The 68th annual Grammy Awards took place on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Los Angeles to honor and celebrate 2025’s accomplishments in music. The event was hosted by the comedian and former host of “The Daily Show” Trevor Noah, his sixth and final time in this role. Throughout the night, Noah kept the audience engaged with his signature light-hearted banter and commanding storytelling ability.
This past year saw album releases from prominent artists including Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, The Weeknd, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Tate McRae. It also featured the reunion of iconic 1990s rock band Oasis, tour announcements from Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, an exciting Super Bowl performance by Kendrick Lamar, and memorable concerts by Beyoncé, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish.
Sabrina Carpenter was one of the first artists to take the stage at the Grammys. Her elaborate, airport-themed performance of her hit song “Manchild” was a welcome opening to the ceremony, bringing energy and excitement and setting the lively tone for the night. Carpenter set the bar high for the other live performers, achieving a level of audience captivation and precise execution few can match.
Icon Queen Latifah and rising star Doechii then presented the award for Best Rap Album. Out of a competitive pool of nominees, including Tyler, The Creator and GloRilla, the award went to Kendrick Lamar for his album “GNX.” In his acceptance speech, Lamar praised the art of hip hop and its omnipresence in modern society. Lamar’s win is deserved, and he has capitalized on his new popularity achieved after his 2025 Super Bowl performance.
Next came an exciting series of performances by the Best New Artist nominees. Among them included a calming and rhythmic presentation by The Marías on a blue-hued stage, Addison Rae’s dynamic performance of her popular song “Fame is a Gun” and a hypnotic dance composed by KATSEYE. Leon Thomas also showed off his exceptional guitar skills, followed by Alex Warren’s moving rendition of “Ordinary” and a lively, jazzy performance of Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need.”
Chappell Roan presented the award for Best New Artist. Roan won the award in 2025. The award deservedly went to Olivia Dean, whose career took off with the release of her album “The Art of Loving.” Upon accepting her award, Dean expressed gratitude for her team and emphasized the importance of her family’s story of immigration, deeming herself a product of their bravery.
Predictably, 2026 Super Bowl performer Bad Bunny then took home the award for Best Música Urbana, building the anticipation for his upcoming halftime performance. Bad Bunny’s moving speech emphasized the importance of valuing love over hate in today’s tumultuous political climate.
Following Bad Bunny’s win, generational legend and seven-time nominee Lady Gaga stunned the audience with her powerful and elaborate performance of her single, “Abracadabra,” where she sang, danced and played the keyboard simultaneously. Gaga subsequently took home the award for Best Vocal Pop Album, a heartwarming sight to see.
Continuing on in the ceremony, renowned American singer-songwriter Carole King presented the Song of the Year award to Billie Eilish for “Wildflower.” Despite the competitive pool of nominees, Eilish was undoubtedly deserving of the win. Her dedication and passion for her craft, coupled with her commitment to political activism and equality, truly make her one of a kind.
The night only got more exciting from there with the explosive performance by Tyler, the Creator, jam-packed with special effects and complex choreography. His performance effectively showcased his immense talent and was one of the most exciting of the night, undoubtedly earning him some new fans. On top of this achievement, he also took home the award for Best Album Cover.
With two categories left, and the end of the ceremony fast approaching, Cher presented the award for Record of the Year to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their collaboration on the record “luther.” Immense amounts of effort and time went into its creation, making it deserving of the award for audio production.
Lastly, and in one of the most anticipated moments of the night, Harry Styles returned from his musical hiatus following his “Love on Tour” concert to present the award for Album of the Year. The announcement of Styles’ new album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally,” and subsequent tour generated mass excitement among fans and built up the anticipation for this moment. Styles was not seen on the red carpet or in the venue until he arrived to present the award; thus, the energy in the room following his entrance was palpable. The Album of the Year award went to Bad Bunny for his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” Bad Bunny was a humble and well-deserving recipient, and he was visibly moved upon receiving the award.
Overall, the 68th Grammy Awards were a success. A wide array of performers and genres were honored throughout the night, and there were no obvious upsets in any of the categories. The event was well-orchestrated and displayed the powerful impact that music has on the world. The importance of optimism in the face of adversity was stressed by many of the event’s attendants, as was music’s power to uplift and unite. These ideas must remain present in the music industry and beyond.
