The 24th Grammy Awards were held in 1982, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1981.

Children's

Classical

Comedy

Composing and arranging

Country

Folk

  • Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording
    • B. B. King for There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

Gospel

  • Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational
    • The Imperials for Priority
  • Best Gospel Performance, Traditional
    • The Masters V for The Masters V
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary
    • Andrae Crouch for Don't Give Up
  • Best Inspirational Performance
Historical

  • Best Historical Album
    • George Spitzer & Michael Brooks (producers) for Hoagy Carmichael - From Stardust to Ole Buttermilk Sky performed by Hoagy Carmichael

Jazz

  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
    • Al Jarreau for "Blue Rondo a la Turk"
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental
    • Grover Washington Jr for Winelight
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
  • Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Group
    • Chick Corea & Gary Burton for Chick Corea & Gary Burton in Concert - Zurich, October 28, 1979
  • Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Big Band
Latin

  • Best Latin Recording
    • Clare Fischer for "Guajira Pa la Jeva"

Musical Show

  • Best Cast Show Album
Music Video

Packaging and Notes

  • Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography
  • Best Album Notes
Pop

  • Best Vocal Performance, Female
    • Lena Horne for Lena Horne - The Lady and Her Music, Live on Broadway
  • Best Vocal Performance, Male
    • Al Jarreau for Breakin' Away
  • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
  • Best Pop Instrumental Performance
    • Larry Carlton & Mike Post for "The Theme From Hill Street Blues"

Production and engineering

  • Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
    • Bill Schnee, Elliot Scheiner, Jerry Garszva & Roger Nichols (engineers) for Gaucho performed by Steely Dan
  • Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
  • Best Classical Engineered Recording
  • Classical Producer of the Year
    • James Mallinson

R&B

Rock

Spoken

  • Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama

Other Grammy Award Years

1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003