A Groundbreaking Night: Grammys 2025

Everything you missed at the Grammys last weekend.

I wrote an article back in November responding to the nominations for this year’s Grammys, which finally took place this week. The 67th Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles on Sunday night, with many of the nominees present. There were incredible performances, first awards for certain artists, and records set by others (as always, Beyoncé). Below are some of my personal highlights of the show.

First of all, I have to address my predictions from when the nominees were announced. I started off well, with three of my guesses turning out correct, but then it went downhill for me in the second half. The categories that I did predict correctly were Best New Artist for Chappell Roan, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, and Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter. I was quite surprised that my guesses for neither Record of the Year nor Song of the Year (“Espresso” and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”) were correct—instead, both of those awards went to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Although he has won many Grammys throughout his career, this was the first time that he won these major awards outside of the rap category.

There were several other noteworthy awards and recipients. Doechii won her first Grammy, Best Rap Album, for Alligator Bites Never Heal, marking only the third time that a woman has won the award. Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX won their first (and subsequent) Grammys as well, both of them on their sixth albums with Short n’ Sweet and Brat. These were Sabrina’s first nominations and Charli’s first in ten years. Once again, Beyoncé beat her own record for being the winner of the most Grammys, which is now 35. Despite having won so many awards, this was her first time winning Album of the Year, with Cowboy Carter finally earning her that title as well as Best Country Album. This made her the first Black woman to win Best Country Album and the first to win Album of the Year this century. The firefighters of Los Angeles presented the Grammy for Album of the Year in a heartwarming conclusion to the evening that focused its fundraising efforts on relief for the LA fires.

This year’s Grammys were full of performances from the nominees showing that they had earned their spots there. Billie Eilish and FINNEAS played “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” as a sibling duo, with baby pictures overlaid on a scenic backdrop. Inspired by the style of her Short n’ Sweet Tour, Sabrina Carpenter did a theatrical mashup of “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” complete with outfit changes and tap dancing. An even more elaborate stage production, of course, was Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” She sang atop a giant pony surrounded by circus dancers and a huge set featuring other references to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess—this was my personal favorite performance. A close second, however, was Doechii’s performance of “CATFISH” and “DENIAL IS A RIVER.” I was only tangentially aware of Doechii through TikTok before, and she blew me away with her energy and choreography. She and her dancers were utterly captivating in their monochrome school uniform costumes as she rapped her way through the splits, flips, and a moving walkway.

Another highlight of the Best New Artist nominee lineup was RAYE belting out “Oscar Winning Tears.” Later in the show, there was an epic multi-number Quincy Jones tribute, featuring amazing artists such as Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monàe, and Stevie Wonder. I was particularly stunned by Monàe’s spot-on Michael Jackson impression and dance moves. In another legendary collaboration, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars sang a cover of “California Dreamin,’” and all I can say is that I need a full album from this duo ASAP. Finally, Charli XCX made the Grammys go Brat with her performance of “Von dutch” and “Guess,” with the camera panning to collaborator Billie Eilish in the audience. And let’s not forget all the clips of Taylor Swift dancing along to the performances and presenting Beyoncé with the award for Best Country Album. Despite not winning any of her nominations, she showed up, supported the girls, and happily danced the night away in Monàe’s MJ jacket.

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