In a historic moment at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the 14th Dalai Lama won his first Grammy, making headlines worldwide. At 90 years old, the Tibetan spiritual leader became one of the most talked-about winners of the night, receiving the award for Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording for his album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The album presents the Dalai Lama’s spoken reflections on compassion, peace, mindfulness, and human unity, paired with serene musical arrangements. He collaborated with celebrated Indian musicians, including sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, giving the project a unique blend of spiritual insight and classical Indian music.
The Grammy recognition highlights the Dalai Lama’s message of shared human responsibility and compassion. During the ceremony, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright accepted the award on behalf of the Dalai Lama, calling the project “a remarkable bridge between spirituality and art.”
In his response, the Dalai Lama expressed gratitude and humility, emphasizing that the award is a recognition of values that benefit all of humanity, rather than a personal accolade. He stressed the importance of caring for each other, protecting the environment, and promoting a sense of global unity.
The album competed with nominees from various fields, including US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, entertainer Trevor Noah, and actress Kathy Garver, making the win particularly significant.
The Dalai Lama’s Grammy is part of a night filled with historic firsts. Alongside other breakthroughs, like K-pop’s first Grammy and filmmaker Steven Spielberg completing his EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), the Tibetan leader’s recognition reflects the growing openness of the Grammys to projects that transcend traditional music genres.
