Sam Smith

Sam Smith just rocked up to the 2023 Grammys in their most daring red carpet look to date. · You may have noticed that Sam has been a lot more experimental with ...

Violet Chachki and Gottmik also appear in the video, so it's fitting that they join the team for the red carpet. Sam and Kim are nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit "Unholy," so it's fitting that the vibe matches the video: Yes, Sam took to the red carpet alongside Kim Petras, Violet Chachki, and Gottmik.

They're trans-cending all limits. Singer-songwriters Sam Smith and Kim Petras have made music history as the first ever non-binary and transgender artists ...

“Had I had the chance to be a part of a religion, I maybe would have. And maybe I would have lived more the way that people who protest my concerts want me to live.” Petras, a singer-songwriter from Westphalia, Germany, is transgender. [Grammys 2023 live updates: Winners, performances, highlights](https://nypost.com/2023/02/05/grammys-2023-live-updates-winners-performances-highlights/) [Beyoncé just broke a Grammy record — but was late](https://nypost.com/2023/02/05/beyonce-just-broke-a-grammy-record-but-was-late/) [Bad Bunny stuns Grammys 2023 with all-Spanish opening act](https://nypost.com/2023/02/05/bad-bunny-stuns-grammys-2023-with-all-spanish-opening-act/) [ came out as non-binary](https://nypost.com/2023/01/23/sam-smith-addresses-rumors-that-theyre-actually-adele/) in 2019, and changed their pronouns to they/them in September of that year. [take home Grammys gold ](https://nypost.com/2023/02/05/grammys-2023-live-updates-winners-performances-highlights/)in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras were joined by a couple of special guests as they shut down the red carpet at the 65th annual Grammy Awards with their all-red ...

Follow [TODAY.com](http://today.com/) for complete Grammys coverage, [including this year’s winners](https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/2023-grammy-winners-list-rcna68826), unexpected moments, and can’t-miss performances from the biggest names in music. [Performers include Styles](https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/grammys-2023-performers-list-rcna67431), Lizzo, Bad Bunny and more. [former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah](https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/trevor-noah-host-grammy-awards-2023-rcna61993), the [2023 Grammys](https://www.today.com/popculture/music/grammys-2023-nominees-performers-date-time-channel-rcna68788) are broadcast live from the [Crypto.com](http://crypto.com/) Arena in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. They are [available to watch on CBS and various streaming platforms](https://www.today.com/popculture/awards/how-to-watch-livestream-2023-grammys-rcna68342). 1 hit, "Unholy," at the award ceremony on Feb. The duo, who will perform their No.

On Sunday, Kim Petras became the first transgender woman to win a Grammy Award, after she and Sam Smith won the Best Pop Duo/Group award for "Unholy."

“It’s a take on not being able to choose religion and not being able to live the way that people might want you to live. “I got a Grammy for making music with my friend, and that’s the best feeling in the world. And I love you and everyone who made the song too. “I grew up next to a highway in Germany,” she said. [LGBTQ](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/lgbtq/) history was made at the 2023 [Grammy Awards](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/grammy-awards/). “Sophie especially, my friend who passed away two years ago, told me this would happen and always believed in me,” she said.

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 05 Sam Smith performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto. Sam Smith (Kevin Winter/Getty Images).

Last year, she [unveiled a cover](https://pitchfork.com/news/kim-petras-covers-kate-bush-running-up-that-hill-listen/) of the Kate Bush song “Running Up That Hill” as part of Amazon Music’s Pride Month celebration. [Sam Smith](https://pitchfork.com/artists/31101-sam-smith/) and [Kim Petras](https://pitchfork.com/artists/kim-petras/) performed their song “ [Unholy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq9gPaIzbe8)” at [the 2023 Grammy Awards](https://pitchfork.com/topics/grammys/) tonight (February 5) in Los Angeles. During their acceptance speech, Petras—the first trans woman to win the award—paid tribute to the [late artist Sophie](https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/remembering-sophies-radical-futurism/) for inspiring her. [Follow along for all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2023 Grammy Awards](https://pitchfork.com/topics/grammys/). Last month, Smith and Petras performed “Unholy” on After being introduced by [Madonna](https://pitchfork.com/artists/2637-madonna/) (who arrived onstage holding a riding crop), Smith emerged surrounded by dancers on a circular platform.

Kim Petras, who performed on Sam Smith's "Unholy," made Grammys history when she became the first transgender woman to win best pop duo or group.

"All these years are going through my head of people saying I would be a niche artist and my music would only be played in gay clubs," Petras said. The video has sparked strong reactions on Twitter, where users have attacked and defended the singer. "I grew up next to a highway in nowhere-Germany, and my mother believed that I was a girl," Petras said. "I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music." "Sam has been a special friend and supporter of mine," Petras said. "Sam, you are a true angel and hero in my life.

Smith previously won four Grammy Awards, all in 2015: Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album for In the Lonely Hour, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year ...

[Sam Smith](http://www.tvline.com/tag/sam-smith) and [Kim Petras](http://www.tvline.com/tag/kim-petras) took the stage on Sunday to perform “Unholy,” shortly after it won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Smith previously won four Grammy Awards, all in 2015: Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album for In the Lonely Hour, and Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Stay With Me.” Smith received two additional nominations that year — Album of the Year for In the Lonely Hour and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Stay With Me.” [Grammys](http://www.tvline.com/tag/grammys)‘ most talked-about moments.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras took the 65th GRAMMY Awards to the depths with a transgressive performance of their hit song. GRAMMYs/Feb 5, 2023 - 07:22 pm.

[Samara Joy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/samara-joy/51872) was awarded the [GRAMMY for Best New Artist](https://www.grammy.com/news/samara-joy-best-new-artist-winner-2023-grammys-awards) — only the second time a jazz artist has won the award, and the first since [Esperanza Spalding](https://www.grammy.com/artists/esperanza-spalding/10114)'s win in 2011. [ Lil Wayne](https://www.grammy.com/artists/lil-wayne/4037), [Missy Elliott](https://www.grammy.com/artists/missy-misdemeanor-elliott/11451) and [Dr. [Kendrick Lamar](https://www.grammy.com/artists/kendrick-lamar/17949) was well-represented in both the General and Rap fields, and commensurately for Mr. (Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical), "Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok" (Best Score Soundtrack For Video Games And Other Interactive Media), [Wet Leg](https://www.grammy.com/artists/wet-leg/52310) (Best Alternative Music Performance for " [Chaise Longue](https://www.grammy.com/news/wet-leg-chaise-longue-interview-video-2023-grammys-best-new-artist-meet-first-time-nominee)"), [Bonnie Raitt](https://www.grammy.com/artists/bonnie-raitt/15857) (Best Americana Performance for "Made Up Mind") and [J. Dre](https://www.grammy.com/artists/dr-dre/2199) was the [inaugural recipient](http://grammy.com/news/dr-dre-2023-grammys-global-impact-award-inaugural-recipient) of his namesake Dr. At the Telecast, [Kim Petras](https://www.grammy.com/artists/kim-petras/52054) scored a major win for the transgender community with her [Best Pop Duo/Group Performance victory](https://www.grammy.com/news/sam-smith-kim-petras-unholy-winner-best-pop-duo-group-performance-2023-grammys-watch-acceptance-speech), and [Dr. [Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical](https://www.grammy.com/news/tobias-jesso-winner-songwriter-year-non-classical-2023-grammys-watch-acceptance-speech) (Tobias Jesso Jr.) and [Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media](https://www.grammy.com/videos/assassins-creed-wins-best-score-soundtrack-video-games-interactive-media-2023-grammys-premiere-ceremony) ("Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok"). ( [Aaron Neville](https://www.grammy.com/artists/aaron-neville/13759) With [The Dirty Dozen Brass Band](https://www.grammy.com/artists/the-dirty-dozen-brass-band/52267) won in that category, for "Stompin' Ground." [2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List](https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list) [Germaine Franco](https://www.grammy.com/artists/germaine-franco/51750) said she believed herself to be the first woman of color to win the GRAMMY Award. [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.grammy.com/artists/lin-manuel-miranda/14941), the ensemble song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" beat out works from [Beyoncé](https://www.grammy.com/artists/beyonce-knowles/12474), [Taylor Swift](https://www.grammy.com/artists/taylor-swift/15450), [Lady Gaga](https://www.grammy.com/artists/lady-gaga/3611), [Angélique Kidjo](https://www.grammy.com/artists/angelique-kidjo/9915), and [Billie Eilish](https://www.grammy.com/artists/billie-eilish/251741) and [Finneas O’Connell](https://www.grammy.com/artists/finneas-oconnell/251939). [very first trans woman](https://www.grammy.com/news/kim-petras-unholy-sam-smith-2023-grammys-interview-video-trans-artist-slut-pop-meet-the-first-time-nominee) to ever win in the category.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras sang "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammys. Get the details.

During her speech, she thanked Madonna for “fighting for LGBTQ rights,” her mother “who believed me that I was a girl” and the late artist-producer SOPHIE, a dear friend. 5) took the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance, [Madonna](https://www.billboard.com/artist/madonna) gave a stand-out speech about being daring, provocative, controversial and dangerous in music, deeming it all to be a sign that an artist is doing something important – if not “a bit unholy.” “[SOPHIE] told me this would happen and always believed in me,” Petras said during her acceptance speech. (Host Trevor Noah later joked on a fake phone call to his mother, “No, that was not the devil.”) 1 hit “Unholy.” Smith opened the set — stunning in latex thigh-high platforms — on the circular center stage, surrounded by dancers who looked fresh off the set of The Ring. They then turned it over to Petras for her verse, which she performed on the main stage in a cage as flames burned brightly behind her.

Cruz was responding to a clip of Sam Smith at the Grammys posted by podcaster Liz Wheeler, who said: "Demons are teaching your kids to worship Satan."

"I personally grew up wondering about religion and wanting to be a part of it, but then slowly realizing it doesn't want me to be a part of it. Yeah, you did warn me about Hollywood." I could throw up." In the press room following the performance, Petras elaborated on the performance: "I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool. "This…is…evil," commented Cruz, a Republican, of the performance in a tweet Sunday. Ted Cruz denounced the Grammys as "evil" in a tweet on Sunday.

Smith and Petras are nominated for their chart-topping hit in the category for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. While this is Smith's seventh Grammy nomination, ...

Sam Smith and Kim Petras' "Unholy" Grammys set is called "Satanic" and "evil" by conservatives, including Ted Cruz.

During the ceremony on Sunday Another added some conspiracy-baiting into the mix, [saying](https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1622450108641021953) Madonna (who introduced the performance) [ looked like a statue](https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2023/january/nyc-elevates-horned-statue-paying-homage-to-rbg-and-abortion-critics-say-it-looks-satanic) erected in New York City that conservatives have called “satanic” as well. “I know we on the right probably use the word satanic too often but this performance from Sam Smith is literally a tribute to Satan,” [wrote](https://twitter.com/ben_kew/status/1622451517759315969) one viewer. 5), [Sam Smith](http://billboard.com/artist/sam-smith) and [Kim Petras](http://billboard.com/artist/kim-petras) offered a rousing [performance](https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/sam-smith-kim-petras-unholy-2023-grammys-1235213311/) of their hit single “ [Unholy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq9gPaIzbe8&ab_channel=SamSmithVEVO),” in which Petras performed alongside drag stars Violet Chachki and Gottmik dressed in devil costumes, while Smith was in a bright red top hat with devil horns sticking out from it for the final chorus. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” she said during her speech, especially thanking the late SOPHIE for her constant support. “Everyone who believed in me to this point, I love you so much.”

Sam Smith and Kim Petras stole the show Sunday at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards with a performance viewers are calling "demonic" and a "tribute to Satan."

"Meanwhile demons are teaching your kids to worship Satan. "I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool," Petras, a biological man, said. In reality it’s not edgy. People like Sam Smith who love to mock Christianity and use Satanic themes always think they’re super edgy artists by doing it. [WATCH: COLIN KAEPERNICK BEHIND HULU DOCUSERIES EXPOSING ALLEGED POLICE CORRUPTION](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/colin-kaepernick-behind-hulu-docuseries-exposing-alleged-police-corruption) [Sam Smith](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/Sam-Smith) and [Kim Petras](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/transgender) stole the show Sunday at the 65th Annual [Grammy Awards](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/Grammys) with a performance viewers are [calling](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/social-media) "demonic" and a "tribute to Satan."

Conservative commentators took issue with Sam Smith and Kim Petras' hell-themed "Unholy" performance at the Grammys 2023, describing it as "satanic."

[called the visuals “vile and evil”](https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1619741184515256320) and [accused Smith](https://twitter.com/Dominiquetaegon/status/1619407147997224960) of “wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face.” [uses “they/them” pronouns](https://pagesix.com/2019/09/13/sam-smith-announces-new-pronouns-of-they-and-them/), became the first non-binary artist to to win in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, while the German pop songstress became the [first trans woman to take home the award](https://nypost.com/2023/02/05/kim-petras-and-sam-smith-win-best-duo-at-grammys/). [2023 Grammys](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/05/grammys-2023-live-red-carpet-all-the-celebrity-outfits/), with some going so far as to describe it as “satanic.”

Ted Cruz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other conservatives are raising hell about Sam Smith's "Unholy" performance at the Grammys.

[Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/marjorie-taylor-greene/) (R-Ga.). “So what’s the story with Satan and the transgressive ideology? It would be laughable if so many people didn’t believe in it, and those who do, do so so rabidly that they’ll use absolutely anything they can, [even President Biden talking in front of red light](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/biden-speech-jan6-fascism-trump-satan-hitler-1234586365/), to push it. The buttoned-up, right-wing political commentariat was not pleased, particularly about [Sam Smith and Kim Petras](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kim-petras-becomes-first-trans-women-to-win-grammy-1234674280/)‘ performance of “Unholy” — which featured fire, red lighting, and Smith sporting a pair of horns. There was a time when conservatives would point to harmless allusions to the devil in popular culture, throw up their hands, lament the youth, and that would be the end of it. [Sam Smith](https://www.rollingstone.com/t/sam-smith/)’s demonic performance and was sponsored by Pfizer,” wrote Rep.

Singer Sam Smith sparked outrage among conservative figures over their performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, with many declaring it to be "satanic.".

So we were doing a take on that and I was kind of hell keeper Kim." [tweeted](https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1622498643436503040): "Don't fight the culture wars, they say. Robby Starbuck, a former GOP congressional candidate for Tennessee's 5th district, tweeted: "People like Sam Smith who love to mock Christianity and use Satanic themes always think they're super edgy artists by doing it. In reality it's not edgy. I could throw up." [Republicans](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/republicans) expressed their horror and anger at the apparent " [satanism](https://www.newsweek.com/what-satanic-panic-debunked-80s-conspiracy-theory-making-return-1728190)" being evoked by Smith and Petras.

The satanic panic never seems to end, especially when a queer artist takes the stage.

and having people shouting at me in the street. Someone spat at me in the street. “What people don’t realize with trans non-binary people in the U.K. [anti-trans bills](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/09/transgender-laws-gender-care-texas-legislature/) ravaging states such as the Cruz-led [Texas](https://www.kut.org/politics/2023-01-20/anti-trans-legislation-texas-legislature), the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric of the satanic panic unfortunately motivates political repercussions. And not being able to live the way that people might want you to live, because as a trans person I’m already not kind of wanted in religion. have emerged looking to eliminate trans-affirming care, and even the mere existence of [drag shows](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/11/texas-transgender-ban-drag-shows-criminalize-parents.html). “So that was the hardest part, I think, was being at home in the U.K. The two took the Grammys stage for a performance of their song “Unholy,” which [won the award](https://www.avclub.com/here-are-the-winners-for-the-2023-grammys-1850076342) for Best Pop Duo Or Group Performance. It all feeds into the conspiracy that Hollywood’s trying to cause the collapse of society and poison the next generation, a dated but enduring theory. This form of political violence works on a macro and micro level. “So it’s a take on not being able to choose religion. [first out transgender woman](https://www.avclub.com/kim-petras-becomes-first-transgender-woman-to-win-best-1850076438) to win in the category, she and Smith stoked the flames of controversy with a fiery, hell-themed performance—much to conservative’s chagrin.

Sam Smith's song "Unholy" was praised by CBS before the Grammys on Twitter, with the outlet saying they were 'ready to worship' the singer dressed as Satan.

I mean I already know this but here they are saying it," he mocked. "This is what CBS said to Sam Smith right before he did his demonic performance as Satan. It’s all out in the open now," he tweeted. "I mean i think it’s a pretty big story that a TV network with a News Department that is relied on by a lot of people openly says they worship satan. The strange tweet drew eyeballs Monday morning. [CBS was](https://www.foxnews.com/media/mccarthy-spars-cbs-host-election-denial-hypocrisy-why-dont-hold-democrats-accountable) "compromised by evil."

"Unholy" collaborators Sam Smith and Kim Petras went for a red-hot coordinated fashion moment on the Grammys 2023 red carpet, joined by Gottmik and Violet ...

[tweeted](https://twitter.com/maemurrayxo/status/1619996988111720448?s=20&t=t1d_lHLyQ1Tyz9ZaWLut1w) in response. [took the stage](https://nypost.com/2023/01/25/bad-bunny-mary-j-blige-more-to-perform-at-grammys-2023/) during the Grammys for a fiery performance of “Unholy” that polarized viewers; conservative types (including Texas Sen. [Added](https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/1620004014531448833?s=20&t=t1d_lHLyQ1Tyz9ZaWLut1w) author Owen Jones, “Sex has always been a running theme in modern pop music, and music videos often flaunt it. “If Sam Smith were thin, cis, and straight, they wouldn’t be ridiculed for how they present and dress. If Harry Styles wore the same fits on a magazine cover, y’all would be screaming YAS QUEEN. [on the Grammys 2023 red carpet](https://pagesix.com/2023/02/05/grammys-2023-live-red-carpet-all-the-celebrity-outfits/) Sunday.

Ted Cruz and more Republican figures are melting down over Kim Petras and Sam Smith's Grammys performance of "Unholy."

“Unholy” won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance, making Petras the first openly transgender woman to win in the category. “So it’s a take on not being able to choose religion. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open before me so I could be here tonight,” Petras said in her acceptance speech. “Satanism is the worship of the self. The playful and relatively tame “Unholy” performance featured Smith wearing a hat with devil horns, Petras singing from inside a cage and background dancers wearing red outfits and holding whips. Several conservative figures stormed social media in the aftermath of the performance to detest Smith and Petras for bringing a “satanic ritual” to screens across America.

The Grammy-winning artist took to the stage wearing a millinery monstrosity last night. Screw the conservative outrage: This devil-horned hat is the real ...

Their most recent music video, for their new song “ [I’m Not Here to Make Friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYjHhqLSiN4&ab_channel=SamSmithVEVO),” has [sparked debate](https://twitter.com/voIIeyed/status/1620226719155376128) over Smith’s choice to wear a corset that leaves their chest uncovered. I have no interest in contributing to the reductive and useless diatribe that has been [permeating the cultural conversation](https://twitter.com/froufroufoxes_/status/1619899778959286273) when it comes to Smith’s style. Leave it to the right-wing “spokespeople” and their legions of followers who spent $8 on Twitter Blue verified checkmarks to be baited by Party City couture. Sometimes it works, and sometimes [it does not](https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-sam-smith-perform-unholy-with-kim-petras-on-snl/). [weeks of debate](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniesoteriou/sam-smith-harry-styles-double-standards-jumpsuit) over their fashion choices. And the result that Smith has given us, while seemingly trying to find a middle ground, is the worst of both worlds. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/Liz_Wheeler/status/1622437562718605313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1622498643436503040%7Ctwgr%5E67da10bbc031d0ec9e90d099873bf35273d7e872%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailybeast.com%2Fright-wingers-melt-down-over-sam-smiths-satanic-pfizer-sponsored-grammy-performance) after the performance. Hell, I could even let them off with a warning if it were [the second](https://youtu.be/-5fUCOgAJgk?t=121). [first time](https://youtu.be/Uq9gPaIzbe8?t=245) we had seen this hat, I could forgive the faux pas. Meanwhile, Twitter was buzzing before the ceremony even began, with users calling the (cute!) jumpsuit Harry Styles wore on the red carpet a “ In fact, the most offensive thing about Smith's brief tenure on stage was something that most people seem to be overlooking: their [god-awfully ugly hat](https://twitter.com/thattbxtchh/status/1622562039200718849). Smith and fellow queer pop sensation Kim Petras joined forces on music’s biggest stage to perform [their hit song](https://www.thedailybeast.com/sam-smith-gloria-album-review-wheres-the-thrill) “Unholy,” amidst waves of pyrotechnics and dancers clad in entirely red outfits with long, black wigs.