By Juliana Seaman
This year’s Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah for his fifth consecutive year in a row, was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 2. The 67th annual music awards was a remarkable night for many artists.
Since 1959, the Grammys have been an annual holiday and biggest night for musical artists. During the event, there are performers, awards, speeches, tributes, and much more.
The evening started with a performance by Billie Eilish singing her Grammy nominated song “Birds of a Feather.” Along with Eilish on stage, was her brother and producer Finneas O’Connell. Her performance included hiking trails throughout Los Angeles county, showing love to her native city. Eilish started the night off with a positive and supportive light for Los Angeles.
Other performances following Eilish included Sabrina Carpenter singing a blend of her hit songs “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Grammy nominee Chappell Roan also performed her hit single “Pink Pony Club.“
Other performers for the Grammys included Khruangbin, Benson Boone, Doechii, DJ Miss Milan, Teddy Swims, Shaboozey, Raye, Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga, The Weekend & Playboi Carti, Cynthia Erivo, Shakira, Charlie XCX, and many more.
Aside from the negativity on social media, Beyoncé finally won her first Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter.
Over the course of her career, she has been nominated four times for the Album of the Year award, but never lucky. Not only did she win this award, she made history becoming the first Black woman to win Best Country Album, also for Cowboy Carter.
“I just feel very full and very honored,” Beyoncé said to CNN during her acceptance speech. “It’s been many, many years.”
Queen B was not the only one to set a personal record — Sabrina Carpenter also won her first Grammy. Although Sabrina Carpenter was nominated for six Grammys, she left with two wins.
Carpenter’s album Short ‘n Sweet won Best Pop Vocal Album, along with Pop Solo Performance for her song “Espresso.”
With a nail-biting category of Best New Artist, including Carpenter, the nominees were Chappell Roan, Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, Raye, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims. Also being her first Grammy, Chappell Roan took the win.
“I think this Grammy is incredibly deserving, while I am a very big Sabrina Carpenter fan, I believe Chappell is truly a new artist as opposed to Sabrina,” said Hannah Cribb, a nursing student at South University and big Chappell fan.
“Roan has a long career ahead of her and I can’t wait to see what she has in store next,” said Cribb. This category put a spotlight on many nominated artists.
From the Swampa, Tampa native, Doechii also won her first Grammy in the Best Rap Album. For her Grammy-winning album Alligator Bites Never Heal, CNN reports, she became the third woman, following Lauryn Hill and Cardi B, to win this award.
However, Doechii was not the only rapper to win an award on Feb. 2.
Kendrick Lamar won two awards that night, with his song “Not Like Us.” He won a Grammy for Best Record of the Year and Song of the Year. His hit single came from a feud between Lamar and Canadian rapper Drake. Lamar wrote “Not Like Us” as a response to their drama. Kendrick Lamar now holds 20 Grammys.
Jaden Smith, a senior at Saint Leo University is a self-proclaimed huge fan of Drake.
“I know I’m biased, but Kendrick should not have won for a song about hating another man. Not to mention the lawsuit going on,” said Smith.
The Grammys are mostly centered around awards for those in the music industry, but not limited to it. Throughout this year’s event, viewers at home, and the ones at the ceremony, were given the opportunity to donate to victims in the Los Angeles fires. With the help of QR codes located at every table and chair at the Grammys and accessible for watchers at home, $7 million was donated to charity.
This year’s Grammys celebrated many artists and their achievements in making history. With 67 years and counting, the Grammys will forever be an event enjoyable for all.
For more information about winners and nominees, visit the 2025 Grammys website.
–
Photo courtesy of FMT.