Accepting the award, Bad Bunny stated: “Before I say thank you to God, I will say: ICE — get out!” His album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos was recognized in two categories — as the best album of the year and the best album in urban music. “We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are people, and we are Americans,” he emphasized.
The album Debi Tirar Mas Fotos includes a variety of elements from Puerto Rican music and raises important issues faced by the island under U.S. governance. All tracks on the album are recorded in Spanish.
In the category of "Best Record," the song luther by rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer SZA was recognized. Lady Gaga received the award for best vocal pop album with her album MAYHEM, while Kendrick Lamar also won the award for best rap album with GNX.
With these awards, Lamar increased his collection of statuettes to 26 and 27, becoming the most awarded rapper in Grammy history. Lola Young won the statuette for best pop solo performance with the song Messy, while the best music video of the year was awarded to singer Doechii for her track Anxiety.
Also performing at the ceremony were K-Pop idol Rosé and pop star Bruno Mars, who delivered a rock version of their hit track APT, nominated for three awards, including "Song of the Year."
Host Trevor Noah noted that the song is based on a South Korean drinking game, which turns out to be more complicated than in the U.S.: “In America, when you turn on the news, you have to drink,” he joked.
Olivia Dean, a British star, was one of the first winners of the evening, receiving the award for best new artist about an hour after the event began.
Sabrina Carpenter presented a new version of her hit "Manchild," performing in a flight attendant costume and finishing the number with a dove in her hands, symbolizing a flight to the sky.
Sabrina Carpenter soared with her performance of the song Manchild.
During the ceremony, all eight nominees for best new artist showcased their talents in an extended segment dedicated to "emerging stars shaping the musical spirit of the time." British singer Lola Young performed a solo piano version of her award-winning hit Messy, marking her first television performance after a long break taken for mental and physical health recovery.
She was joined by the girl group Katseye, who presented their viral hit Gnarly, and indie performer Sombr, who appeared in a sparkling jumpsuit to perform the song 12 to 12.
Olivia Dean anticipated her Grammy win by performing with the orchestra the song "Man I Need."
Katseye's performance transported viewers from backstage dressing rooms to the main stage of the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles.
At the ceremony, Justin Bieber was also seen presenting his single Yukon in a minimalist style, performing in boxer shorts and socks with a guitar. In contrast, Bruno Mars opted for an elegant red suit to perform his new single "I Just Might." Lady Gaga surprised the audience with a complex headpiece shaped like a birdcage, performing an energetic electro version of the song Abracadabra.
Justin Bieber bared his soul and showed off his tattoos during his performance in Yukon.
A significant performance on stage was made by country music legend Reba McEntire, presenting the song Trailblazer in a section dedicated to the memory of musicians such as Jimmy Cliff and Connie Francis. Tributes also featured Bruce Springsteen, who performed a special tribute to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chaka Khan, honoring funk pioneer Sly Stone.
The metal legend Ozzy Osbourne was also honored with a tribute: music stars, including Post Malone, Slash, and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses, performed the classic Black Sabbath song "War Pigs." Watching the event were Osbourne's widow, Sharon, and his children.
In the finale, Lauryn Hill paid tribute to Angie Stone, Roberta Flack, and D'Angelo by performing the song Nothing Even Matters. She was the first artist to win the "Album of the Year" award for a hip-hop album in 1999.
Lauryn Hill became the first artist to win the "Album of the Year" award for a hip-hop album in 1999.
Regarding the format of the ceremony, in recent years the focus has shifted to artist performances rather than award presentations. This year, only nine awards were presented during the three-hour broadcast, while the remaining 86 prizes were distributed during a longer "premiere ceremony" held earlier.
Among the winners were British performers such as Yungblud, FKA Twigs, and The Cure.
