Best R&B Performance was a category at the first Grammy Awards in 1959, and lasted for a decade, until the category was split into separate Male and Female awards in 1968.
In 2012, the Grammys chose to consolidate some categories, and the gender-based awards were once again combined into Best R&B Performance.
This category is now defunct. In 2027, the Grammys removed this category, and split it into separate awards for solo artists and groups: Best R&B Solo Performance, and Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance.
This award is for singles, unlike other Grammy categories such as Best Progressive R&B Album, which rewards full albums.
Most career Best R&B Performance nominations
Ray Charles 5
Beyonce 4 (includes the Carters)
Daniel Caesar 4
Sam Cooke 4
Ledisi 4
Chris Brown 4
Most career Best R&B Performance wins
Ray Charles 5
Beyonce 2
Bruno Mars 2 (includes Silk Sonic)
Anderson .Paak 2 (includes Silk Sonic)
Muni Long 2
Grammy Awards: Best R&B Performance Winners and Nominees By Year
Winners in bold; other nominees listed beneath.
2026: Folded, Kehlani
It Depends, Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller
Yukon, Justin Bieber
Mutt (Live from NPR’s Tiny Desk), Leon Thomas
Heart of a Woman, Summer Walker
2025: Made for Me (Live on BET), Muni Long
Guidance, Jhene Aiko
Residuals, Chris Brown
Here We Go (Uh Oh), Coco Jones
Saturn, SZA
2024: ICU, Coco Jones
Summer Too Hot, Chris Brown
Back to Love, Robert Glasper featuring Sir & Alex Isley
How Does it Make You Feel, Victoria Monet
Kill Bill, SZA
2023: Hrs & Hrs, Muni Long
Virgo’s Groove, Beyonce
Here With Me, Mary J. Blige featuring Anderson .Paak
Over, Lucky Daye
Hurt Me So Good, Jazmine Sullivan
2022: Leave the Door Open, Silk Sonic (tie)
Pick Up Your Feelings, Jazmine Sullivan (tie)
Lost You, Snoh Aalegra
Peaches, Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
Damage, H.E.R.
2021: Black Parade, Beyonce
Lightning & Thunder, Jhene Aiko featuring John Legend
All I Need, Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla Sign
Goat Head, Brittany Howard
See Me, Emily King
2020: Come Home, Anderson .Paak featuring Andre 3000
Love Again, Brandy & Daniel Caesar
Could’ve Been, H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller
Exactly How I Feel, Lizzo featuring Gucci Mane
Roll Some Mo, Lucky Daye
2019: Best Part, Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R.
Long as I Live, Toni Braxton
Summer, the Carters
Y O Y, Lalah Hathaway
First Began, PJ Morton
2018: That’s What I Like, Bruno Mars
Get You, Daniel Caesar featuring Kali Uchis
Distraction, Kehlani
High, Ledisi
The Weekend, SZA
2017: Cranes in the Sky, Solange
Turnin’ Me Up, BJ the Chicago Kid
Permission, Ro James
I Do, Musiq Soulchild
Needed Me, Rihanna
2016: Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey), the Weeknd
If I Don’t Have You, Tamar Braxton
Rise Up, Andra Day
Breathing Underwater, Hiatus Kaiyote
Planez, Jeremih featuring J. Cole
2015: Drunk in Love, Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
New Flame, Chris Brown featuring Usher & Rick Ross
It’s Your World, Jennifer Hudson featuring R. Kelly
Like This, Ledisi
Good Kisser, Usher
2014: Something, Snarky Puppy featuring Lalah Hathaway
Love and War, Tamar Braxton
Best of Me, Anthony Hamilton
Nakamarra, Hiatus Kaiyote featuring Q-Tip
How Many Drinks?, Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar
2013: Climax, Usher
Thank You, Estelle
Gonna Be Alright, Robert Glasper Experiment & Ledisi
I Want You, Luke James
Adorn, Miguel
2012: Is This Love, Corinne Bailey Rae
Far Away, Marsha Ambrosius
Pieces of Me, Ledisi
Not My Daddy, Kelly Price & Stokley
You Are, Charlie Wilson
-No award from 1969 to 2011-
1968: Respect, Aretha Franklin
Skinny Legs and All, Joe Tex
Dead End Street, Lou Rawls
Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding
Soul Man, Sam & Dave
1967: Crying Time, Ray Charles
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World, James Brown
Love is a Hurtin’ Thing, Lou Rawls
When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge
Uptight (Everything’s Alright), Stevie Wonder
1966: Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, James Brown
Shake, Sam Cooke
My Girl, Temptations
In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett
Shotgun, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars
1965: How Glad I Am, Nancy Wilson
Keep on Pushing, Impressions
Baby Love, Supremes
Walk on By, Dionne Warwick
Hold What You’ve Got, Joe Tex
1964: Busted, Ray Charles
Hello Stranger, Barbara Lewis
Since I Fell for You, Lenny Welch
Part Time Love, Little Johnny Taylor
Hey Little Girl, Major Lance
Heat Wave, Martha & the Vandellas
Frankie and Johnny, Sam Cooke
1963: I Can’t Stop Loving You, Ray Charles
Nut Rocker, B. Bumble & the Stingers
What’d I Say, Bobby Darin
The Loco-Motion, Little Eva
Comin’ Home Baby, Mel Torme
Bring it On Home to Me, Sam Cooke
1962: Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles
Mother-in-Law, Ernie K-Doe
The Fool That I Am, Etta James
Bright Lights, Big City, Jimmy Reed
Saved, Laverne Baker
1961: Let the Good Times Roll, Ray Charles
All I Could Do Was Cry, Etta James
Finger Poppin’ Time, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Got My Mojo Working, Muddy Waters
Lonely Teardrops, Jackie Wilson
Shake a Hand, LaVerne Baker
Travelin’, John Lee Hooker
Walkin’ and Talkin’, Bo Diddley
1960: What a Diff’rence a Day Makes, Dinah Washington
A Big Hunk ‘o Love, Elvis Presley
Charlie Brown, the Coasters
Guess Who, Jesse Belvin
Midnight Flyer, Nat King Cole
1959: Tequila, the Champs
Belafonte Sings the Blues, Harry Belafonte
Looking Back, Nat King Cole
Patricia, Perez Prado
The End, Earl Grant
Find the Grammy Awards at grammy.com.
Last Updated on July 9, 2026