(NCS) — Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, two artists unafraid to maintain a mirror up to America via their music and performances, dominated the Grammy Awards on Sunday evening.
Bad Bunny made historical past when he received album of the 12 months for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos)” – the first Spanish-language album to obtain the high honor – whereas Lamar additionally broke information with 5 wins, together with finest rap album and report of the 12 months, turning into the most-awarded rap artist in Grammy historical past.
Bad Bunny obtained emotional after profitable the evening’s high prize, making his manner to the stage with tears in his eyes earlier than acknowledging his homeland of Puerto Rico and dedicating his win to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.”
He made a extra pointed anti-ICE statement earlier in the night whereas accepting the Grammy for finest música urbana album.
“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” Bad Bunny stated, after deploying the phrase “ICE out,” which has been used as a name for an finish to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Next Sunday, Bad Bunny will take to the Super Bowl Halftime Show stage for a efficiency that has been marked by anticipation and criticism from conservatives. Lamar is aware of what that looks like.
He was the performer for Super Bowl LIX and used his time on sports activities’ greatest stage to ship a politically-charged efficiency that featured Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam.
The Grammy Awards weren’t nearly political statements, nonetheless. There were a number of stand-out performances and tributes to beloved musicians who handed final 12 months and a lot extra.
Here are a few of the evening’s different notable moments.
Cher-ing the stage with a terrific
Cher appeared to have one thing resembling a “La La Land” moment whereas presenting Kendrick Lamar and SZA with the report of the 12 months Grammy, when she misinterpret the envelope, awarding the Grammy to the late Luther Vandross, whose first title is the title of the track that was awarded. This plus some teleprompter points made for an ungainly second. In her protection, she tried to stroll off stage after accepting her lifetime achievement award. So, perhaps she knew this wasn’t the job for a legend like her.
WT(bleep)
Television censors couldn’t sustain with Lola Young’s pleasure over profitable finest pop solo efficiency, failing to correctly bleep a four-letter expletive that escaped her mouth throughout her acceptance speech. The button was prepared to go, nonetheless, for Billie Eilish’s acceptance speech for track of the 12 months, throughout which stated “F**k ICE,” in accordance to movies posted to social media by these in the crowd. Fun truth: Eilish and her brother and collaborator Finneas grew to become the first songwriting duo to win thrice in the class.
Steven Spielberg, EGOT
As if Steven Spielberg wanted one other Hollywood accolade, the famed director achieved EGOT standing after he scored a Grammy win throughout the Grammys preshow on Sunday. Spielberg received a Grammy in the finest music movie class for “Music by John Williams,” on which Spielberg is credited as a producer. This marks his first Grammy. Spielberg has received three Academy Awards, one Tony and 4 Emmys.
Gone however not forgotten
The in-memoriam section fittingly had a contact of steel this 12 months, with a efficiency in honor of the late Ozzy Osbourne. With Slash on guitar, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on percussion and Post Malone singing the vocals, the ensemble performed a canopy of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” to honor the band’s late chief. The second was an emotional one, with the digicam slicing to the fallen rocker’s household, Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, who were all seen tearfully watching the efficiency. Lauryn Hill subsequently took the stage to carry out a medley of her best hits, and paid tribute to D’Angelo, who died in October. Earlier, nation celebrity Reba McEntire launched the in-memoriam section by singing “Trailerblazer” alongside Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, in what was McEntire’s first-ever efficiency at the Grammys. McEntire’s stepson Brandon Blackstock, a expertise agent and Kelly Clarkson’s former husband, died in August and was honored throughout the section.
A grateful Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a Grammy winner. The religious chief was awarded the honor for the audio e book that accompanied his title “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” Host Trevor Noah was additionally nominated in the class. In a press release posted to Instagram, the Dalai Lama wrote that he accepted the award “with gratitude and humility.”
Skin was in
No shirt? No downside — a minimum of at the Grammys. Chappell Roan stepped onto the pink carpet carrying a sheer burgundy frock, with its high parts held up solely by the hoops of what appeared to be nipple rings. Doechii channeled “Death Becomes Her” in a bejeweled chest piece that most likely wired the sound operator at the Grammys when it jangled in the mic, and Teyana Taylor floated into the present carrying an abdomen-bearing sparkly gold robe. Justin Bieber additionally took a word from the skin-loving women, carrying solely a pair of silvery blue silk boxers for his first efficiency on the Grammys stage in 4 years.
The speak about TikTok
Whether they were acting on stage – you sombr, Addison Rae and Alex Warren – or accepting an award like finest new artist winner Olivia Dean, the musicians of TikTok had a terrific evening. The identical can be stated for artists whose older songs felt new once more as a result of they happened to discover new listeners on the widespread social media community. You may know that Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” got here out in June 2025, nevertheless it was new to some!
Ok-Pop’s first ‘Golden’ Grammy
In an evening that made historical past all round, one record-breaking moment came from the world of K-Pop. The infectious and uplifting anthem “Golden” from the shock Netflix hit film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” scored a pre-telecast Grammy win on Sunday, when it clinched the award for finest track written for visible media. The banger, sung by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, was nominated for 4 Grammys complete this weekend, together with track of the 12 months.
Lady Gaga searching for ladies
Lady Gaga delivered a strong speech after profitable a Grammy in the pop vocal album class, utilizing her time on stage to encourage ladies in music to “always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas” once they’re in the studio, which might generally be a male-dominated house. “Fight for yourself as a producer and make sure that you are heard – loudly,” she added.
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NCS’s Sandra Gonzalez, Lisa Respers France, Dan Heching and Erick Ebeltran contributed to this report.