BRIT Awards 2024: Raye calls her beloved grandmother Agatha Dawson to the stage as she wins Album Of The Year – leaving viewers in tears

Raye called her grandmother Agatha Dawson to the stage with her as she collected Album Of The Year at the Brits on Saturday – and viewers at home were left in tears.

Looking at her grandmother, the singer, 26, said through tears: ‘I want to thank my grandmother for her prayers. My grandma is up until 3am praying for me and my beautiful sisters. I love you so much.’

Raye, who wore a beautiful white dress, then looked to the audience and revealed: “My middle name is Agatha and this Agatha Dawson, ladies and gentlemen.”

She stood back and let Agatha, who looked beautiful in traditional Ghanaian kente attire, bask in the rapturous applause that filled all corners of the O2.

The “Escapism” singer continued: ‘I’m so sorry, I want to thank all the writers. I’m ugly crying on national television. I love music. All I wanted was to be an artist and now I’m an artist with an Album of the Year. Thank you very much, come on grandma, let’s go.”

Raye said through tears, “I want to thank my grandmother for her prayers. My grandma is up until 3am praying for me and my beautiful sisters. I love you so much’

Raye won no fewer than six Brits on Saturday evening – the most any artist has ever won in one go – and she celebrated it in her slippers.

Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter, saying, “I’m not sitting here crying about Raye Noh someone deserves it more than her!!! and shout out to grandma in kente!!!’

“I told my grandchildren that Raye had brought her grandmother Agatha onto the #BritAwards stage to accept album of the year: (GIF of a man saying ‘pretty amazing’).”

“Raye bringing her grandma on stage for her album of the year win and then completely crying makes me emotional.”

“Raye is cleaning up and getting the album of the year award from her old director as she brings her grandmother on stage, I’m actually crying.”

‘Raye is emotional and in tears after winning Album of the Year. We are all emotional and in tears, Big up Raye and Grandma Agatha #BritAwards #Brits.”

Raye owes me a whole box of tissues! How sweet was that to go on stage with her grandmother #BRITs.’

“Raye and her grandma make me sob. what a beautiful moment of pure love. I’m so happy for her #thebritawards.’

‘I just saw RAYE win ALBUM OF THE YEAR at the #BritAwards and what a beautiful tribute to her grandmother!! And I could see exactly how much this meant to her. I actually cried.’

“I don’t get emotional for Raye when she brings her grandma on stage. This is ONE MOMENT and she deserves it all. #British.’

‘In tears about @raye and how independent she is and has been from the start of her career, a touching moment when she invited her grandmother on stage to take home another well-deserved win! A real heroine. #britawards2024 @BRITAwards.’

Raye fans and casual viewers of the Brits flocked to see X, most moved to tears by Raye and grandmother Agatha

This year’s BRITS were presented by Love Island Maya JamaRoman Kemp and Clara Amfoand there will also be a range of guest presenters.

Raye took home the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and Best New Artist.

She was in tears when she later accepted Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.

The star now holds the record for the most Brits won in a single ceremony, a record that previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).

Raye was nominated eight times – the most ever for a single artist in a single year – including winning song of the year twice, for Escapism, which won the title, and for Prada.

In addition to Raye’s huge successes, Dua Lipa also won the award for best pop act, while Kylie Minogue – who had a huge comeback hit last year with Padam Padam – scooped the global icon award. The evening was dominated by female winners, who won gongs in all but four categories.

Dua Lipa picked up the fan-voted Pop Act gong and gushed to her fans, “I think for more than one reason my fans are the reasons why I’m standing here today, so I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone. One of you voted for me.’

A record number of 98 artists were in the running for the new 2024 BRIT Prize, designed by British visual artist and painter Rachel Jones.

Raye then looked to the audience and revealed: ‘My middle name is Agatha, and this Agatha Dawson, ladies and gentlemen’

Miley Cyrus was a notable absentee that evening, thanking her for her International Song win for her smash hit Flowers in a video message.

She said, “Hello everyone at the British. “I want to thank you so much for voting Flowers as the International Song of the Year, and special thanks for giving me a place to wear this dress,” she said, showing off her tiny gold number.

“It’s incredible to win, but the real prize is that this incredible song becomes a hit around the world. I know this video is a little short, but I just wanted it to match my dress.”

Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding pulled out all the stops as they led the performances.

Double nominee Dua, 28, opened the ceremony with her new song Training Season from her forthcoming third studio album.

The singer looked stunning in an all-leather look as Ellie, 37, stormed the stage just a week after announcing the end of her marriage.

The night ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, leading to the Australian pop star’s final performance.

“Okay, I’m just going to sob with Raye, you did that!” said an emotional Kylie as she took the stage.

“You did that. British, thank you very much. “I really tried to think carefully about what to say tonight, but I knew I couldn’t plan anything and it would just be about the emotion.”

“It’s been a lifetime for some of you – 36 years and counting, and what really touches me is the love of music and the connection with people… I have friends in this room with whom I have worked together over the years. ‘

The pop superstar then took to the stage for a medley of her biggest hits, including her recent chart-toppers Padam Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Slow and Love At First Sight.

BRIT AWARDS 2024 WINNERS

SONG OF THE YEAR

Calvin Harris miracle

Casso x RAYE-Prada

Central Cee – Let go

Dave Sprinter

Dua Lipa – Dance the night

Ed Sheeran – Eyes closed

J Hus – Who told you

Kenya Grace – Strangers

Lewis Capaldi – Wish you the best

Pink Panther – Boy is a liar

RAYE – Escapism – WINNER

Rudimental – Dancing is healing

Stormzy – Firebae

Switch Disco – Respond

Venebee – Messy in Heaven

BEST NEW ARTIST

Mahalia

Olivia Dean

Pink Panther

RAYE – WINNER

Yuseff Dayes

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Arlo Parks

Central Cee

Daaf

Dua Lipa

Fred again…

J Hus

Jessie Ware

Little Simz

Olivia Dean

RAYE – WINNER

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Fade

Pursuit and status

Headie One and K-Trap

Jungle – WINNER

Young fathers

INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Blink 182

Boygenius – WINNER

Foo Fighters

Gabriels

Paramore

DANCE ACT

Barry can’t swim

Becky Hill

Calvin Harris – WINNER

Fred again…

Romy
R&B ACT

Cleo Sol

Jorja Smid

Mahalia

RAYE – WINNER

Sault

ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Fade

Bring me the horizon – WINNER

The rolling stones

Young fathers

Yusseff Dayes

HIP HOP/GRIME/RAP ACT

Casisdead – WINNER

Central Cee

Daaf

J Hus

Little Simz

POPACT

Calvin Harris

Charli XCX

Dua Lipa – WINNER

Olivia Dean

RAYE

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST

Asake

Burna boy

Caroline Polachek

CMAT

Kylie Minogue

Lana del Rey

Miley Cyrus

Olivia Rodrigo

SZA – WINNER

Taylor Swift

INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR

Billie Eilish – What was I made for

David Kushner – Daylight

Doja Cat – Paint the town red

Jazzy – gives me

Libyanca – People

Meghan Trainer – Make yourself look

Miley Cyrus – Flowers – WINNER

Noah Kahan – Stick Season

Oliver Tree – I miss you

Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire

Peggy Gou – It goes like this

Rema – Calm down

SZA – Kill Bill

Tate McRae – Greedy –

Tyla – Water

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Blur – Darren’s ballad

J Hus – Beautiful

Little Simz – No, thank you

RAYE – My 21st Century Blues – WINNER

Young fathers – heavy heavy

BRITISH RISING STAR

Caity Baser

Sekou Island

The Last Dinner – WINNER