The 68th Annual grammy Awards concluded Monday night with a mix of musical triumphs and pointed political statements. From Bad Bunny‘s historic Album of the Year win as the first Spanish-language artist to achieve the honor, to Billie Eilish and others using the platform to protest U.S. immigration policies, the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena proved to be both celebratory and contentious. The event also drew immediate reaction from former President Donald Trump, who criticized host Trevor noah and the show itself via his truth Social account.
Street Singer a Year’s Star, Anti-ICE Messages… Grammys Stir Trump
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards delivered surprises, stories, record-breaking moments, and pointed statements against U.S. immigration policy. The globally recognized music event, dedicated to honoring artists and their achievements, saw a former street performer win Best New Artist, while the Dalai Lama also joined the ranks of winners. But the biggest winner was a Spanish-language artist openly critical of Trump’s policies.
At Los Angeles’ Crypto Arena, and hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah, artists took the stage to accept awards and deliver musical performances. Noah’s commentary wasn’t without its jabs at former President Donald Trump.
A swift response came from Trump via his Truth Social platform. He described the Grammys as “the Worst,” and attacked Noah, saying, “The host, Trevor Noah, whatever his name is, is as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars.”
Trump objected to Noah’s remark about he and Bill Clinton spending time with Jeffrey Epstein, threatening to sue and fine the “pathetic, talentless, dumb” host, as he put it.
Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish Fire Back at ICE
Returning to the show, and amidst fierce competition, Bad Bunny took home Album of the Year, beating out luminaries like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter. The Puerto Rican artist makes history as the first Spanish-language artist to win in that category.
Bad Bunny (31), dubbed “the King of Latin Trap,” collected three awards for his album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos, stating, “I need to take more photos.” In his acceptance speech, the young artist criticized U.S. immigration policy, declaring, “Before I thank God, I’m gonna say ICE out,” a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bad Bunny continued, to a standing ovation: “We are not animals, we are not monsters, we are not aliens. We are humans, we are Americans.”
The sentiment resonated on the Grammys red carpet, where many stars wore buttons with the phrase “ICE OUT” (ICE out), calling for an end to the function of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Billie Eilish, while accepting Song of the Year for “What Was I Made For?”, amplified the message, stating, “Nobody is illegal on stolen land.” She also received a standing ovation, and before finishing her speech, directed an expletive at ICE, urging continued fighting and protesting.
From the Thames to the Grammys
After a year that saw her songs cross borders from Britain to the United States, Olivia Dean reaped the rewards. The British singer, 26, was one of the pleasant surprises at the Grammys, winning Best New Artist for her joyful, romantic songs that have traveled the globe.
Before becoming a star known by millions, Olivia Dean began her musical life as a street performer on the banks of the River Thames in London. She was 17 at the time, barely earning enough money to buy food. But thanks to her perseverance and sound musical choices, Dean stood on the Grammy stage recalling her roots: “I’m here as the granddaughter of my immigrant grandma. I am a product of courage, and I think we need to celebrate those people,” Dean said, in a tearful speech.
Kendrick Lamar Breaks Jay-Z’s Record
The 68th Grammys were a night for Kendrick Lamar. The American rapper won five awards for his album GNX, including Record of the Year, and Best Rap Album, Performance, and Song. With 27 Grammy awards in the rap category, Lamar breaks the record previously held by Jay-Z.
In his brief acceptance speech, Lamar noted he isn’t much of a talker and prefers to express his thoughts and feelings through music. He also took a moment to salute fellow rappers and hip-hop artists in the audience.
Lady Gaga and a Breathless Speech
From seven nominations, Lady Gaga won two awards: Best Pop Vocal Album for Chromatica, and Best Pop Dance Recording for “Abaracadabra” from the same album. She also delivered a live performance of the song that captivated the audience.
In a speech devoid of political messages, Gaga (39) appeared visibly emotional, thanking her team and boyfriend Michael Polanski.
Asian Achievements
After years of being a global phenomenon, Korean K-pop music finally received recognition from the Grammy organization. However, the achievement didn’t come through well-known groups like BTS or Blackpink, but through “Golden,” from the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. The song, performed by the virtual group Hunter X, won Best Song for Visual Media.
Among the Asian achievements at the 68th Grammys, the Dalai Lama won in the category of Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for his book Reflections and Insights of the Dalai Lama. The 90-year-old spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism did not attend the ceremony, but posted a message of thanks on his social media pages.
Spielberg’s First Grammy, Cher Causes Chaos
At 79, and after a career filled with Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, and more, director Steven Spielberg received his first Grammy. The award honored the score for the documentary John Williams: A Life in Music, which he produced.
Among the industry veterans honored at the Grammy ceremony, singer and actress Cher (79) received the Lifetime Achievement Award. However, Cher’s appearance on stage was not without a comical mishap, as she forgot she was supposed to announce the nominees for Record of the Year. She mistakenly announced that the winner was Luther Vandross, who passed away in 2005.
The 68th Grammy Awards also featured musical performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Pharrell Williams. But the most surprising performance came from Justin Bieber, who performed wearing only his underwear, socks, and an electric guitar.
