Music’s biggest night at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., was chock full of notable wins, performances and, of course, some snubs. Here is your Guide to what happened at the 2025 Grammys:
Overall, this was a huge night for female artists — and also Kendrick Lamar. Lamar took home five wins, the most out of any artist, including the two biggest prizes for an individual song — Record of the Year and Song of the Year — for the now iconic “Not Like Us.” However, women dominated the spotlight, capturing most major awards, including Best New Artist, Best Album, Best Rap Album and Best Pop Vocal Album. Another significant and cathartic victory was Beyoncé’s triumphant comeback, as she finally secured the coveted Best Album award and Best Country Album award for “COWBOY CARTER” — a genre-bending, storytelling masterpiece — after four previous losses in the Album of the Year category. This made her the first Black woman this century, and fourth in history, to win album of the year.
Other major wins included pop star Chappell Roan winning Best New Artist after her record-breaking year of viral hits and sold-out shows. Furthermore, Doechii became the third woman in history to win Best Rap Album, for her latest work, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
The night was filled with powerful messages, including Roan’s speech for Best New Artist, where she advocated for artists’ right to fair pay and health care from their labels. Alicia Keys also delivered a politically charged speech condemning Trump’s anti-DEI policies he recently announced while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for influencing and shaping culture through her artistry.
Advocacy further defined the broadcast with coverage of the Los Angeles Palisades wildfires to honor those who lost their lives. Host Trevor Noah urged viewers and attendees to donate to relief funds via an onscreen QR code. By the night’s end, Noah announced that the audience alone had raised over $7 million for the cause.
Noah tried, and succeeded, to find a decent balance between a happy, entertaining award show and a meaningful opportunity to give back. Several celebrities showed their care as well; Lamar listed off the names of Los Angeles neighborhoods when accepting an award for “Not Like Us,” and musicians such as Brad Paisley and Sheryl Crow joined Taylor Goldsmith in singing “I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman as a tribute to the city.
Memorable performances also defined the night. Doechii was the standout of the Best New Artist medley in a performance that Billboard ranked as the best of the night, showing off incredible dance skills, showmanship and innovation while rapping “Catfish” and “Denial is a River” right after her tearful acceptance speech for Best Rap Album.
Sabrina Carpenter gave a bright, 20s-inspired mash-up of “Please Please Please” and “Espresso,” highlighting her win for Best Pop Solo Performance and outdoing Noah’s comedic timing and physical humor. Roan also showed off her impact and unmatched stage presence with a performance of sleeper-hit “Pink Pony Club.” When she paused to let the crowd sing, the room of industry professionals and stars knew all the words, singing them right back. Roan, who has had one of the most intense and rapid rises to fame in recent music history, revealed herself as a born performer. The rendition was campy yet brilliant, with Roan sitting on the titular pink pony surrounded by clowns, reclaiming a term that is often used against LGBTQ+ people.
As with any awards show, there were some snubs and disappointments. Album of the Year, one of the most competitive categories, left many empty-handed, with artists like Charli XCX and Billie Eilish walking away with nothing for what many consider their most prominent works to date. Adding insult to injury, Eilish experienced a first in her music career and walked away with zero wins, even after seven nominations and her single “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” reaching the number two spot on the Billboard Top 100. In the same vein, Taylor Swift left the show with zero wins after six nominations. Beyond the Best Album nominees, other disappointments included Clairo losing Best Alternative Album for her hit “Charm” and many artists being awarded off-screen, as most of the 94 categories were only honored during a non-televised Premiere Ceremony.
Despite these few upsets, the 2025 Grammys were certainly a win for many. Between prominent female representation, show-stopping performances from truly innovative artists, Drake most likely having the worst night of his life after Kendrick’s wins, Beyoncé’s ultimate success story and notable good being done for the host city of L.A., we at the Guide give this show a 5-star rating.
