The 45 Best GRAMMY-Winning Songs
The 2026 GRAMMY Awards will take place Sunday, Feb. 1, live from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. The Premiere Ceremony gets underway beginning at 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET; you can watch that live on the GRAMMY website or on YouTube. The main telecast begins at 5pm PT / 8pm ET, live on CBS (check your DISH Guide for your local CBS affiliate).
In honor of the GRAMMY Awards and to celebrate the 45th birthday of DISH, we put together this list of the 45 best songs that have won either the GRAMMY for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, or both awards. Check out our picks below, and listen along with this Spotify Playlist. Click here for more DISH 45 Blogs and be sure to tune-in to the 68th GRAMMY Awards, Sunday, Feb. 1 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT, live on CBS!
“Moon River” - Henry Mancini (1962) - Song and Record of the Year
Our first selection is one of many Grammy-winning songs that first appeared in a film. A timeless classic from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this dreamy ballad is one of the signature songs from one of Hollywood’s most celebrated composers, Henry Mancini.
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” - Tony Bennett (1963) - Record of the Year
The signature song of legendary crooner Tony Bennett, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was, ironically, written by New York Songwriting duo Georrge Cory and Douglass Cross.
“Hello, Dolly!” - Louis Armstrong (1965) - Song of the Year
The title song of the Broadway musical, “Hello, Dolly!” went on to become the biggest hit for groundbreaking jazz artist Louis Armstrong. Released when Armstrong was 62, the song made him the oldest artist to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts, an honor that only recently fell when 78-year-old Brenda Lee hit No. 1 with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 2023.
“The Girl From Ipanema” - Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto (1965) - Record of the Year
Credited with popularizing Brazilian bossa nova music, “The Girl From Ipanema” has a melody that immediately lodges itself in your cranium. Perhaps that’s why, after The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” it’s the second-most recorded song in the history of pop music.
“A Taste of Honey” - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (1966) - Record of the Year
Some songs are so unabashedly cheesy, they circle all the way back around to being cool. Such is the case with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’ instrumental version of this standard, which has also been covered by everyone from The Superemes & Four Tops to Barbara Streisand, and even The Beatles.
“Strangers in the Night” - Frank Sinatra (1967) - Record of the Year
Perhaps the most beloved song of Frank Sinatra’s career, “Strangers in the Night” was despised by Ol’ Blue Eyes, who reportedly referred to it as “the worst f–king song that I have ever heard.” Sinatra’s scatting at the end also allegedly inspired the name of one of our most famous cartoon characters, Scooby-Doo.
“Michelle” - The Beatles (1967) - Song of the Year
Despite The Beatles already making two appearances in this column, “Michelle” is the only one of their songs to win a GRAMMY for Song or Record of the Year.
“Mrs. Robinson” - Simon & Garfunkel (1969) - Record of the Year
Simon & Garfunkel were GRAMMY favorites in their heyday, collecting Record of the Year for this classic from The Graduate, as well as for “Bridge Over Troubled Water” two years later.
“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” - The 5th Dimension (1970) - Record of the Year
Certain songs evoke a specific scene or moment in time, and that’s certainly the case for this 5th Dimension medley, which quickly became shorthand for any film or TV montage that wanted to capture the vibe of the late ‘60s flower power movement.
“It’s Too Late” - Carol King (1972) - Record of the Year
By the time she turned 30 a month before the GRAMMY Awards, Carol King was already a well-established songwriter. But her album Tapestry took her success to another level; she won Record of the Year for this light rock staple, Song of the Year for “You’ve Got a Friend” (also a hit for James Taylor), and Album of the Year for Tapestry.
“Killing Me Softly with His Song” - Roberta Flack (1974) - Song and Record of the Year
Soul legend Roberta Flack went back-to-back at the GRAMMY Awards, collecting Record and Song of the Year for “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in 1973, then repeating the feat the following year with this song, which became a multi-generation hit thanks to the Fugees’ version in the 1990s.
“Hotel California” - Eagles (1978) - Record of the Year
One could debate whether or not “Hotel California” is the No. 1 quintessential Classic Rock song. But there is one debate we’d like to settle right here, right now: Don Felder and Joe Walsh’s dueling solos beginning at, aptly, 4:20, join forces to claim the title of the greatest guitar solo in the history of rock music.
“Just the Way You Are” - Billy Joel (1979) - Song and Record of the Year
The biggest hit from Billy Joel’s breakthrough album The Stranger, “Just the Way You Are” is both undeniably corny and immensely endearing.
“What a Fool Believes” - The Doobie Brothers (1980) - Song and Record of the Year
Steely Dan might have had to wait until 2000 to get their love, but what’s now known as “yacht rock” had its GRAMMY breakthrough in 1980 with “What a Fool Believes.” Thanks to Michael McDonald’s husky vocals, this Doobie Brothers smash also served as a springboard to McDonald’s immensely successful early ‘80s solo career.
“Sailing” - Christopher Cross (1981) - Song and Record of the Year
Poor Christopher Cross. The pressure of becoming the first artist ever to sweep the GRAMMY awards in the “big four” categories – Record, Song, and Album of the Year, plus Best New Artist – meant there was nowhere else for his career to go but down. Still, thanks to the yacht rock renaissance (expertly examined in the recent HBO documentary Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary), Cross and the fittingly named “Sailing” will always have a special place in music history.
“Rosanna” - Toto (1983) - Record of the Year
The final song in our trilogy of GRAMMY-winning yacht rock hits, Toto’s “Rosanna” is not, as commonly assumed, based on Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro at the time of its release. But that didn’t stop the band, and Arquette, from joking about its origins. Sometimes the legend is better than the truth - “Rosanna” was written by backing vocalist David Paich, not Porcaro.
“Always on My Mind” - Willie Nelson (1983) - Song of the Year
The Redheaded Stranger got his moment in the GRAMMY spotlight on this timeless country standard, which was originally written in 1972 and was first popularized by none other than Elvis Presley himself.
“Every Breath You Take” - The Police (1984) - Song of the Year
The biggest hit of 1983, “Every Breath You Take” was recognized by BMI as the most played song in radio history in May 2019. It’s well on its way to reaching a more modern landmark; as of this writing, its video is just barely short of hitting 1.6 billion views on YouTube.
“Beat It” - Michael Jackson (1984) - Record of the Year
To those who have grown up in the streaming era, it’s difficult to express just how big of a sensation Michael’s Jackson’s Thriller was upon its release in late 1982. As it relates to the GRAMMY Awards, the album took home a record-breaking eight trophies, including Record of the Year for this classic, which famously includes a guitar solo from none other than rock legend Eddie Van Halen.
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” - Tina Turner (1985) - Song and Record of the Year
Sometimes, a singer and subject matter come together to make something timeless, and that’s certainly this case for Tina Turner’s No. 1 smash, which felt autobiographical despite being written by two men and shopped around to other artists before Turner turned it into her signature song.
“Higher Love” - Steve Winwood (1987) - Record of the Year
Steve Winwood has had one of the more fascinating careers of anyone in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s the vocalist on the blue-eyed soul standard “Gimme Some Lovin”; released a pair of late ‘60s classics as a member of Traffic; formed Blind Faith, one of the first rock supergroups with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Gresh; then had a series of solo hits in the ‘80s, including this chart-topper.
“Graceland” - Paul Simon (1988) - Record of the Year
After splitting with his longtime collaborator Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon built a successful solo career throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. But by chasing his muse in African music, he released one of the most acclaimed albums of the 1980s with Graceland, whose deeply personal title track became one of the most surprising winners of Record of the Year.
“Another Day in Paradise” - Phil Collins (1991) - Record of the Year
There’s a case to be made that outside of MJ, Prince, and Madonna, Phil Collins was the biggest pop star of the 1980s. It’s ironic, then, that his only GRAMMY win for Record or Song of the Year came in 1991, the year that everything changed thanks to a certain rock scene bubbling up in Seattle, Washington.
“Tears in Heaven” - Eric Clapton (1993) - Record of the Year
Speaking of irony, Eric Clapton is considered one of the Gods of the electric guitar, so of course this heartbreaking acoustic ballad – written about the tragic death of his four-year-old son – became his biggest hit in the U.S.
“I Will Always Love You” - Whitney Houston (1994) - Record of the Year
Throughout GRAMMY history, a disproportionate number of ballads have taken home statues for Record or Song of the Year. Not one of them is better than Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” Among the kids, this song recently got a second life as a massively popular TikTok Challenge.
“A Whole New World” - Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle (1994) - Song of the Year
Fun fact: From 1990 to 1999, eight of the 12 songs to win Song of the Year, Record of the Year, or both came from movie soundtracks. This ballad from Aladdin managed to crossover into the pop charts, despite being arguably the worst song on the album’s soundtrack (we’re personally big “One Jump Ahead” fans).
“Streets of Philadelphia” - Bruce Springsteen (1995) - Song of the Year
Jonathan Demme’s Tom Hanks/Denzel Washington drama Philadelphia was instrumental in bringing awareness to the AIDS crisis, and this Bruce Springsteen song still puts a lump in our throat whenever it comes on. That said, Neil Young’s “Philadelphia” – which lost to Springsteen in Best Original Song Oscar race – absolutely wrecks us. If you’re in need of a good cry, look no further than this soundtrack.
“All I Wanna Do” - Sheryl Crow (1995) - Record of the Year
On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have the breakout song from former Michael Jackson backing dancer Sheryl Crow. The vivid specificity of the lyrics ensures that this one will forever have a home on Southern California radio stations, especially during happy hour.
“Kiss From a Rose” - Seal (1996) - Song and Record of the Year
If a song wins a Record or Song of the Year GRAMMY, there’s a strong likelihood that it was played in heavy rotation, and you may have grown sick of hearing it. However, with the distance of time, you can come around to appreciating the craftsmanship, production, or other musical elements that go into making an award-winning song. Seal’s Batman Forever smash “Kiss from a Rose” – which was constantly on the radio in the summer and fall of 1995 – is a prime example of this phenomenon. As is…
“My Heart Will Go On” - Celine Dion (1999) - Song and Record of the Year
Another one of those “You had to be there” moments in monoculture, James Cameron’s Titanic was an absolute sensation when it was released in December 1997. Celine Dion’s "My Heart Will Go On” was the soundtrack to it all, and despite suffering from overexposure at the time (ballads are especially prone to becoming cloying), it now stands as a whimsical reminder of the past. Fitting, given the song’s subject matter.
“Beautiful Day” - U2 (2001) - Song and Record of the Year
After a decade of quirky experimentation, U2 returned to their rock roots with 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind. This was a smart move, as it sold 12 million copies and is still the only album in history to have multiple songs win Record of the Year. “Walk On” would take home the trophy in 2002, but “Beautiful Day” is the better single, and has since become a staple of the band’s live show.
“Fallin’” - Alicia Keys (2002) - Song of the Year
Alicia Keys’ arrival on the music scene with her debut single “Fallin’” heralded the arrival of a major new talent, someone who could, much like Lauryn Hill, incorporate modern hip-hop trends into a more classical form of songwriting.
“Don’t Know Why” - Norah Jones (2003) - Song and Record of the Year
Blue Note Records is arguably the most iconic jazz label of all-time, and it stumbled into one of the biggest successes of its now nearly-90 year history with Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why.” It felt like something out of time upon its release and the song still feels like the type of jazz pop standard that could have come out at any time in the last 50 years.
“Clocks” - Coldplay (2004) - Record of the Year
It’s difficult to remember now, but there was a time when Coldplay was considered cool. This is no insult; we absolutely LOVE Coldplay, particularly A Rush of Blood to the Head-era Coldplay. But with the success of “Clocks,” Coldplay shot into the stratosphere, eventually becoming the biggest band in the world, a status that helps your net worth but robs you of cool. Regardless, “Clocks” still slaps.
“Rehab” - Amy Winehouse (2008) - Song and Record of the Year
Given her tragically short life, there may not be a more bitterly ironic lyric in the history of pop music than “They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no.” In spite of the terribly sad ending to Winehouse’s story, “Rehab” remains one of the most joyous and original songs of the 2000’s.
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” - Beyoncé (2010) - Song of the Year
There’s too much GRAMMY drama swirling around Beyonce to get into here, but unlike the VMA snub that led to Kanye West’s meltdown, the GRAMMYs got this one right.
“Rolling in the Deep” - Adele (2012) - Song and Record of the Year
An instant karaoke classic (for those brave enough to try it), Adele’s breakout hit was another one of those songs that felt timeless the instant you heard it. Her brokenhearted ballad “Hello” also received plenty of GRAMMY love, but to our ears, this is the one we most often come back to.
“We Are Young” - Fun. ft. Janelle Monáe - Song of the Year
Both odd and anthemic, “We Are Young” may have ended up as a one-hit wonder for the band Fun., but it was critical in the career of Jack Antonoff, who has arguably become the biggest producer in pop music since this song’s release.
“Royals” - Lorde (2014) - Song of the Year
Melodrama might be her masterpiece, but Lorde still made a big first impression with her 2013 debut Pure Heroine. Sparse and smarmy, “Royals” displayed a singular sound and voice that felt fully mature despite her age (she was only 16 at the time of its release).
“Get Lucky” - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (2014) - Record of the Year
It’s pretty wild that the mid ‘10s saw such a massive resurgence of funk music. Daft Punk’s hugely anticipated comeback single sounded less like the futuristic EDM they helped to pioneer than a throwback to the gleaming disco sounds of the late ‘70s. Fun fact: Daft Punk is the only artist in the history of the GRAMMYs to accept their awards while dressed in full robot regalia.
“Uptown Funk” - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (2016) - Record of the Year
It’s tough to make a song that appeals to multiple generations, yet Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars joined forces to do just that with this inescapable 2015 smash. Perfect for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and any other celebratory event, “Uptown Funk” pulled from the past to make a hit we’ll still be dancing to long into the future.
“This is America” - Childish Gambino (2019) - Song and Record of the Year
As Donald Glover stans, we might be biased, but “This is America” sounds eerily prescient to the strife that would soon envelop our country (particularly its unforgettable music video).
“Bad Guy” - Billie Elish (2020) - Song and Record of the Year
Building a massive online audience while still a teen, Billie Elish is another one of those artists who arrived with a completely distinct sound and persona. Elish was rewarded with a literal armful of GRAMMY Awards, as she became just the second artist ever to take home the Big Four awards.
“Leave the Door Open” - Silk Sonic (2022) - Song and Record of the Year
Bruno Mars is a favorite among GRAMMY voters, having swept the major awards at the 60th Annual ceremony in 2018 for his album 24K Magic. His collaboration with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic was another commercial and critical winner, as their sumptuous baby-making throwback “Leave the Door Open” took home both Record and Song of the Year in 2022.
“Not Like Us” - Kendrick Lamar (2025) - Song and Record of the Year
Hip-hop is often the bridesmaid at the GRAMMY Awards, racking up nominations while rarely taking home the top prizes. It was refreshing, then, that Kendrick Lamar – the undisputed greatest rapper of his generation – took home so many awards at last year’s ceremony, especially for a song that all but ended any debate around his status as hip-hop's top dog (pun intended).
