BEST AND WORST MOMENTS OF THE 2025 GRAMMYs
RED CARPET ROMANCE
Beyoncé’s Win
She finally did it.
Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history, brought home its top prize. After 15 years of near misses, her country-infused LP “Cowboy Carter,” an all-star trip through the Black roots of and modern influence on Americana, won for album and country album (perhaps an equally challenging feat for a Black pop crossover artist).
While “Cowboy Carter” didn’t dominate culture in the way that “Renaissance” or “Lemonade” did, the album spoke to deep questions about who the idea of America belongs to — and who built it. The academy, perhaps desperately hoping not to miss the moment, finally obliged her with its highest honor.
In the other top categories, Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar swept the song and record awards for “Not Like Us,” his brutal diss track against Drake that rallied the Southland and put some giddy venom back into his intellectual achievements in music.
Meanwhile, Chappell Roan — the L.A. electro-pop newcomer whose “Pink Pony Club” and “Good Luck, Babe!” became rallying cries for young queer people the world over — took home the new artist prize, a clear statement of both her eccentric, politically uncompromising star power and her virtuosity as a singer and performer.
PRE-SHOW HYPE
The Night’s Worst Moments
8:37 p.m. Charli XCX already winning tonight for Best Use of the Grammy Loading Dock. — A.B.
Also Best Use of a Scandalously Placed Mic Pack. — M.W.
The Night’s Best Moments
8:48 p.m. There it is. Beyoncé at last. — M.W.
8:26 p.m. “This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices,” Alicia Keys said, in a clear riposte to current politics. “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.” — A.B.
BREAKING WINS
8:32 p.m. Wow. Truly did not see a “Not Like Us” win for song of the year. — M.W.
8:20 p.m. Kendrick’s win for record of the year, by the way, gets us no closer to seeing where album of the year is going. (“GNX” wasn’t nominated because it came out too late to be eligible for this ceremony.) — M.W.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Rock and Roll Resilience
5:05 p.m. Pretty big moment for local rock to give stalwarts Dawes (whose singer and drummer lost homes and studios in the Eaton fire) such a huge opener with “I Love L.A.” with John Legend, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow and Brittany Howard. — A.B.
Pop Pyrotechnics
8:44 p.m. L.A. firefighters presenting album of the year. Classy move. — M.W.
8:16 p.m. Hate being manipulated by giant corporations, but that Uber Eats spot with Charli XCX and Matthew McConaughey was A+. — M.W.
Country Chic
5:03 p.m. Best line from Trevor Noah’s opening monologue about our town’s identity as the global hub of pop music: “L.A. was the city where Snoop first mixed gin and juice.” — M.W.
LOS ANGELES LOVE
5:58 p.m. In a pretaped piece before her performance of “Pink Pony Club,” Chappell Roan says L.A. was “ultimately where I feel the most free,” and that’s an L.A. value worth keeping in mind the next few years. And I really hope “Pink Pony Club” ends up in the great L.A. sleazy underdog pop canon. It’s Randy Newman-worthy. — A.B.
CONCLUSION
This year’s Grammys were marked by a series of memorable wins and performances that celebrated the music industry’s diverse talent. While the night’s worst moments, such as a questionable use of the Grammy loading dock, detracted from the overall experience, the best moments, including Beyoncé’s album of the year win and a powerful performance from Alicia Keys, made the awards show a success.
FAQs
What was the big winner of the night?
Beyoncé, who won the album of the year award for her country-infused LP “Cowboy Carter.”
Who else took home major awards?
Kendrick Lamar won the song and record of the year awards for his diss track “Not Like Us,” and Chappell Roan took home the new artist prize for her electro-pop debut “Pink Pony Club.”
How did the fires affect the awards show?
The devastating wildfires had a significant impact on the ceremony, with many performances and award presentations dedicated to emergency fundraising efforts and tributes to those affected by the fires.
Was there any drama on the red carpet?
No, the ceremony was marked by a sense of unity and community, with performers and presenters alike using the platform to discuss important issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.
