Grammy Award for Best R&B Song

The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1969. From 1969 to 2000, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song. Beyoncé has won it a record five times, while Babyface, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Alicia Keys have three wins each.

The award goes to the songwriter. If the winning song contains samples or interpolations of songs, the original songwriter and publisher can apply for a Winner’s Certificate. Only Stevie Wonder and SZA have won the award back to back.<ref>Grammy Blue Book (edition 2021)</ref> The performing artist does not receive an award unless they are also credited as a songwriter.

Years reflect the year in which the grammy Awards were presented, for music released in the previous year.

Recipients

Otis Redding, one of the inaugural winners of the award.

Steve Cropper, one of the inaugural winners of the award.

Five-time award-winning artist Beyoncé, she is the most awarded artist in the category.

Three-time award winner, Bill Withers.

Three-time award winner, Stevie Wonder.

1977 co-winner Boz Scaggs.

Two-time winner Jay Graydon.

Two-time winner Bill Champlin.

1985 winner, Prince.

Two-time winner, Anita Baker.

1991 co-winner, MC Hammer.

Three-time winner Babyface holds the record of most nominations in the category, with fourteen.

1994 winner, Janet Jackson.

1999 winner, Lauryn Hill.

Three-time winner Alicia Keys.

2003 winner, Erykah Badu.

2006 winner, Mariah Carey.

2012 co-winner, CeeLo Green.

2013 winner, Miguel.

Two-time winner Jay Z.

2016 winner, D'Angelo.

2021 co-winner, Robert Glasper.

2021 co-winner, H.E.R.

An asterisk (*) indicates this recording also won Song of the Year.

SZA has won this award twice consecutively in 2024 and 2025.

YearTemplate:Ref	Recipient(s)	Work	Performing artist(s)	Nominees (Performer(s) in parentheses)Template:Ref	Ref.
1969	Otis Redding Steve Cropper	"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"	Otis Redding	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1969>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1970	Richard Lewis Spencer	"Color Him Father"	The Winstons	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1971	Ronald Dunbar General Johnson	"Patches"	Clarence Carter	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1972	Bill Withers	"Ain't No Sunshine"	Bill Withers	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1973	Barrett Strong Norman Whitfield	"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"	The Temptations	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1974	Stevie Wonder	"Superstition"	Stevie Wonder	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1975	Stevie Wonder	"Living for the City"	Stevie Wonder	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1976	Harry Wayne Casey Willie Clarke Richard Finch Betty Wright	"Where Is the Love"	Betty Wright	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1977	Boz Scaggs David Paich	"Lowdown"	Boz Scaggs	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1978	Leo Sayer Vini Poncia	"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"	Leo Sayer	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1979	Paul Jabara	"Last Dance"	Donna Summer	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1979>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1980	David Foster Jay Graydon Bill Champlin	"After the Love Has Gone"	Earth, Wind & Fire	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1980>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1981	Reggie Lucas James Mtume	"Never Knew Love Like This Before"	Stephanie Mills	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1981>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1982	Bill Withers William Salter Ralph MacDonald	"Just the Two of Us"	Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1982>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1983	Jay Graydon Steve Lukather Bill Champlin	"Turn Your Love Around"	George Benson	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1983>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1984	Michael Jackson	"Billie Jean"	Michael Jackson	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1984>Template:Cite news</ref>
1985	Prince	"I Feel for You"	Chaka Khan	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1985>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1986	Jeffrey E. Cohen Narada Michael Walden	"Freeway of Love"	Aretha Franklin	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1986>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1987	Anita Baker Louis A. Johnson Gary Bias	"Sweet Love"	Anita Baker	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1987>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1988	Bill Withers	"Lean on Me"	Club Nouveau	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1988>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1989	Anita Baker Randy Holland Skip Scarborough	"Giving You the Best That I Got"	Anita Baker	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1989>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1990	Kenny Gamble Leon Huff	"If You Don't Know Me by Now"	Simply Red	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1990>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1991	MC Hammer Rick James Alonzo Miller	"U Can't Touch This"	MC Hammer	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1991>Template:Cite news</ref>
1992	Marcus Miller Luther Vandross Teddy Vann	"Power of Love/Love Power"	Luther Vandross	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1992>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1993	Babyface L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons	"End of the Road"	Boyz II Men	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1993>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1994	Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis	"That's the Way Love Goes"	Janet Jackson	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1994>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1995	Babyface	"I'll Make Love to You"	Boyz II Men	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1995>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
1996	Stevie Wonder	"For Your Love"	Stevie Wonder	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1996>Template:Cite news</ref>
1997	Babyface	"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"	Whitney Houston	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1997>Template:Cite news</ref>
1998	R. Kelly	"I Believe I Can Fly"	R. Kelly	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1998>Template:Cite news</ref>
1999	Lauryn Hill	"Doo Wop (That Thing)"	Lauryn Hill	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy1999>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
2000	Kandi Burruss Kevin Briggs Tameka Cottle	"No Scrubs"	TLC	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy Nominations 2000">Template:Cite news</ref>
2001	Beyoncé Rodney Jerkins LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III LeToya Luckett LaTavia Roberson Kelly Rowland	"Say My Name"	Destiny's Child	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2001>Template:Cite news</ref>
2002	Alicia Keys	"Fallin'" *	Alicia Keys	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2002>Template:Cite news</ref>
2003	Erykah Badu Glenn Standridge James Poyser Madukwu Chinwah Raphael Saadiq Lonnie Lynn Robert Ozuna	"Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)"	Erykah Badu featuring Common	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy Nominations 2003">Template:Cite news</ref>
2004	Beyoncé Jay Z Rich Harrison	"Crazy in Love"	Beyoncé featuring Jay Z	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy Nominations 2004">Template:Cite web</ref>
2005	Alicia Keys Harold Lilly Kanye West	"You Don't Know My Name"	Alicia Keys	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2005>Template:Cite news</ref>
2006	Mariah Carey Johntá Austin Manuel Seal Jr. Jermaine Dupri	"We Belong Together"	Mariah Carey	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2006>Template:Cite news</ref>
2007	Bryan-Michael Cox Jason Perry Johntá Austin Mary J. Blige	"Be Without You"	Mary J. Blige	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2007>Template:Cite web</ref>
2008	Alicia Keys Dirty Harry Kerry "Krucial" Brothers	"No One"	Alicia Keys	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2008>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009	Mikkel Eriksen Tor Hermansen Ne-Yo	"Miss Independent"	Ne-Yo	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2009>Template:Cite web</ref>
2010	Thaddis Harrell Beyoncé Knowles Terius Nash Christopher Stewart	"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" *	Beyoncé	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy Nominations 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>
2011	John Legend	"Shine"	John Legend & The Roots	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy Nominations 2011">Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	CeeLo Green Melanie Fiona Jack Splash	"Fool for You"	CeeLo Green featuring Melanie Fiona	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name=Grammy2012>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	Miguel Pimentel	"Adorn"	Miguel	Template:Smalldiv	<ref name="Grammy2012"/>
2014	James Fauntleroy Jerome Harmon Timothy Mosley Justin Timberlake	"Pusher Love Girl"	Justin Timberlake	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015	Shawn Carter Rasool Diaz Noel Fisher Jerome Harmon Beyoncé Knowles Timothy Mosley Andre Eric Proctor Brian Soko	"Drunk in Love"	Beyoncé Template:Small	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016	D'Angelo Gina Figueroa Kendra Foster	"Really Love"	D'Angelo & The Vanguard	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Billboard.com, 7 December 2015</ref>
2017	Hod David Musze	"Lake by the Ocean"	Maxwell	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 31 December 2016</ref>
2018	Christopher Brody Brown James Fauntleroy Philip Lawrence Bruno Mars Ray Charles McCullough II Jeremy Reeves Ray Romulus Jonathan Yip	"That's What I Like" *	Bruno Mars	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019	Larrance Dopson Joelle James Ella Mai Dijon McFarlane	"Boo'd Up"	Ella Mai	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 7 December 2018</ref>
2020	PJ Morton	"Say So"	PJ Morton featuring JoJo	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 22 November 2019</ref>
2021	Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson	"Better Than I Imagined"	Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 24 November 2020</ref>
2022	Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars	"Leave the Door Open" *	Silk Sonic	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 23 November 2021</ref>
2023	Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, Beyoncé, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Morten Ristorp, Nile Rodgers and Raphael Saadiq	"Cuff It"	Beyoncé	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2024	Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solána Rowe and Leon Thomas	"Snooze"	SZA	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon & Scott Zhang	"Saturn"	SZA	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2026	Template:TBA	Template:TBA	Template:TBA	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• ^{Template:Note} Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
• ^{Template:Note} The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.

Category facts

• Most Wins

Rank	1st	2nd	3rd
Artist	Beyoncé	Stevie Wonder Alicia Keys Babyface Bill Withers	Johnta Austin Anita Baker Jay Graydon Jay Z Bruno Mars Raphael Saadiq SZA
Total Wins	5 wins	3 wins	2 wins

• Most Nominations

Rank	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Artist	Babyface	Beyoncé	Stevie Wonder	Leon Huff, Luther Vandross	Rodney Jerkins, L.A. Reid, Daryl Simmons
Total Nominations	14 nominations	9 nominations	8 nominations	7 nominations	6 nominations

See also

• List of Grammy Award categories
• List of R&B musicians
• Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance

References

General

• Template:Cite web Note: User must select the "General" category as the genre under the search feature.
• Template:Cite web

Specific