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Every Grammys Best R&B Song winner

26 ceremonies, 2000–2025. 21 different winners. The longest run was SZA, 2 years straight (2024–2025).

Alicia Keys ×3Beyoncé ×3SZA ×2
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
Wins by label
  1. Sony1350%
  2. Universal415%
  3. Independent312%
  4. Warner28%
  5. 10 Summers14%
  6. G.O.O.D.14%
  7. Other28%

Who kept losing

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won

  • Jazmine Sullivan5 noms
  • India.Arie4 noms
  • Anthony Hamilton3 noms
  • Erykah Badu3 noms
  • Fantasia3 noms
  • Childish Gambino2 noms

Most losses

  • Jazmine Sullivan5L · 0W
  • India.Arie4L · 0W
  • Anthony Hamilton3L · 0W
  • Erykah Badu3L · 0W
  • Fantasia3L · 0W
  • Childish Gambino2L · 0W

The full list

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

More Grammys categories

RecordSongNew ArtistPop AlbumPop Duo/Group (Vocal)Pop CollaborationDance RecordingDance AlbumDance PopRemixed RecordingCountry SoloCountry Duo/GroupCountry SongAmericana AlbumAmericana Perf.Roots PerformanceAll 152 categories

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