Beyoncé wins album of the year at the 2025 Grammy Awards
Beyoncé wins album of the year at the 2025 Grammy Awards
Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, meanwhile, completed a victory lap after last summer’s beef with Drake. His song “Not Like Us” took home wins for best rap performance, song of the year and record of the year. Some of the other major winners Sunday included Chappell Roan, who won best new artist; Sabrina Carpenter, who won best pop vocal album (“Short n’ Sweet”); and Doechii, who won best rap album (“Alligator Bites Never Heal”). Analysis: The Grammys shone a light on more than just an amazing year for music Los Angeles was golden Sunday night, and not just because of the Grammy trophies. The night served as a reminder that in a country disrupted by divisive national politics, people can still come together to support each other in times of trouble. That’s just what the music industry did for this year’s Grammys, which was as much about helping those affected by the California wildfires as it was about performances.
It also brought to mind the importance of diversity, as women and artists of color took home some of the night’s biggest prizes. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” officially became the most critically acclaimed diss track, as the pivotal song in his highly publicized beef with fellow rapper Drake took home best rap performance as well as record of the year and song of the year Grammys. But it was ladies night for sure, as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Doechii also took home key awards. The biggest, and most long-awaited win for some, was Beyoncé at long last taking home album of the year. That Los Angeles firefighters, whom she thanked in her acceptance speech, presented her the award felt like the cherry on top as did the camera capturing Taylor Swift — who was also nominated for album of the year, and with four prior wins holds the record in that category — clinking glasses with Bey’s husband, Jay-Z, in celebration. With millions of dollars raised for those affected by the fires and so much homage paid to the resilience of those affected via both the shows and some of its commercials, the Grammys more than justified its decision to go forth with the ceremony in the wake of such a devastating tragedy.
"I just feel full and very, very honored": Beyoncé wins her elusive first album of the year award Beyoncé has won album of the year at the Grammys, capturing an elusive first win in the category and marking her third win at the 2025 awards. Beyoncé won the honor for her genre-bending “Cowboy Carter.” “I just feel full and very, very honored,” Beyoncé said while accepting the award. “It’s been many, many years.” She thanked the Recording Academy and those who collaborated with her on the album. Her daughter, Blue Ivy, accompanied her on stage. Earlier in the night, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for best country album. She also took home an award for best country duo/group performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus during the Grammys pre-show, making it a trio of trophies total.
Some context: The Recording Academy had consistently overlooked Beyoncé in this specific category, with the singer losing four times for her albums “Renaissance” (2023), “Lemonade” (2017), “Beyoncé” (2015) and “I Am… Sasha Fierce (2010). For the most part, Beyoncé had remained publicly unfazed. She even seemed to refer to her unsuccessful bids in the category on the “Cowboy Carter” song “Sweet Honey Buckin,” singing in part that she takes losses “on the chin.” CNN’s Alli Rosenbloom contributed reporting. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department earn heartfelt standing ovation during AOTY presentation Let’s hear it for the first responders. Several members of the Los Angeles Fire Department appeared on stage during Sunday’s Grammys telecast to help present the big award of the night, album of the year. Before presenting the award, the LAFD members stood on stage for several minutes while the audience stood and applauded for the men and women who bravely fought the wildfires that devastated the city of Los Angeles last month.
“In the midst of unprecedented fire conditions, their selfless acts of courage and commitment were nothing short of inspiring,” Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said on stage, flanked by members of his staff. “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers remain with all the families who’ve lost loved ones, friends and neighbors, along with everyone who has lost homes, business and have been displaced.” Marrone and his colleague went on to announce Beyoncé’s album “Cowboy Carter” as the winner of the coveted album of the year award. Charli XCX brings the party to the Grammy stage It’s a very “brat” Grammys. Charli XCX performed a high-energy version of her hit
“Von dutch” on Sunday night at music’s biggest night. It started with the star getting out a black car outside the Crypto.com Arena where the ceremony was being held, and strutting to a small stage, surrounded by people. Eventually, Charli XCX appeared on the Grammy stage where she shrugged off her black fur coat, leaving a skimpy all-denim outfit. She also performed some of her song “Guess” which features Billie Eilish, who was seen singing along and dancing in the crowd. What is “Brat Summer?” “Brat” is less a noun than it is a concept, though it is also a thing. The title of Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, the British singer has said she envisions a “brat” as someone who has a “pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra.”
“You’re just like, that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes,” she explained in a video shared on TikTok. Many theorize that it is the antithesis to the “clean” and “highly groomed” aspect so often on display by social media influencers. CNN’s Lisa Respers France contributed reporting. Grammys viewers have donated at least $7 million to wildfire relief so far, says Trevor Noah The Grammys have raised at least $7 million to support people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires so far. The show’s host, Trevor Noah, said that tally is just donations coming from people watching at home. There has been a QR code appearing on the broadcast. Noah also mentioned earlier the code is on the tables where artists and celebrities are sitting inside the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles. The money is going to the MusiCares Fire Relief fund. MusiCares is a charity founded by the Recording Academy to help people in the music industry by providing a variety of resources and disaster relief, according to its website.
The Recording Academy and MusiCares have partnered with several local organizations to provide resources for fire victims, the organization said. Diana Ross spreads “love and hope” during inspirational award presentation Diana Ross appeared at the Grammys on Sunday to present the award for song of the year, and she shared an inspirational message before handing out the statuette. The music legend, 80, began by sharing that she’s been thinking a lot about how we can “have the balance between celebrating and being filled with sorrow,” and how music can be healing in that respect. “I am inviting us all with love and hope and courage to those who are hurting tonight, especially the children who might be frightened. You are not alone. We stand with you,” Ross said. “My heart reaches out to you.” Without referring to any one issue in particular, Ross continued to share her hope that this “moment” is a reminder to us all of “the power that we hold to rebuild, to lift and to come together with compassion.”
“By reminding our future generation that even in the darkness,” she added, “we can rise again and keep the light of hope and love alive.” Ross went on to announce the winner of song of the year award, which was Kendrick Lamar for “Not Like Us.” Kendrick Lamar notches another huge win with song of the year award for "Not Like Us" Kendrick Lamar has won the song of the year award for “Not Like Us,” marking his second huge win in the late stages of the 2025 Grammy Awards. This follows up his win for record of the year for the same song, which was his final salvo in a widely publicized rap beef with Drake. Lamar paid homage to West Coast artists while accepting his award. “At the end of the day, (there is) nothing more powerful than rap music. I don’t care what it is,” he said. “We are the culture. It’s going to always stay here forever.” Diana Ross presented the award to Lamar, who mimed bowing down to her. “I’m starstruck,” Lamar said. He concluded his speech with a message for young rappers: “I just hope you respect the art form.” Some background: Widely considered one of the best rappers alive, Lamar already has 17 Grammys under his belt.
Lamar’s surprise album “GNX” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2024, while five of its singles also took the top five slots in the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Next weekend: Lamar will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show next Sunday in New Orleans. The “Not Like Us” rapper made his debut on the Super Bowl halftime show stage in 2022 when he performed alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent. CNN’s Lisa Respers France and Alli Rosenbloom contributed reporting. Alicia Keys uses her speech to advocate for diversity “Never stop being just like you.” Those were the inspiring words from Alicia Keys, who was on fire Sunday night after being presented the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Accompanied by one of her young sons, Keys paid homage to the “beautiful, powerful thing” she said those at the Grammys were cultivating Sunday night. After giving “big love” to uber producer Dr. Dre, for whom the award was named, and whom Keys said taught her that if you were a creative “you can touch the world.”
“I always had to fight for a certain level of respect as a songwriter, a composer and especially a producer,” Keys said. “It’s strange that we don’t think of women as producers like Quincy (Jones) or Dre or (Keys’ husband Swizz Beats). Female producers have always powered the industry.” Keys named a few, including Patrice Rushen, Linda Perry and Missy Elliott. “This is for all the ladies that know the magic that they bring to the room,” Keys said. “This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices. We’ve seen on this stage talented, hard-working people from different backgrounds with different points of view and it changes the game. DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.” That won her one of the biggest cheers of the night, before she followed up by saying, “When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” Shakira shook the Grammys stage with gold-drenched performance Her hips never lie.
Latin superstar Shakira performed Spanish-language music at the Grammys on Sunday, donning a gold fringe skirt and bedazzled top before she made a quick change into a head-to-toe bejeweled golden set. Shakira had everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Beyoncé up on their feet during the energetic second part of her set. Gloria Estefan introduced Shakira, calling her a global artist who has “always shined the brightest.” Moments earlier in the night, Shakira won her fourth career Grammy for best Latin pop album for “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” an award she dedicated to immigrants in the US. “You’re loved, you’re worth it and I will always fight with you,” she said during her acceptance speech. CNN’s Elise Hammond contributed to this report Kendrick Lamar wins record of the year for rap beef anthem "Not Like Us" Kendrick Lamar dedicated his Grammy win for record of the year to Los Angeles, and talked about his personal connection growing up in the city and the influence it had on him as a person and an artist.
Lamar won the award for his hit song “Not Like Us,” the capstone of his feud last year with Drake. Record of the year recognizes the team behind producing a song, including the artist, producers and engineers, the Grammys said. “This is my neck of the woods that have held me down since a young pup,” Lamar said in his acceptance speech. “I can’t give enough thanks to these places that I rolled around since high school.” He spoke directly to the families in the areas impacted by the wildfires: “This is a true testament that we can continue to restore this city.” The Grammys ceremony this year has been working to raise money for wildfire relief. Lamar, who already had 17 Grammys before this win, will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show next Sunday in New Orleans. The award was presented by Miley Cyrus.
“Even if its not you Beyoncé I might just say it is,” Cyrus joked before announcing Lamar’s win. Beyoncé was also nominated for her song “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Kendrick vs. Drake: Lamar had one of music’s buzziest years in 2024, with much of the attention centered on a beef heard ‘round the world. The critically acclaimed rapper (and the first to have won a Pulitzer Prize) was locked in a lyrical battle with fellow artist (and former collaborator) Drake. Drake is now battling his own record label over “Not Like Us.” The Canadian rapper and singer is suing UMG Recordings for defamation, seeking compensatory and punitive damages over the label’s publishing and promotion of the Lamar hit. This post has been updated with additional remarks from Lamar and CNN’s Lisa Respers France contributed reporting. The Grammys gave Will Smith a big role in his return to the major award show stage Will Smith made a triumphant return to the award show stage on Sunday night, appearing during one of the Grammys most impactful segments: a tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones.
Smith had not been welcomed back to any major award show since his infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars, which caused him to be banned from attending the Academy Awards for 10 years. But at the Grammys, Smith held a prominent role, introducing the tribute to Jones with lengthy remarks to honor him, and then reappearing several times between performances. Smith described Jones as a mentor, recalling his formative role in casting him on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” “In his 91 years, Q touched countess lives,” Smith said. “But I have to say, he changed my life forever.” The difference between record of the year, song of the year, and album of the year It’s time for the big three categories at the 2025 Grammy Awards. But some of those big awards sound like they could be similar, like record of the year and song of the year, for instance.
If you’re a bit confused, here’s what to know: Record of the year recognizes the team behind producing a song, including the artist, producers and engineers, according to the Recording Academy behind the awards. Song of the year, however, is more about recognizing the person who wrote the new material of the song, according to the Grammys. Song of the year is focused on the song composition, rather than the technical creation of the track (as in record of the year). But, don’t confuse the terms “album” and “record” — they are not used interchangeably in the Grammys as they might be in casual conversation between music lovers. According to the guidelines, to qualify for album of the year, “recordings must contain at least five different tracks and a total playing time of 15 minutes or a total playing time of at least 30 minutes with no minimum track requirement,” the Grammys said. The category is judged on the “quality and artistry” of the tracks on an album as a whole, it said, rather than an individual song — as in the record of the year and song of the year categories. Chris Martin sings In Memoriam segment, which leads with Liam Payne Chris Martin bid farewell to those we lost in the music industry at the Grammys during the In Memoriam segment.
Coldplay’s lead singer used their new single “All My Love” to bid farewell to stars from One Direction’s Payne to country superstar Toby Keith. The year saw the loss of multiple people both famous and behind the scenes in the music world, which meant stars like legendary soul singer Sam Moore shared screen time with DJ/Producer Clark Kent and Recording Academy executive assistant, Lani Simmons. The audience responded with a big round of applause at the conclusion of the tribute. Following the segment, during commercial break, One Direction’s “Story of My Life” played in the theater, further honoring Payne, who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina last year. Lady Gaga speaks out for trans rights after pop duo win with Bruno Mars Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars have won the Grammy for best pop duo or group performance, earning the award for their hit song “Die With a Smile.”
Gaga used her speech to speak out in support of the LGBTQ community. “Trans people are not invisible,” she said. “Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love.” The two also used their acceptance speech to highlight their appreciation for one another’s work. “Gaga, I’m so honored to be a part of this song with you,” Bruno said. “I’m so honored to have a small part in your giant musical legacy and I really truly believe that God gave us this song to sing together so thank you so much.” Gaga then called Bruno “an incredible human being” and “a musician for the ages,” adding that she doesn’t “know music without Bruno.” Quincy Jones remembered for his spectacular career and "enduring passion" for music Will Smith doesn’t believe you would know who he is, were it not for the late Quincy Jones. The rapper and actor hit superstardom thanks to “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” which Jones was instrumental in bringing to the small screen.
That’s why it made perfect sense for Smith, along with famed pianist Herbie Hancock, to introduce a sprawling Grammys tribute to Jones, known as “Q” to those who loved him. “In his 91 years, Q touched countess lives,” Smith said. “But I have to say, he changed my life forever.” Jones touched almost every genre of music. The composer and producer, who added his tasteful polish to recordings by everyone from Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, died in November 2024 at the age of 91. Smith introduced Cynthia Erivo Sunday night at the Grammys, who performed a stripped down version of Count Basie and Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To the Moon,” which Jones was well known for. She was followed by other major stars including Lainey Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe, who honored Jones by performing just a few of the songs the American music giant helped make famous.
Wonder expressed his love of Jones and, accompanied by a choir of students who lost their schools to the recent Los Angeles wildfires, sang some of the 1985 charity single, “We Are the World,” which Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote and Jones produced. Monáe donned the black suit, sparkly socks and black shoes Jackson made famous and broke out some of his dance moves — including a moonwalk — in performing Jackson’s hit, “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.” Take a look behind the scenes at the Grammy Awards The stars were out Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
They danced, mingled and took selfies as music’s best were honored during the Grammy Awards. Check out some behind-the-scenes photos Shakira dedicates best Latin pop album Grammy win to immigrants in US Global music star Shakira has added another award to her illustrious career, taking home the Grammy for best Latin pop album for “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.” “This is incredible. Thank you so much,” she said while accepting the award. Shakira said she wanted to dedicate the award to “all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country.” “You’re loved, you’re worth it and I will always fight with you,” she said. Shakira said that women who work “really hard everyday to provide for their families” are the “true heroes.” “So this is for you too,” she added. The star also thanked her family and her children who were in the audience. This post has been updated with remarks from Shakira’s speech. Lady Gaga debuts haunting new music video during Grammys ad break Lady Gaga debuted a brand new music video during a break in the Grammys telecast on Sunday for a new song, which appeared to be named “Abracadabra.”
The music video was presented by Mastercard as part of a long-form commercial. “The category is, dance or die,” Gaga said at the beginning of the video, outfitted in a red patent leather getup complete with otherworldly headgear. The song is a familiar Gaga sound, with its harmonies and upbeat tempo harkening back to her “Fame Monster” and “Born This Way” eras. In the video, Gaga was carried through a room by dozens of backup dancers while her haunting vocals rang out. The colors of the video were primarily red, white, black and cream. One of her outfits was a full-length red leather cape dress with a classic Gaga oversized hat, complete with large red studs around the rim. Lady Gaga has been promoting her upcoming album “Mayhem,” which is set to drop on March 7. She previously released her first single “Disease” in October. The singer is nominated for two Grammys on Sunday for “Die with a Smile,” her 2024 collab with Bruno Mars – with whom she performed on stage at the award event.
Grammys CEO responds to The Weeknd's past complaints — and then the pop star returns to stage According to the man running it, the Grammys has made some improvements. Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive officer of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, took to the stage Sunday night to address what had been a bumpy road for the award show. “When I took on this role back in 2020, I wanted the organization to change and modernize so we could be better and serve this dynamic and global music community,” Mason said. “But my early days were not exactly straightforward. The Academy faced some real criticism for many in our music community.” One of those critics was acclaimed singer The Weeknd.
Mason said he remembered “waking up to the headlines that the Weeknd called out the Academy for lack of transparency in our awards” adding that the Canadian R&B and pop star “went so far as to announce he was boycotting the Grammys.” Since then, Mason said, the Academy has made some changes and “remade our membership, adding more than 3,000 women voting members.” “The Grammy electorate is now younger, nearly 40% people of color, and 66% of our members are new,” Mason said. “Since we started our transformation this year, the 13,000 voting members of the Academy nominated their peers and voted for the winners that you’re seeing on this stage tonight. It’s a system rooted in fairness, integrity, and the principle that every voice in our community matters.” And as proof that times are changing, he welcomed The Weeknd back to the Grammys stage Sunday night.
The Weeknd performed two songs from his new album “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” including “Cry For Me” and “Timeless,” the latter featuring an appearance by rapper Playboi Carti. It was the first time the singer returned to the Grammys stage since 2021, when he accused the Recording Academy, the group behind the Grammys, for being “corrupt” on his X page after he was shut out of earning any nominations that year for his acclaimed album “After Hours”. The Weeknd’s return was certainly a statement, with the audience rising to their feet to watch him sing his newest songs from atop a large platform. Smoke billowed from the stage through laser lights throughout the four-time Grammy-winner’s performance. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was released on Friday. Prince was honored with a posthumous lifetime achievement award. See his career in pictures Five years after the Grammys paid tribute to the late musician Prince, he has received their lifetime achievement award.
The legendary singer and songwriter was part of a group including Frankie Beverly, Roxanne Shanté and Dr. Bobby Jones who were honored at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Saturday. The CBS broadcast just played a video package highlighting the honorees. Prince was honored in 2020 during a Grammys special, “Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Tribute to Prince.” During his lifetime, he had 38 Grammy nominations and seven wins. Some background: Prince, known for his eclectic sound, glittery wardrobe and provocative lyrics, died in 2016 at the age of 57. Toxicology tests later concluded that he died from an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl, according to a report on his death by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office. Prince’s music transcended genres and generations. When his death was announced, there was an outpouring of grief as fans paid tribute to the singer who masterfully blended rock, R&B, jazz, funk and pop.
Some of Prince’s most famous hits included “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “When Doves Cry.” He sold millions of records, but he also touched and inspired artists all along the musical spectrum. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars show love to LA with heartfelt "California Dreamin'" cover In a nod to Los Angeles, a theme of the evening, collaborators Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars took the Grammys stage to perform a pared down cover of the 1965 song “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & the Papas. Mars donned a cowboy hat and a tan suit while Lady Gaga wore a cream-colored knit hat and a retro maxi dress adorned with a black bow at the waist. Gaga and Mars are nominated for two Grammys this year, for their 2024 hit “Die With a Smile.” The duo earned nods in the song of the year and best pop duo/group performance categories.
Their throwback song choice at the Grammys appeared to be a tribute to the city of Los Angeles, following the deadly and devastating wildfires that ripped through the region last month. Throughout the evening, host Trevor Noah has been asking viewers and audience members to donate to several charities that the Grammys are supporting. Chappell Roan advocates for emerging musicians while accepting award for best new artist Chappell Roan has won best new artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards — a particularly impressive feat this year, given a crowded field of chart-topping performers. She thanked the other nominees in the category, whose music she said “got me through this past year,” adding a special shoutout to Charli XCX’s album “Brat.”
The “Pink Pony Club” singer also thanked her fans, friends and family, as well as her record label. Roan used the majority of her acceptance speech to advocate for developing artists. “I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists,” Roan said. The singer’s plea garnered a wave of applause. About the artist: Roan’s debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” topped the Billboard 200 Chart, only second to Taylor Swift. She performed to record-breaking crowds at festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, and she also won best new artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. Roan quickly became known for her drag-inspired live performance costumes and glam, and is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, as someone who has publicly identified as queer.
The singer has been outspoken out about the challenges she has experienced with rising to a huge level of fame so quickly, and being outspoken on social issues. CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister contributed reporting. Analysis: The Grammys are serving up the diversity we did know we needed From CNN's Lisa Respers France With all the conversation about ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, here comes the women serving it up at Sunday night’s Grammys. Not only did women like Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan turn out some amazing performances early in the show, but women like Carpenter and the groundbreaking rapper Doechii have also dominated in the early wins. Doechii became only the third woman (behind Lauryn Hill and Cardi B) to ever win rap album of the year, and that was just the start of some of the history made.
Beyoncé followed up her pre-show win — becoming the first Black woman in more than 50 years to win a country Grammy for best duo/group performance with Miley Cyrus in “II Most Wanted” — by winning best country album of the year for her “Cowboy Carter.” Queen Bey seemed legitimately shocked by the win, which was a lovely way to kick off Black History Month. Rising stars Shaboozey and Raye perform hits Shaboozey, who is nominated for best new artist this year, performed his hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” The song is also nominated for song of the year.
The performance had the crowd up on their feet as dancers in cowboy hats accompanied Shaboozey – who is also featured on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” – on stage. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is also nominated for best country solo performance. Raye, another nominee for best new artist, also performed. With strings and horns section behind her, she sang a rendition of her song “Oscar Winning Tears.” She closed out a series of performances by those nominated in that category – including Doechii, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Khruangbin. Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, also best new artist nominees, performed earlier in the ceremony. This post has been updated with details from Raye’s performance.
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