The Weeknd’s Final Grammy Tally: Why His Total Of 4 Awards Is Overshadowed By The Biggest Snubs In Music History

The Weeknd, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, has secured a definitive total of four Grammy Awards throughout his career, a figure that is surprisingly low when measured against his global dominance and record-breaking hits like "Blinding Lights." As of late 2025, his modest tally is less a reflection of his musical genius and more a symbol of his tumultuous, often adversarial relationship with the Recording Academy, a saga that recently culminated in a dramatic end to his three-year boycott and a new wave of controversy surrounding his final album as The Weeknd, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*. This article will break down Abel Tesfaye's complete Grammy history, detailing his four wins, the major snubs that sparked his boycott, his surprise return to the ceremony, and the final, shocking shutout that has cemented his status as a modern musical icon whose success transcends the industry's most prestigious award.

Abel Tesfaye: Biography and Profile

The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer whose work is known for its dark aesthetics and genre-blending sound, primarily R&B, pop, and trap. Tesfaye’s unique vocal style and cinematic vision have made him one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed artists of his generation.

• Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
• Born: February 16, 1990
• Age (as of late 2025): 35
• Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Parents’ Origin: Ethiopian Immigrants
• Active Years: 2009–Present
• Notable Albums: House of Balloons (2011), Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
• Grammy Awards Total: 4 Wins

The Weeknd’s Four Grammy Awards: A Complete Breakdown

The Weeknd’s four Grammy wins are clustered in the early and middle stages of his mainstream career, primarily recognizing his work in the R&B categories before his full transition into pop superstardom. These awards were earned during the 58th, 60th, and 64th Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies.

The total of four wins is official, though it is often a point of confusion due to one of the awards being for a featured performance on another artist’s track, which occurred during his self-imposed boycott.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

The First Two Wins: 2016 (58th Annual Grammy Awards)

The first major Grammy recognition for Abel Tesfaye came with his second studio album, *Beauty Behind the Madness* (2015), which was a commercial and critical success, featuring massive hits like "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills."

• Win 1: Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty Behind the Madness.
• Win 2: Best R&B Performance for "Earned It" (from the *Fifty Shades of Grey* soundtrack).

The Third Win: 2018 (60th Annual Grammy Awards)

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

His third studio album, *Starboy* (2016), continued his dominance, blending R&B with a more pop-centric, electronic sound. The album, which included the title track and "I Feel It Coming," secured his third golden gramophone.

• Win 3: Best Urban Contemporary Album for Starboy.

The Fourth Win: 2022 (64th Annual Grammy Awards)

In one of the most ironic twists of his Grammy saga, The Weeknd won his fourth award while actively boycotting the ceremony. He did not submit his music for consideration following the 2021 snub, but his work as a featured artist was still eligible for awards when submitted by the lead artist.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

• Win 4: Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Hurricane" (as a featured artist on Kanye West's album *Donda*, alongside Lil Baby).

The Snubs That Sparked a Boycott: After Hours and Dawn FM

The narrative of The Weeknd’s Grammy career is defined far more by his omissions than his victories. The most significant controversy in his history with the Recording Academy occurred in 2021, which led directly to his three-year boycott of the awards show.

The Shocking 2021 After Hours Snub

Despite releasing the biggest song of the year, "Blinding Lights," and the critically acclaimed, commercially juggernaut album *After Hours*, The Weeknd received zero nominations for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. "Blinding Lights" was a historic, chart-topping phenomenon, breaking records for the longest-charting song in Billboard history, making its complete shutout from categories like Record of the Year and Album of the Year one of the biggest snubs in Grammy history. Tesfaye publicly denounced the awards, calling the Grammys "corrupt" and stating he would no longer submit his music for consideration.

The Self-Imposed Dawn FM Boycott

Following his stance, The Weeknd made good on his promise, choosing not to submit his 2022 album, *Dawn FM*, or any of its singles for the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. This act of protest further solidified his position against the perceived lack of transparency and integrity within the awards process, echoing the sentiments of other high-profile artists.

The Surprise Return and the Final Album’s Shutout

The latest chapters in The Weeknd’s Grammy saga are the most current and perhaps the most dramatic, involving both a thawing of relations and a final, bitter disappointment that coincides with the end of his iconic stage name.

Ending the Boycott at the 67th Grammys (2025)

In a move that stunned the music world, Abel Tesfaye ended his three-year boycott by making a surprise appearance and performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025. This high-profile return suggested a reconciliation with the Recording Academy and raised hopes that his future work would finally be recognized on the major stage.

The Final Snub: Hurry Up Tomorrow (2026)

Despite his public olive branch, the relationship remains tense. The Weeknd’s highly anticipated sixth studio album, *Hurry Up Tomorrow*, released in 2025 and billed as his final album under The Weeknd moniker, was completely shut out of the 2026 Grammy nominations. This second major shutout, coming immediately after his return to the stage, has reignited the conversation about the Grammys' relevance and its ability to keep pace with the most innovative and commercially successful artists. The album's commercial performance, coupled with the critical attention it received as the closing chapter of The Weeknd, makes its complete omission a final, powerful statement in the history of The Weeknd versus the Grammys.

Ultimately, while The Weeknd’s official Grammy total stands at four, his legacy is far more defined by the awards he did not win, turning his snubs into a powerful cultural narrative that has resonated with fans and critics alike.