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The 30 Best Grammy Awards Beauty Moments of All Time, from Aretha Franklin to Selena Gomez

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Aretha Franklin emerging from the stage with a Grammy
Tim Boxer

The Grammy Awards are an opportunity for musicians to show off their wacky, eccentric style, both on stage and on the red carpet. From Aretha Franklin’s blue, frosted eye to Gwen Stefani’s iconic ’90s up do and Lady Gaga‘s soft, silver waves, there’s no predicting what adventurous style the stars will show off on the red carpet. And while some singers in the past like Jennifer Lopez and Miley Cyrus have opted for rather minimal looks with fresh faced skin and signature sleek straight hair, most stars from Beyoncé, Adele to Selena Gomez prove that Grammy’s red carpet is all about the drama, flaunting a bold red lip or sultry dark smokey eyes. Here, a look back at the most show-stopping Grammy beauty looks of all time.

At the 12th Annual Grammy Awards in 1970, Aretha Franklin celebrated her Grammy win with a shimmery pastel blue eye and a nude lip.

With sleek straight hair, bold purple eyeshadow and luminous, sun-kissed skin, Cher glowed at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards in 1974.

Bette Milder showed up to celebrate her Grammy win with voluminous, brushed out curls and a dark smoky eye at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards 1974.

Turning heads at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards in 1981, Tina Turner rocked tousled bangs and a bold lip.

Whitney Houston celebrated her Grammy win with a voluminous blowout, a heavy smoky eye and a coral lip at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards in 1986.

Gloria Estefan radiated elegance with a mauve lip and voluminous brown hair at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1990.

Mariah Carey wore her hair in wild, tousled curls at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991.

Celebrating her first Grammy win, the late Selena arrives to the 1994 Grammy Awards with a teased up do and a matte red lip.

Gwen Stefani epitomized the ’90s with a playful, knotted up do and thin eyebrows at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards in 1998.

Celine Dion wore a lavender frosted eye to celebrate her win at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999.

Britney Spears wore her blonde locks straight with a brown smoky eye at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000.

At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000, Jennifer Lopez wore her hair in a sleek half up do with a green eye complimenting one her most iconic red carpet looks.

Alicia Keys glowed as at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004 with dewy skin and her hair in a sleek, “wet” up do.

Madonna channeled the ’70s with her blonde locks flipped out at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006.

British beauty Florence Welch arrived at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011 with her fiery red locks in beachy, tousled waves.

Adele rocked her signature sleek cat eye, with soft curls and a bold red lip at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012.

Looking regal in red, Rihanna celebrated her Grammy win with her long ombre locks softly curled and a matte red lip 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013.

Miley Cyrus attended the 56th annual Grammy Awards with a matte pink lip and a soft blonde pixie.

Natural beauty Ciara wore her blonde locks in a loose, tousled up do with a nude lip at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.

Katy Perry wore her hair in a sleek, braided up do with luminous skin at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.

Debuting her short blonde locks in beachy waves, Beyoncé arrived at the 56th Grammy Annual Awards in 2014 with a soft smoky eye and a satin red lip.

Lady Gaga showed how to wear silver hair with a dramatic turquoise eye at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015.

Selena Gomez went full glam at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016 with long, voluminous curls and an exaggerated smoky eye.

At the 2017 Grammys, for singer and actress Jennifer Lopez it was all about the dewy skin and sleek straight locks.

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Janelle Monáe’s embroidered Dolce & Gabbana suit was enough of a statement at the 2018 Grammys, but the singer brought the look to the next level with two toned hair and shocking teal under eyes.

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Cardi B smartly styled Thierry Mugler’s iconic “Birth of Venus” dress just as it was seen on the 1995 runway, with a pile of hair wrapped in pearls perched on the top of her head.

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Often times, exposed roots are a beauty no no, but Lipa made them cool by styling her contrasting hair in a geometric updo. She paired the style with blue lined eyes and a nude-pink lip.

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In 2021, Bridgers attended the Grammys in her embellished skeletal look, playing up the eery aesthetic with her signature gray-blonde hair and a deep red color on her lips.

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As if Japanese Breakfast’s custom Valentino dress wasn’t cool enough, she complimented it with pigtail braids, bright yellow liner, and some out-of-this-world nails.

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Doja really embraced the Y2K aesthetic with a spikey half-up ‘do and pastel blue lids.

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