Photo from LA Times
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place on Feb. 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. As one of the most significant nights in the music industry, both new and well-established artists came together to celebrate music achievements from the past year. Hosted for the fifth consecutive year by comedian Trevor Noah, the event featured his sharp commentary and sense of humor. High-profile artists were in attendance, including Beyonce, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish.
Instead of starting the show with acts from prominent artists, the Recording Academy kicked off this year’s Grammys with performances from all of the Best New Artist nominees. This was done with the intention of highlighting new performers, such as Chappell Roan and Burna Boy. Raye performed her song “Oscar Winning Tears;” Chappell Roan performed “Pink Pony Club;” and Billie Eilish sang “Birds of Feather” alongside her older brother, Finneas.
Due to the recent outbreaks of the LA wildfires, this year’s show was a fundraising event to help those affected. The fires were addressed throughout the event with online QR codes for donations and speeches from celebrities like Trevor Noah.
The Album of the Year award went to Beyoncé for “Cowboy Carter.” The concept of the album is rooted in country music, exploring how the genre has roots in Black music. Featured guests on her album include Linda Martell, one of the first successful Black artists in country music, and rising country artist Shaboozey. The album, over five years in the making, marked a turning point in Grammy history as Beyoncé became the fourth Black woman to win Album of the Year, the first in 26 years since Lauryn Hill’s win in 1999.
In addition, other rising stars had their first wins, such as hip hop artist and rapper Doechii. She earned recognition for her unique talent, winning the Best Rap Album Award and performing her songs “Denial is a River” and “Catfish.” Chappell Roan, nominated for a total of six awards, ended up taking home the Best New Artist award. She recently gained popularity, known for her eccentric style and her catchy, candid songs. Established in the music industry for over a decade, Lady Gaga won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile.”
Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” a viral hit that highlighted the rapper’s feud with Drake, was nominated for multiple Grammy awards like Best Rap Song, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Although Lamar didn’t perform his song at the Grammys, he did perform it at the Super Bowl halftime show in February.
Charli XCX, nominated for a total of eight categories, closed the night with performances of her songs “Von Dutch” and “Guess” feat. Billie Eilish. After a wildly popular “brat summer,” she continued the high energy on stage with a charged mashup performance of her hits. The set began outside with Charli getting out of a black van. She wore a fur coat with a denim set and brought along notable personalities including Julia Fox and Alex Consani to dance with her on stage. As Charli XCX closed the evening with energizing performances of her hit songs, the crowd was left on a high note as the celebrity’s creativity and music was continuously brought to the stage.
The 2025 Grammy Awards was a night to remember with highly anticipated acts, historical wins and entertainment. The artists have set the stage for a vibrant new scene of music this year.