Olivia Dean took home the best new artist award at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, while Bad Bunny accepted the best música urbana album award for ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ to a thunderous standing ovation, saying to the audience, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out.”
The awards are airing live from Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+. Comedian Trevor Noah has returned to host the show for his sixth consecutive time — and his last.
But who else will win? Read along as AP reporters follow tonight’s awards and music’s biggest stars.
RECORD OF THE YEAR: ‘Luther,’ Kendrick Lamar with SZA
“Please don’t fall into despair,” SZA cautioned in her acceptance speech. “I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it’s so scary and all is lost.”
Reba opens in memoriam segment
Reba McEntire opened the in memoriam with “Trailblazer” as the names of many musical luminaries — from Connie Francis to Malcolm-Jamal Warner to Cleto Escobedo III to Todd Snider and many more — flashed behind her, Lukas Nelson and Brandy Clark.
The memorial tributes to expect
Up next: Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.
So what’s the difference between record and song of the year?
The answer is pretty granular. Best record “recognizes the artists, producers and engineers who contribute to that recording” whereas best song is about the writing and composition, according to the Grammy Awards. It goes to the songwriter(s), which may or may not include the performing artist.
Sometimes, works are nominated for both categories. This year, all but one of the songs nominated for record of the year are also nominated for best song — and vice versa. In 2017, Adele’s “Hello” won both awards.
SONG OF THE YEAR: ‘Wildflower,’ Billie Eilish
“As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land,” she said in her acceptance speech.
What was that about a lawsuit?
Trevor Noah joked that the Grammy Awards were coming to viewers “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion.”
It’s a not-so-subtle reference to President Donald Trump’s uneasy history with CBS News. He won a $16 million settlement last summer from Paramount over a “60 Minutes” interview that he claimed was edited deceptively for Kamala Harris’ benefit. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt more recently reportedly told new “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil that they would “sue your ass off” if his 13-minute interview with the president was cut in any way.
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE: ‘Messy,’ Lola Young
“I don’t know what I’m going to say because I don’t have any speech prepared,” Young said. “Obviously, I don’t. It’s messy, do you know what I mean?”
After a decade, Bruno Mars is releasing a new album
It’s been nearly a decade since performer Bruno Mars released a solo album, with “24K Magic” having been released in 2016. But he’s performing a new solo single “I Just Might,” released last month, and his fourth studio album “The Romantic” is scheduled to drop on Feb. 27.
Who else is calling for ICE out? The Biebers, for two
Bad Bunny started his speech by saying “ICE out” — no shock considering the Puerto Rican artist skipped the US on his recent tour out of concern for fans who might be subject to federal immigration raids outside his shows.
A similarly unsurprising sight were the “ICE OUT” pins worn by Billie Eilish and Finneas. But viewers might not have expected to see the buttons attached to Justin and Hailey Bieber, who don’t normally address American politics.
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM: ‘Mayhem,’ Lady Gaga
“I’ve been making music since I was a little girl and every time I’m here, I still feel like I need to pinch myself,” she said in her acceptance speech.
BEST CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM: ‘Beautifully Broken,’ Jelly Roll
“I believe that music had the power to change my life, and God had the power to change my life,” he said in his acceptance speech. “I want to tell y’all right now: Jesus is for everybody, Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label. Jesus is Jesus.”
Kendrick Lamar is now the most-awarded rapper in Grammys history
Kendrick Lamar stands atop hip-hop’s Grammy hill: He’s now the most-awarded rapper in the ceremony’s history. So far, he’s won four awards including best rap song, melodic rap performance, rap performance and rap album. His latest victory of the night means Lamar broke Jay-Z’s record to become the rapper with the most career Grammys. Jay-Z has 25; after he took home rap album, Lamar’s total is 26. He entered with the most Grammy nominations with nine. He’s also up for album of the year.
“It’s an honor to be here,” he said in his acceptance speech. He was presented the award by Queen Latifah and Doechii. “Hip-hop is always going to be right here. ... We’re gonna be having the culture with us.”
BEST MUSICA URBANA ALBUM: ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos,’ Bad Bunny
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out,” Bad Bunny said, accepting his award. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.”
What’s eligible for a Grammy?
Recordings commercially released in the US between Aug. 31, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2025 were eligible for nominations.
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” up for six Grammys, released just one day before the cutoff. Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl,” on the other hand, dropped in October and will have to wait until the 2027 show.
BEST NEW ARTIST: Olivia Dean
“I wanna say I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” Dean said in her acceptance speech. “I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Who’s up for best new artist?
The best new artist award is for musicians, duos or groups who produce at least five songs or an album, and who have recently made waves in music culture. Up for the Grammy:
BEST RAP ALBUM: ‘GNX,’ Kendrick Lamar
“I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music,” the best rap album winner said.
The year’s notable snubs
What was that? Lorde and her latest album “Virgin” were shut out this year. Her previous project “Solar Power” got the silent treatment at the 2022 awards.
And no blinding lights for The Weeknd, who called the award show “corrupt” over a previous snub but seemed to squash the beef with a return to the Grammys stage last year. His album “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was submitted in over a dozen categories but wasn’t recognized.
There are no rap or country artists in the best new artist lineup, despite artists like Ella Langley and Megan Moroney having big years.
Sabrina Carpenter has baggage to claim
After Trevor Noah’s monologue, Sabrina Carpenter took flight with an airport-themed rendition of “Manchild.”
Carpenter had an elaborate set for her performance in a faux airline terminal. There was a giant arrivals/departures board in the old style of numbers and letters that flipped instead of today’s digital version.
Noah jokes like it’s 1999
Host Trevor Noah said in his opening monologue that Ms. Lauryn Hill is performing tonight, for the first time since 1999.
“Do you understand how long ago that is?” he said from a circular platform in the middle of the audience. “Back in 1999, the president had had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested.”
Don Lemon is at the Grammys
Don Lemon posed on the red carpet with his husband Tim Malone and singer Brandi Carlile, who kissed him on the cheek.
Lemon was originally in town to cover the Grammys, but was arrested and hit with federal civil rights charges over his previous coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church. He was released from custody Friday.
In a statement posted to social media, Lemon said his actions were protected by the First Amendment and that he “will not be silenced.”
What will Trevor Noah say?
All eyes will be on the six-time host, who has usually kept overt politics out of his duties, but has had a few zingers for President Donald Trump.
Reacting to Bad Bunny’s sizzling opening performance in 2023, Trevor Noah raved: “Absolutely incredible! You know, every time I listen to him, I get hips I never knew I had. It even makes Trump want to learn Spanish.”
Trump also got zinged in 2025 in his monologue, with the comedian quipping that “there’s been a few changes in Washington, so I’m going to enjoy tonight, because it may be my last time I get to host anything in this country.”
Sunday caps Noah’s run that started in 2021 as the world emerged from the pandemic and endured against a backdrop of wars, wildfires and federal agents clashing with protesters in US cities.
An apt opening for the Grammys
The Grammys are underway with a high-octane performance of “APT.” by Bruno Mars and Rosé.
Chappell Roan ‘started a movement,’ Sabrina Carpenter says
Sabrina Carpenter couldn’t help but note how quiet the photographers were on the Grammys carpet, exclaiming: “Chappell (Roan) really started, she started a movement.”
During the 2024 MTV Music Awards, Roan confronted a photographer on the carpet who seemingly told her to “shut the f--- up,” sparking a conversation about red carpet etiquette.
The Osbournes speak ahead of ‘very emotional’ ceremony
On the red carpet, the Osbourne family spoke about what will be their first Grammy awards since their patriarch, Ozzy Osbourne died last year. He’ll receive a special tribute during the in memoriam segment.
“We were at sound check the other day, and it’s going to be quite the show,” Jack Osbourne said.
“It’s going to be very emotional for me,” Kelly Osbourne added.
6 legends receive the Grammys’ Lifetime Achievement Award
Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti and Whitney Houston received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy at the Grammys Special Merit Awards on Saturday night.
“Music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth,” Khan said as she accepted the award. “Through it, I saved my life.”
She was the only recipient who appeared at the ceremony at the small Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on the eve of Sunday’s main Grammys ceremony.
Family accepted the Lifetime Achievement Awards for the Nigerian Afrobeat legend Kuti, who died in 1997, and the singing superstar Houston, who died in 2012.
The audience gave a collective moan of disappointment when academy President Harvey Mason jr. said Cher wasn’t there.