The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the
Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[1] to female recording artists for quality
R&B songs. Awards in several categories are distributed annually by the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position."[2]
According to the category description guide for the
52nd Grammy Awards, the award was presented to artists that performed "newly recorded solo R&B vocal performances". Solo numbers by members of an established group were not eligible for the award as "separate entries from the duo or group performances."[3] Albums were also considered for the accolade until 1992.
As a part of the major overhaul of Grammy categories, the award was discontinued in 2011. The Female R&B Vocal Performance category, Male R&B Vocal Performance category and all duo/group vocal performances in the R&B category shifted to the
Best R&B Performance category in 2012.[4]
The award for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance was first presented to
Aretha Franklin at the
10th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1968 for the song "
Respect". Franklin received the most wins with eleven, followed by
Anita Baker with five. Franklin also holds the record for the most nominations with twenty-three, while
Chaka Khan is second with eight nominations.
Fantasia Barrino became the final recipient of the award, when her song "
Bittersweet" won the award in 2011. The award was presented to artists from the United States each year.
Recipients
Aretha Franklin was the first recipient of the award in 1968. In total, she has won the award eleven times, making her the artist with the most wins in the category.In 1976,
Natalie Cole won the award for her song "
This Will Be", only the second artist to win the award back then.Thelma Houston became the third artist to win the award, in 1978.Chaka Khan won the award in 1984 for her album Chaka Khan as well as in 1985 and 1993.Anita Baker won the award first in 1987. In total, she has won the award five times, making her the artist with second most wins.Janet Jackson was nominated six times in the category, but did not win.Vanessa L. Williams, five-time nominee in the categoryFour-time award winner,
Alicia Keys. Keys first won the award in 2002 for her song "
Fallin'".Toni Braxton has won the award four times since her debut in 1993.Whitney Houston's song "
It's Not Right but It's Okay" won her the award in 2000, making her the first winner of the millennium.Beyoncé Knowles' songs "
Dangerously in Love 2" and "
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" won her the awards in 2004 and 2010, respectively.Mariah Carey's chart topper "
We Belong Together" won the award in 2006.Seven-time nominee, including two-time award winner
Mary J. Blige.Fantasia Barrino became the last winner in the category, in 2011. She won the award for her song "
Bittersweet".