an LGBTQ+ advocate, and her mother for supporting her identity since the beginning.
Press play on the video above to watch Kim Petras and Sam Smith accept their award for "Unholy" at the 2023 Annual GRAMMY Awards, and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.