Heading into the Grammys in Los Angeles, there was no chance that the awards ceremony would compare to any other before it. It had the difficult task of putting on a big show in the aftermath of the wildfires that devastated the city, and balancing celebration with sorrow.
The Grammys took on a performance-first mindset, showcasing its honorees as well as honoring the late Quincy Jones and the resilience of the Los Angeles community. It also let pop stars who have risen to viral fame for their performing prowess do their thing on stage.
The winners were unforgettable as well, honoring pop’s new class of stars and giving Beyoncé, a longtime honoree, the big award she’s been working toward for years. She defied her own haters by winning big, while Kendrick Lamar took home five awards for leaning into his hatred of Drake.
Here are some of the highlights.
Beyoncé accomplished what she set out to do with her country album — and so much more
Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter at the 2025 Grammy Awards. (Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images)
Beyoncé said in March 2024 that she was inspired to go country after she didn’t feel “welcomed” by the establishment. Now, Cowboy Carter is the Album of the Year. It’s safe to say she defied all expectations, including her own.
But when you consider the cultural fervor surrounding the project, her huge Grammy win might not be much of a surprise at all. “Texas Hold ’Em” hit No. 1, as did the album. In April 2024, bar owners told Yahoo Entertainment about the infectious energy in the room when Beyoncé’s country music came on. December’s “Beyoncé Bowl” was also a streaming and critical success.
“I think sometimes ‘genre’ is a code word to keep us in our place as artists,” she said during her acceptance speech for Best Country Album. She dedicated her Album of the Year award to the Black country music legend Linda Martell, saying, “I hope we just keep pushing forward and opening doors.”
This was a long-overdue Grammy win for Beyoncé, honoring not only her work on Cowboy Carter, but also her bravery and versatility as an artist.
Kendrick Lamar is at the top of his game going into the Super Bowl
Kendrick Lamar poses with his 2025 Grammys. (Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty Images)
Lamar might just be having the best February in human history. He won both Song of the Year and Record of the Year for his explosive Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.”
“Not Like Us” was one of the songs of summer. It hit No. 1 amid Lamar’s feud with Drake, who’s currently fighting back via the court system. “Not Like Us” also won awards for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video.
Lamar’s latest album, GNX, came out too late in 2024 to qualify for this year’s ceremony — but there’s a chance he’ll dominate in 2025, too.
All of this comes exactly a week before Lamar will take the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show. We don’t know what tricks he has up his sleeve yet — though we know SZA will be joining him — but it’s safe to say he has plenty of momentum.
Commercials are, too
The Super Bowl might be the best day for commercials, but the Grammys gave them a run for their money.
The show donated commercial airtime to local businesses impacted by the Los Angeles fires, including a martial arts business that featured Charlie Puth getting thrown to the ground in their spot.
The internet was also abuzz about a new Dunkin’ commercial featuring Ben Affleck and a coffee ground-covered Jeremy Strong.
Lady Gaga premiered a new song and music video, “Abracadabra,” as part of a Mastercard ad.
Women — and performances — ruled the night
Pop queens Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish at the 2025 Grammy Awards. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Women took home almost every single trophy during the televised segment of the Grammy Awards, aside from two wins by Lamar and one co-win for Bruno Mars.
The newly-minted queens of pop — Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, all took home Grammys. They made a name for themselves as must-watch performers at festivals and their own breakout tours, and now that they’ve joined the ranks of Recording Academy royalty, their legacy is forever cemented.
Notably, Taylor Swift was shut out of the awards, breaking her long streak of domination. Still, she appeared on-screen throughout the ceremony, dancing and showing support for the night’s big winners.
It was also a massive breakout moment for artists who have been rising through the ranks over the last year. Benson Boone did multiple flips on stage in a sparkly blue jumpsuit, and Doechii delivered a well-choreographed performance. They’ll be the ones to watch over the next year.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was a performance by the Weeknd, who criticized the Recording Academy in 2021. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed his criticism and the steps they’ve taken to address it before introducing a performance by the Weeknd.
Janelle Monáe performs at the 2025 Grammys. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
There were many performances in honor of Los Angeles. To open the show, Dawes performed a cover of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.,” backed by John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent. Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga covered “California Dreamin’,” and Los Angeles firefighters were onstage to present the Album of the Year award. Audience members and viewers at home were regularly reminded that they could donate to charities in support of wildfire relief via a QR code throughout the telecast.
Who could forget the tribute to Quincy Jones, featuring Janelle Monáe’s spot-on Michael Jackson impersonation? Stevie Wonder led a rendition of “We Are the World” as clips from the original 1985 music video played in the background, backed by a choir of students from two schools impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.
The ceremony captured what the Grammys are supposed to be — a celebration of music, which is meant to be both fun and powerful. By spotlighting current events, beloved performers and deserving talent, the Recording Academy pulled off a memorable show.
