The 45 wildest outfits celebrities have worn to the Grammy Awards over the years

lil nas x grammys 2020

Lil Nas X attends the 2020 Grammys.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
  • The annual Grammy Awards honor the best artists within the music industry.
  • On the red carpet, celebrities tend to wear eye-catching and sometimes wild ensembles.
  • Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa, and Lady Gaga have worn sheer dresses, wild costumes, and more

In 1999, Missy Elliot wore this white jacket and hat combo with feathers dangling from the sleeves.

Missy Elliot.
Scott Gries/Getty Images

She's had a few amazing Grammy Awards looks throughout the years.

Perhaps the most unforgettable Grammy Awards outfit ever was Jennifer Lopez's plunging Versace dress in 2000.

Jennifer Lopez.
Mike Blake/Reuters

J. Lo's dress caused a stir across the internet and in the fashion world. In a blog post, Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, even said her dress was the reason the company invented Google Image Search.

Lopez says she still has the dress, but still doesn't understand the craze behind her outfit: "It was a nice dress. I had no idea it was going to become such a big deal."

The next year, Christina Aguilera decided to go for a daring cutout dress and cornrows in her hair.

Christina Aguilera.
AP

"This was a point in my life when I wanted to have braids, when I wanted to be able to be unafraid to experiment," she told People.

Aguilera would likely be brought to task for cultural appropriation in this day and age. Actress and activist Amandla Stenberg has spoken about why white celebrities wearing cornrows is problematic, referencing Aguilera's look — watch it here.

Also at the 2001 Grammy Awards was the flawless Destiny's Child, bedecked in matching green lace outfits from Tina Knowles to accept their wins.

Destiny's Child.
Jason Kirk/Getty Images

The group won for best R&B performance by a group with vocals ("Say My Name").

"They looked a little crazy sometimes," Tina Knowles, Beyoncé's mom, said in a New York Times profile about her outfits for the group, "but people always wondered what they were going to wear next."

Toni Braxton accepted her 2001 Grammy Award for best female R&B vocal performance in a barely-there dress that took the concept of a thigh-high slit to another level.

Toni Braxton.
AP

"I've always gone a little risque with all my other awards [show outfits]," she said, according to Us Magazine, about her Richard Tyler dress. "I decided that before I got married and had babies, I'd wear this."

Braxton won for her song "He Wasn't Man Enough."

Lil' Kim rocked the 2002 Grammy Awards with a belt, cropped blouse, and red leather outfit while holding a Chanel motorcycle helmet above her head.

Lil' Kim.
REUTERS/Adrees Latif

All things considered, this was one of Lil' Kim's more tame red carpet ensembles. (Who can forget her purple pasty from the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards?)

This was also the year she won for best pop collaboration with vocals for "Lady Marmalade."

Alicia Keys went with a see-through veil outfit with jeans and a white tank top in 2002.

Alicia Keys.
AP

Keys also wore jewels on her eyelids with this questionable getup. She later changed into Alexander McQueen to pose with her five awards that night, including for best new artist and song of the year for "Fallin'."

Eve rocked a fringed black miniskirt with ties and a striped top with a long tail.

Eve.
AP

She won the award for best rap/sung collaboration for the song "Let Me Blow Your Mind."

Mary J. Blige was bedecked in head-to-toe yellow at the 2004 Grammy Awards.

Mary J. Blige.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The audience needed sunglasses as they watched Blige accept her award for best pop collaboration with vocals for "Whenever I Say Your Name."

Kanye West went '80s old school in his purple jacket, white gloves, and chrome sunglasses at the 2006 Grammy Awards.

Kanye West.
AP

West won big at the awards show, racking up accolades for best rap song ("Diamond (From Sierra Leone)"), best rap album ("Late Registration"), and best rap solo performance ("Gold Digger").

OK Go showed up to the 2007 Grammys dressed like... this.

OK Go.
AP Images

"We're dressed in the future — the future dressed us," one band member told People. "This is actually us in an hour."

They won best music video for "Here It Goes Again."

When MIA wore a sheer top with polka dot details to attend the 2009 Grammy Awards.

MIA.
AP

This was the outfit MIA wore for her stage performance with Jay-Z (then Jay Z) and Lil Wayne.

"He's getting ready for Jay Z and Lil Wayne. So far, so good," she said. "The baby is just moving around, getting his swagga on."

In 2010, Lady Gaga walked the red carpet with bright yellow hair and a trippy, celestial ensemble.

Lady Gaga.
Associated Press

The look was designed by fashion legend Giorgio Armani.

"The series of pieces Mr. Armani created for me are truly iconic; they represent not only beautiful fashion, but my spirit and essence as an artist," Gaga told People. "Mr. Armani is a fashion legend, and tonight would not have been the same without his touch, and his wonderful team."

The next year at the 2011 Grammys, Lady Gaga arrived in an egg pod.

Lady Gaga is in there somewhere.
Shutterstock / s_bukley

Gaga told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that it wasn't an egg, so much as a "vessel."

"I was in it for three days," she said. "It was temperature controlled."

She later emerged from the pod for her stage performance in this space cowboy getup.

Lady Gaga performing.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Gaga designed the latex outfits for herself and her dancers.

"Two days before the performances, I changed everything. I felt so bad because Haus of Gaga was red eyed and up all night," she told Jay Leno. "They looked like dancers in the outfits. I'm so close to all of them … sometimes I don't want the band and the dancers to look like the band and dancers behind me. It's really a performance, and 'Born This Way' is nothing without all of them."

Also in 2011, Katy Perry wore an iridescent dress with a sparkly top and a pair of wings.

Katy Perry.
AP

This bedazzled creation was another one from Giorgio Armani.

The dress featured a "Swarovski crystal encrusted bustier and an iridescent silk organza ruffled skirt [and] feathery angel wings," according to MTV.

Fergie chose a bright orange, see-through dress with black underwear in 2012.

Fergie.
AP

The singer's dress was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.

"I had two choices," Fergie told E! News' Ryan Seacrest. "This was the safe one. I'm kidding!"

Nicki Minaj made quite the entrance that same year with a pretend Pope and a dress that looked like it was like something out of "The Handmaid's Tale."

Nicki Minaj with a fake pope.
AP

After walking the red carpet with her religious theme — and causing a stir online — the singer and rapper later went for an "Exorcist" vibe while performing "Roman Holiday."

Red Foo, the front-man of electronic-pop duo LMFAO, chose to pair a velvet blazer with shorts at the 2013 awards.

He accessorized with a jeweled camera necklace and bright white glasses.
Jeff Vespa/Getty Images

The group was nominated in the best pop duo/group performance category for their song "Sexy and I Know It."

In 2014, Pharrell Williams became a viral sensation for wearing this hat.

Pharrell Williams.
AP

Pharrell Williams took home four Grammy awards — including producer of the year — but all anyone was talking about was his  oversized Vivienne Westwood hat that many people thought resembled the Arby's fast-food logo.

The hat became such a sensation that Arby's later bought the hat for $44,100.

Katy Perry, on the other hand, took the theme of the night literally.

Her dress was designed by Valentino.
Wally Skalij/Getty Images

The musician's sheer white gown overlaid another layer of music-note-printed fabric.

"It's musical, for music's biggest night," Perry told Ryan Seacrest that night on the red carpet.

Rihanna wore a gigantic, princess-like gown in 2015.

Rihanna.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images

By the end of the night, Rihanna and her tiered pink dress were already an internet meme.

"I saw this dress on the internet and I just fell in love with it," Rihanna said on the carpet, according to People.

Meanwhile, Madonna wore an unforgettable matador-inspired getup that same year.

Madonna.
AP

The black look, designed by Givenchy, looked pretty risqué from the front, but when Madonna turned around, she flashed the photographers.

Arguably the only look more daring than Madonna's in 2015 was the ensemble worn by Joy Villa.

She accessorized with a headpiece made from the same material as her dress.
Jeff Vespa/Getty Images

The recording artist wore a completely see-through gown that appears to have been made entirely from plastic fencing material.

She's since made headlines for wearing equally bold dresses on the Grammy's red carpet, including one that featured President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Lady Gaga makes the list one more time for when she wore an out-of-this-world costume to honor David Bowie in 2016.

Lady Gaga.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

The singer wore a custom Marc Jacobs creation with orange hair, intense makeup, and sky-high shoes.

Later in the night, she also gave a performance in the departed singer's honor, too.

CeeLo Green wore head-to-toe gold at the 2017 ceremony.

CeeLo really took it to the next level here.
Frazer Harrison/Getty

See what fans were saying about his outfit.

Pink also showed up in a head-turning gown last year.

She was nominated in the best pop solo performance category.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The three-time Grammy winner wore a strapless gown in mixed shades of blue, pink, and purple. She also donned a belt, though it was hardly visible under the abundance of feathers on her dress.

Kylie Jenner arrived fashionably late wearing a baby-pink Balmain couture suit.

Jenner attended the awards show in support of her boyfriend Travis Scott.
Jordan Strauss/AP

Her gloves were particularly striking, as they extended across her chest, covered the top of her suit, and created a halter-style look.

Katy Perry was the third star to wear a bold pink dress to the 2019 Grammys.

The strapless top of her dress extended into a structured skirt with ruffle detailing.
Jordan Strauss/AP

Not only did she match the color scheme of many red-carpet looks from the night, but she also wore couture from Balmain.

Billy Porter dazzled on the 2020 Grammys red carpet in a blue jumpsuit with crystal fringe on each pant leg.

Billy Porter attends the 2020 Grammys.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

He also wore a matching sparkle jacket, platform boots, and a blue hat with crystal fringe hanging from the rim. The latter accessory had a mechanical feature that allowed Porter's stylist to move the fringe away from his face when necessary.

Lil Nas X attended in a neon-pink suit with sharp shoulder pads.

Lil Nas X attends the 2020 Grammys.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Underneath his jacket, the rapper wore a mesh shirt and neon-pink harness. He also donned a matching hat, cowboy boots, and two silk scarves as bracelets.

Joy Villa returned to the red carpet in a Trump 2020 dress.

Joy Villa attends the 2020 Grammys.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The musician also wore a white-and-blue jacket that resembled the American flag, and carried a handbag depicting the Republican elephant made from crystals.

Doja Cat paired a modern mullet with a plunging neckline and feather skirt.

Doja Cat at the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

Her new, dark hairstyle was created by Jared Henderson, and her Roberto Cavalli gown was styled by Brett Alan Nelson.

Doja Cat completed the bold look with platform heels that matched her dress, smokey makeup, and a bunch of black rings.

Noah Cyrus opted for a cream-colored gown with a giant fabric arch that extended above her head.

Noah Cyrus at the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

The dress, designed by Schiaparelli, also had a plunging, scoop-style neckline and a floor-length skirt. Cyrus paired the look with an updo hairstyle and a mix of silver and gold jewelry.

Viewers were quick to respond to Cyrus' unique outfit online, comparing it to everything from bedsheets to a used tissue.

Dua Lipa lit up the red carpet in a sparkling, semi-sheer butterfly dress with bold cutouts.

Dua Lipa at the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The pink Versace gown was custom-made for the musician. It was sleeveless with four straps across her shoulders, a butterfly-shaped bodice, and a floor-length skirt with a thigh-high slit and cutout at the hips.

As Insider's Samantha Grindell reported, the look was one of four outfits that Dua Lipa wore throughout the night.

Tayla Parx rocked an avant-garde green jumpsuit with spikes and yellow platform boots to the 2022 Grammys.

Tayla Parx attends the 2022 Grammys in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The singer accessorized the bold look with a spiked ball at the end of her braid.

On Instagram, Parx noted the jumpsuit's cartoon feel, describing the look as: "If Bowser was a bad bitch." Bowser is a spiked, turtle-like creature from Nintendo's "Mario" franchise.

One of Jon Batiste's many looks of the 2022 Grammys was a sparkling suit with neon accents.

Jon Batiste attends the 2022 Grammys in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Batiste went home with five Grammys, but his sparkling ensembles also made a statement. His red-carpet look, a Dolce & Gabbana suit, was paired with understated accessories and shoes.

St. Vincent went for drama in a pink Gucci gown at the 2022 Grammys.

St. Vincent attends the 2022 Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Eric Jamison/CBS via Getty Images

The metallic finish of the gown was finished with hot-pink trim. It also stood out thanks to its sheer fabric and a daring cutout in the bodice.

Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner wore a sculptural dress in a bright shade of yellow to the 2022 Grammys.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast attends the 2022 Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images

The musician's Valentino backless minidress featured layers of yellow fabric. She kept the look playful with platform heels and a braided hairdo.

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