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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined R&B Song.

57 ceremonies, 1969–2025. 48 different winners. The longest run belongs to Stevie Wonder, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
SZA in 2025 for Saturn.
Who has won the most?
Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder, tied on 3 wins each.
  1. SaturnSZA
  2. SnoozeSZA
  3. Cuff ItBeyoncé
  4. Leave the Door OpenSilk Sonic
  5. Better Than I ImaginedRobert Glasper featuring H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello
  6. Say SoPJ Morton featuring JoJo
Years explored
1969–2025
Different winners
48
Category leader
Alicia Keys · 3
About this record

Best R&B Song was first awarded in 1969, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19692025

01 / The reigns

SZA set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Alicia Keys3 wins
  2. Beyoncé performing on the Renaissance World Tour in London02
    Beyoncé3 wins
  3. 03
    SZA2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
TLC'00
Destiny's Child'01
Alicia Keys'02
Erykah Badu featuring Common'03
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z'04
Alicia Keys'05
Mariah Carey'06
Mary J. Blige'07
Alicia Keys'08
Ne-Yo'09
Beyoncé'10
John Legend and The Roots'11
CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona'12
Miguel'13
Justin Timberlake'14
Beyoncé'15
D'Angelo & The Vanguard'16
Maxwell'17
Bruno Mars'18
Ella Mai'19
PJ Morton featuring JoJo'20
Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello'21
Silk Sonic'22
Beyoncé'23
SZA'24–'25×2

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 13 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony13 wins
Universal4 wins
Independent3 wins
Warner2 wins
10 Summers1 win
G.O.O.D.1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony1350%
  2. Universal415%
  3. Independent312%
  4. Warner28%
  5. 10 Summers14%
  6. G.O.O.D.14%
  7. Other28%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Jazmine Sullivan
    5 noms
  2. 02
    India.Arie
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Anthony Hamilton
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Erykah Badu
    3 noms
  5. 05
    Fantasia
    3 noms
  6. 06
    Childish Gambino
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Jazmine Sullivan
    5L · 0W
  2. 02
    India.Arie
    4L · 0W
  3. 03
    Anthony Hamilton
    3L · 0W
  4. 04
    Erykah Badu
    3L · 0W
  5. 05
    Fantasia
    3L · 0W
  6. 06
    Childish Gambino
    2L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025SZA (Saturn)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Kehlani (After Hours)
  • Tems (Burning)
  • Coco Jones (Here We Go (Uh Oh))
  • Muni Long (Ruined Me)
Top Dawg/RCA
2024SZA (Snooze)
beat 4 others
  • Halle Bailey (Angel)
  • Robert Glasper featuring Sir and Alex Isley (Back to Love)
  • Coco Jones (ICU)
  • Victoria Monét (On My Mama)
Top Dawg/RCA
2023Beyoncé (Cuff It)
beat 4 others
  • Mary J. Blige (Good Morning Gorgeous)
  • Muni Long (Hrs and Hrs)
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Hurt Me So Good)
  • PJ Morton (Please Don't Walk Away)
Parkwood/Columbia
2022Silk Sonic (Leave the Door Open)
beat 4 others
  • H.E.R. (Damage)
  • SZA (Good Days)
  • Giveon (Heartbreak Anniversary)
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Pick Up Your Feelings)
Aftermath/Atlantic
2021Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello (Better Than I Imagined)
beat 4 others
  • Beyoncé (Black Parade)
  • Tiana Major9 and EarthGang (Collide)
  • Chloe x Halle (Do It)
  • Skip Marley and H.E.R. (Slow Down)
Loma Vista
2020PJ Morton featuring JoJo (Say So)
beat 4 others
  • H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller (Could've Been)
  • Emily King (Look at Me Now)
  • Chris Brown featuring Drake (No Guidance)
  • Lucky Daye (Roll Some Mo)
Morton/Empire
2019Ella Mai (Boo'd Up)
beat 4 others
  • Miguel featuring J. Cole and Salaam Remi (Come Through and Chill)
  • Childish Gambino (Feels Like Summer)
  • H.E.R. (Focus)
  • Toni Braxton (Long as I Live)
10 Summers/Interscope
2018Bruno Mars (That's What I Like)
beat 4 others
  • PJ Morton (First Began)
  • Khalid (Location)
  • Childish Gambino (Redbone)
  • SZA (Supermodel)
Atlantic
2017Maxwell (Lake by the Ocean)
beat 4 others
  • PartyNextDoor featuring Drake (Come and See Me)
  • Bryson Tiller (Exchange)
  • Rihanna (Kiss It Better)
  • Tory Lanez (Luv)
Columbia
2016D'Angelo & The Vanguard (Really Love)
beat 4 others
  • Miguel (Coffee)
  • The Weeknd (Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey))
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Let It Burn)
  • Tyrese (Shame)
RCA
2015Beyoncé (Drunk in Love)
beat 4 others
  • Usher (Good Kisser)
  • Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross (New Flame)
  • Luke James featuring Rick Ross (Options (Wolfjames Version))
  • Jhené Aiko (The Worst)
Parkwood/Columbia
2014Justin Timberlake (Pusher Love Girl)
beat 4 others
  • Anthony Hamilton (Best of Me)
  • Tamar Braxton (Love and War)
  • PJ Morton featuring Stevie Wonder (Only One)
  • Fantasia featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott (Without Me)
RCA
2013Miguel (Adorn)
beat 4 others
  • Tamia (Beautiful Surprise)
  • Trey Songz (Heart Attack)
  • Anthony Hamilton (Pray for Me)
  • Elle Varner (Refill)
RCA
2012CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona (Fool for You)
beat 4 others
  • Marsha Ambrosius (Far Away)
  • Kelly Price featuring Stokley (Not My Daddy)
  • Ledisi (Pieces of Me)
  • Charlie Wilson (You Are)
Elektra
2011John Legend and The Roots (Shine)
beat 4 others
  • Fantasia (Bittersweet)
  • Jaheim (Finding My Way Back)
  • El DeBarge (Second Chance)
  • Kem (Why Would You Stay)
G.O.O.D./Columbia
2010Beyoncé (Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It))
beat 4 others
  • Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain (Blame It)
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Lions, Tigers & Bears)
  • Maxwell (Pretty Wings)
  • Pleasure P (Under)
Columbia
2009Ne-Yo (Miss Independent)
beat 4 others
  • Jazmine Sullivan (Bust Your Windows)
  • Raheem DeVaughn (Customer)
  • Keyshia Cole (Heaven Sent)
  • Jennifer Hudson (Spotlight)
Def Jam
2008Alicia Keys (No One)
beat 4 others
  • India.Arie (Beautiful Flower)
  • Rihanna featuring Ne-Yo (Hate That I Love You)
  • Musiq Soulchild (Teachme)
  • Fantasia (When I See U)
J
2007Mary J. Blige (Be Without You)
beat 4 others
  • Prince (Black Sweat)
  • Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z (Déjà Vu)
  • Mariah Carey (Don't Forget About Us)
  • India.Arie (I Am Not My Hair)
Matriarch/Geffen
2006Mariah Carey (We Belong Together)
beat 4 others
  • Destiny's Child (Cater 2 U)
  • Fantasia (Free Yourself)
  • John Legend (Ordinary People)
  • Alicia Keys (Unbreakable)
Island Def Jam
2005Alicia Keys (You Don't Know My Name)
beat 4 others
  • Usher (Burn)
  • Prince (Call My Name)
  • Usher and Alicia Keys (My Boo)
  • Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris (Yeah!)
J
2004Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z (Crazy in Love)
beat 4 others
  • Anthony Hamilton (Comin' from Where I'm From)
  • Luther Vandross (Dance with My Father)
  • Erykah Badu (Danger)
  • Ashanti (Rock wit U (Awww Baby))
Columbia
2003Erykah Badu featuring Common (Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop))
beat 4 others
  • Raphael Saadiq featuring D'Angelo (Be Here)
  • Floetry (Floetic)
  • India.Arie (Good Man)
  • Remy Shand (Take a Message)
MCA
2002Alicia Keys (Fallin')
beat 5 others
  • Erykah Badu (Didn't Cha Know?)
  • Missy Elliott (Get Ur Freak On)
  • Blu Cantrell (Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!))
  • Brian McKnight (Love of My Life)
  • India.Arie (Video)
J
2001Destiny's Child (Say My Name)
beat 4 others
  • Erykah Badu (Bag Lady)
  • Toni Braxton (He Wasn't Man Enough)
  • Sisqó (Thong Song)
  • D'Angelo (Untitled (How Does It Feel))
Columbia
2000TLC (No Scrubs)
beat 4 others
  • Mary J. Blige (All That I Can Say)
  • Destiny's Child (Bills, Bills, Bills)
  • Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price (Heartbreak Hotel)
  • Whitney Houston (It's Not Right but It's Okay)
LaFace/Arista