The Sixty-Eighth Annual Grammy Awards returned Sunday, February 1, honoring outstanding achievements in the music industry. The event took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. CBS and Paramount+ televised the show live from 8 p.m to 11:30 p.m EST. In addition to serving as the biggest night in music, the Grammys promote diversity, creativity, and new artists, while also addressing social issues, according to nxtnowmusic.com.
Comedian Mr. Trevor Noah hosted the awards ceremony, marking his sixth and final year as host. In addition to hosting, Mr. Noah has served as a producer for the Grammys for the past six years. A few weeks before the ceremony, executive producer Mr. Ben Winston expressed his appreciation for Mr. Noah’s contributions to the event over the years, according to latimes.com.
“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” Mr. Winston said. “He’s so smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music. His impact on the show has been truly spectacular, and we can’t wait to do it together one last time.”
The Recording Academy, a group of music professionals, announced the nominees November 7, 2025. Mr. Kendrick Lamar led with nine nominations, followed by Ms. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga), Mr. Henry Walter (Cirkut), and Mr. Jack Antonoff with seven nominations each. Ms. Sabrina Carpenter, Mr. Leon Thomas III, Mr. Benito Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny), and Mr. Serban Ghenea followed closely with six nominations each, according to abcnews.go.
The Grammys feature 95 categories, with up to eight nominees per category. This year, the Recording Academy introduced two new categories, including Best Traditional Country Album as well as Best Album Cover. The Best Traditional Country Album category developed in response to a growing divide in country music, with some listeners prioritizing tradition over evolution in the genre. The Recording Academy nominated Mr. Charley Crockett, Mr. Lukas Nelson, Mrs. Margo Price, Mr. Willie Nelson, and Mr. Zach Top for this award. The Academy also renamed the Best Country Award to Best Contemporary Country Album. This split developed as a way to promote country music while honoring the importance of tradition, according to grammys.com.
The award show also featured a new category, Best Album Cover. This category recognizes the creativity and hard work of art directors and artists themselves. The Recording Academy nominated Mr. Tyler Okonma’s (Tyler, The Creator) CHROMAKOPIA, Mr. Joe Keery’s (Djo) The Crux, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Mr. Michael Alden Hadreas’s (Perfume Genius) Glory, and Wet Leg’s Moisturiser, according to grammys.com.
Along with the awards, the Grammys showcase performances from the Best New Artist nominees and other iconic artists. This year, Best New Artist performances featured Ms. Olivia Dean, Mr. Lean Thomas III, Ms. Addison Rae, Mr. Shane Boose (Sombr), Ms. Lola Young, and Mr. Alex Warren. Other new artist performances include the groups KATSEYE and The Marías. During an interview, Mr. Boose spoke on what it was like to become one of the best new artists of the year, according to youtube.com.
“It doesn’t feel real that I am here given where I was a year ago,” Mr. Boose said. “A year ago today I was 19 and had just written ‘Back to Friends’ in my bedroom all by myself. I didn’t know that it would take me here. I am eternally grateful and thankful to my fans.”
Mr. Peter Gene Hernandez (Bruno Mars) performed twice, once with Ms. Roseanne “Rosé” Park, opening up the ceremony with an energetic performance of their song “APT.,” and another when he made his first solo appearance in nearly ten years singing “I Just Might.” Ms. Carpenter performed live for the second year in a row after earning six nominations. Mr. Justin Bieber took the stage with his nominated song, “Yukon.” Lady Gaga stunned the audience with a fast-paced rendition of her song “Abracadabra.” Hip-hop duo Clipse, as well as Mr. Pharrell Williams, also made memorable appearances on stage.
The special ‘In Memoriam’ tribute honored late musical icons in the industry. Ms. Reba Nell McEntire performed a tribute for artists who passed away in the last year. Mr. Austin Richard Post (Post Malone), Mr. Andrew Wotman (Watt), Mr. Chad Smith, Mr. Michael Andrew McKagan (Duff), and Mr. Saul Hudson (Slash) performed a special tribute for Mr. John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne. Ms. Lauryn Hill along with others paid tribute to Mr. Michael Eugene Archer (D’angelo) and Ms. Roberta Cleopatra Flack.
The Grammys’ most coveted awards consist of Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. This year, Album of the Year went to Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Foto.” Song of the Year went to Ms. Billie Eillish’s “Wildflower.” Lastly, Record of the Year went to Mr. Lamar and Ms. Solána Imani Rowe’s (SZA) “Luther.” Of the many awards given, Mr. Lamar made history for winning the most awards as a hip hop artist in the Grammys history. He currently has 27 awards, beating Mr. Shawn Corey Carter’s (Jay Z) record by two. Bad Bunny’s album also made history as the first Spanish language album to win Album of the Year.
For Upper School student musicians and artists, the Grammys are more than just a source of entertainment. The event also serves as a source of inspiration that sparks creativity and encourages artistic growth. Sophomore Eleanor Kelleher commented on why the Grammys are an important event for people in the music industry.
“The Grammys are great marketing for artists as their recognition in the media inspires the public to want to check out the nominees or winners leading to more streams for them,” Eleanor said. “A Grammy win gives an artist credibility and validation, which leads to more publicity. The award shows act as a cultural event where the industry comes together and celebrates the incredible art that has been made.”
Featured Image by Elizabeth Galgano ’28
