Trevor Noah hosted the 67th annual Grammy Awards, America's largest music award show, Feb. 3. The night was filled with unique artist performances and surprising wins. Despite uncertainty created by the January Los Angeles wildfires, the show went on, raising a total of $9 million during its runtime to support relief efforts.
The night was widely regarded as “one of the best” Grammys in recent memory. Audiences took to social media to express their satisfaction with the pacing, performances and awards of the night. There were far fewer dull performances and awkward jokes than in previous Grammy Awards shows, although the host occasionally disrupted the night's momentum.
The ceremony opened with a performance by Billie Eilish, who delivered a soft rendition of “Birds of a Feather.” The simple outdoor valley stage design allowed Eilish’s vocals to shine. She was followed by Best Pop Vocal Album winner Sabrina Carpenter's comedic, showgirl-inspired performances of “Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Taste," which brought the same fun and lively energy Carpenter previously showcased at the VMAs.
Doechii won Best Rap Album for “Alligator Bites Never Heal," becoming the award's third female winner after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted her dedication to both her mixtape and her sobriety, while encouraging Black girls and women to defy their skeptics and reject traditional stereotypes of how they must look to succeed. Next came Chappell Roan's vibrant performance of “Pink Pony Club," filled with all the theatrics of a classic county fair.
After Roan, Taylor Swift took the stage to award Beyoncé the Best Country Album award for "Cowboy Carter," making her the first Black woman to win this award. Beyoncé’s surprised reaction went viral on social media. This accolade came after she was notably overlooked at the 2024 Country Music Award nominations, sparking discussions about who and what country music should encompass.
This year, the Grammys changed things up by having each Best New Artist nominee perform on the main stage. The highlights of this medley were undoubtedly Doechii and RAYE. Doechii commanded the stage with slick choreography and an elaborate set design featuring a built-in treadmill. RAYE’s brief performance of “Oscar Winning Tears” stood out as one of the evening's best vocal showcases, drawing heavily from artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse and captivating the audience.
Following these performances, Victoria Monet announced Roan as the winner of Best New Artist. In her speech, Roan touched on her background, urging record labels to offer livable wages and healthcare to emerging artists like her. She concluded her remarks by asking: “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”
The Grammys publicly apologized to The Weeknd, who previously criticized the Recording Academy's lack of transparency, boycotting them after his chart-topping single "Blinding Lights" received no nominations at the 2021 Grammy Awards. The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. extended an apology to the Canadian singer and welcomed him back to the stage for the first time since 2017; he performed a mashup of “Cry For Me” and “Timeless” alongside collaborator Playboy Carti.
The award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to the Lady Gaga-Bruno Mars collaboration "Die with a Smile." Charli XCX delivered an energetic performance of “Von dutch” and “Guess," delivering a visual spectacle filled with pulsating strobe lights and her signature "brat" attitude. Kendrick Lamar dominated the night with five major wins: Best Rap Song, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Music Video and the coveted Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards, primarily for his hit song “Not Like Us."
Next came the biggest award of the night, Album Of The Year. Presented by LA Fire Department officials, the award went to “Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the LA fire department, her collaborators on the project and Linda Martell, the first Black woman to play at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
Beyoncé’s win was inarguably the most talked-about award of the night, with some praising it and others skeptical of the voting committee's decision. Many said Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard And Soft” should have received the award instead -- Eilish was the biggest snub of the night, losing all 7 of her nominations. And while Eilish had the strongest album numbers-wise, this year's Grammys seemed to prefer artists and bodies of work with strong cultural impact over numerical success.
This Grammys had some notable surprises, including “Not Like Us” deservedly winning awards many did not expect. This could reflect a shift within the cultural makeup of the Grammy voting committee, which has seen a 66% increase in its members since 2019, as the Grammy Awards continue to evolve into a more dynamic reflection of contemporary music's depth and diversity.
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