On Feb. 1, Trever Noah hosted the 68th Grammy awards ceremony. Awards for Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Artist Of The Year, and Song Of The Year were given along with others in more specific music genres such as pop, rap, and country. Not only were awards presented, but personal records were broken, and several artists showcased their talents as part of the celebration.

Kendrick Lamar won Record Of The Year, making him the most awarded rapper in history with 27 wins. Bad Bunny won Album Of The Year for the first-ever Spanish-language LP. The night continued to feature performances from Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and a tribute to Ozzy Osborn led by Post Malone. 

K-Pop group Katseye and ex-TikTok star Addison Rae also performed, however it didn’t go as well as they each may have hoped. Both artists now face backlash from their fans for bad vocals and presentation. Katseye spoke briefly on their performance, highlighting the importance of taking everything “one breath at a time,” but generally avoiding direct criticisms. Alex Warren also faced issues regarding his performance, but his issues were more technical rather than talent related. The audio in Warren’s in-ear monitors delayed causing his vocals to be early. Warren shared his frustration with his TikTok following saying “When you’re performing at the Grammys and all you hear is this in your ears [plays static sound from his ear piece] all you can think is this would only happen to me”

Bad Bunny at the Grammys, AP News.

On the up side, legendary American singer, actress, and television personality Cher made a surprise appearance to receive the Life Times Achievements Award and announce the winner of Album Of The Year. Cher shared words of wisdom before accepting her award “Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it’s not happening now, it will happen soon” she says.

While there’s a lot to be celebrated, there’s also a lot to be discussed. The Grammys open up opportunities for music artists to receive deserved recognition, however it also gives them a public platform to speak on current issues. Song of the year award winner, and anti-ice activist, Billie Elish was one of several celebrities to speak out against ICE during her award speech. “No one is stolen on stolen land.” Eilish states. Her and her brother Finnius both wore “ICE out” pins in protest as well.  

Eilish was joined by Album Of The Year award winner, Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny has faced death threats and hate due to his race and even wore a bullet proof vest to protect himself. Bad Bunny shares “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say, ICE out. We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.” 

Olivia Dean, the award winner for Best New Artist, also shared her perspective. “I’m up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery,” Dean expresses. “I think those people deserve to be celebrated.” 

The Grammys introduce a new whirlwind of excitement for music artists and music fanatics alike. The ups and downs create an entertaining show to honor the music we know and love. Hopefully all the award winners this year are hard at work on new albums for Grammys 2027!

Article by Ozy Zinke-Haschemeyer