| 26th Annual Grammy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | February 28, 1984 |
| Location | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles |
| Hosted by | John Denver |
| Most awards | Michael Jackson (8) |
| Most nominations | Michael Jackson (12) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | CBS |
| Viewership | 51.67 million viewers (record) [1] |
The 26th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1984, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983. Michael Jackson, who had been recovering from scalp burns sustained due to an accident that occurred during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, won a record eight awards during the show. [2] [3] It is notable for garnering the largest Grammy Award television audience ever with 51.67 million viewers. [4]
Michael Jackson received the most nominations ever in a single night with 12 and won 8 awards, breaking the record for most awards in a single night. Jackson won Album of the Year for Thriller and Record of the Year for "Beat It". The Police won Song of the Year for "Every Breath You Take" and Culture Club won for Best New Artist.
The 26th Grammy Awards had the highest ratings in the awarding body's history with 51.67 million viewers, a record unmatched as of 2025, and is the third most watched live awards show in U.S. television history (after the 1983 and 1998 editions of the Academy Awards). [1] Donna Summer opened the show with "She Works Hard for the Money", and a tribute to working women.
| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
| Donna Summer | "She Works Hard for the Money" |
| Big Country | "In a Big Country" |
| Bonnie Tyler | "Total Eclipse of the Heart" |
| Chuck Berry with George Thorogood & Stevie Ray Vaughan | "Maybellene" "Roll Over Beethoven" |
| Eurythmics | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" |
| Phil Driscoll | "Amazing Grace" |
| Albertina Walker | "Spread the Word" |
| Linda Ronstadt | "What's New?" |
| Walter Charles | "We Are What We Are" / "I Am What I Am" (from La Cage aux Folles) |
| Herbie Hancock | "Rockit" |
| The Oak Ridge Boys | "Love Song" |
| John Denver & a Muppet | Dialogue tune |
| Sheena Easton | "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" |
| Wynton Marsallis with orchestra and quartet | "A Finale" |
| Irene Cara | "Flashdance... What a Feeling" |