From unforgettable GRAMMY performances to uplifting acceptance speeches, the 2025 GRAMMYs were like nothing ever seen before.
Host Trevor Noah began the night by referring to the “unusual” circumstances that have changed the tone and motivation of this year’s awards. “This city has just been through one of the largest national disasters in American history,” he said while speaking about the devastating California wildfires and calling attention to the spirit of those who have endured. The 2025 GRAMMYs are raising funds for MusiCares Fire Relief, a dedicated campaign to support the people affected by the recent wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles Area. All money raised will remain in the community and will be used to aid those impacted. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar ruled the Grammys during a night that also paid tribute to those affected by the California wildfires.

The night’s biggest prize, for album of the year, went to Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter, the first time she has won the award. It was presented by members of the Los Angeles country fire department in one of many of the night’s tributes to those affected by the wildfires. The ceremony took place at the Crypto.com arena in LA. Beyoncé, who also won for best country duo performance with Miley Cyrus, became the first Black woman to win a country Grammy for 50 years. Chris Stapleton took home the award for best country solo performance.
After last year saw Taylor Swift, SZA, Miley Cyrus and Billie Eilish dominate, this year saw another strong female showing with Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Doechii and Chappell Roan winning many of the major awards. In the competitive best new artist category, Chappell Roan beat out Shaboozey, Raye, Benson Boone and Sabrina Carpenter.
Charli xcx picked up three awards in the pop categories but lost out on pop solo performance and pop vocal album to Sabrina Carpenter. Doechii won for best rap album, becoming only the third woman to do so. Other female winners included SZA who picked up best R&B song for Saturn, St Vincent who took home best alternative music album, best rock song and best alternative music performance, Kacey Musgraves who picked up best country song for The Architect and Shakira who won best Latin pop album. The Colombian singer dedicated her award to “all my immigrant brothers and sisters”.
Other performances throughout the night included Billie Eilish who ended her performance saying “I love LA”, Sabrina Carpenter who sang a rejigged and physically comedic take on her hits Espresso and Please Please Please, Chappell Roan who was introduced by Olivia Rodrigo (the Vampire singer called her “my extraordinary friend”) and a surprise appearance from the Weeknd who had previously pledged a permanent boycott of the Grammys. His performance was introduced by the Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr, who spoke about the many structural changes he had helped implement which then lured The Weeknd back.

There was also a star-studded tribute to Quincy Jones who died last year. Will Smith, making his first appearance on a major televised awards ceremony since the infamous slap, called Jones “one of the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our time” in an introduction to a performance that featured Janelle Monae, Herbie Hancock, Cynthia Erivo and Stevie Wonder, who led a rendition of We Are the World with a choir wearing special LA sweaters. Smith explained that the singers represented two schools that had been lost in the fires. Coldplay’s Chris Martin also sang an accompaniment to this year’s in memoriam section which included late stars including Liam Payne, Kris Kristofferson, Cissy Houston, Marianne Faithfull, Bob Newhart, Wayne Osmond and Sérgio Mendes.