Rapper Kendrick Lamar and pop icon Beyonce took home the top awards at the Grammy's this year. Photo / Getty Images
Rapper Kendrick Lamar and pop icon Beyonce took home the top awards at the Grammy's this year. Photo / Getty Images
Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar took home the top gongs at today’s 67th Grammy Awards ceremony, with plenty of memorable performances and some unexpected appearances taking place.
The music awards season staple washeld at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com arena weeks after wildfires devastated California, and much of the focus of the night was on fundraising and thanks to first responders.
Things started off with a bang as US rapper Kanye “Ye” West and his Australian wife Bianca Censori were reportedly escorted out of the ceremony after they showed up to the event “uninvited”.
Kanye West with his wife Bianca Censori at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Photo / Getty Images
Host for the night was comedian Trevor Noah, who kept the proceedings light but faced criticism online for his overtly political jokes and digs at current US President Donald Trump.
Lamar had a clean sweep, winning all five Grammys that his hit diss track Not Like Us was nominated for, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
“First and foremost all praise to the most-high we woke up this morning. We gonna dedicate this one to the city [LA],” the rapper said.
The wins are bound to ruffle the feathers of fellow rapper Drake, who is currently in the middle of a tense legal defamation suit over the song.
In what was a first for the artist, Beyoncé finally took home Album of the Year for her country record Cowboy Carter, which was presented to her by members of the LA County Fire Department.
“I hope we keep pushing forward and opening doors,” she said.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars speak onstage during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena. Photo / Getty Images
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won the best Pop Duo/Group Performance award for their hit song Die With A Smile.
“I believe God gave us this song to sing together so thank you so much,” Mars said.
“I don’t know music without Bruno,” Gaga replied. She also made a plea for recognition of those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Trans people deserve love, and the queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love”.
Singer Chappell Roan attends the 67th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena. Photo / Getty Images
Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan (Kayleigh Rose Amstutz) used her speech to demand that record executives and labels offered a liveable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists.
“Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” she said, recounting the time she struggled in her early career.
As part of the ceremony, artists including Chris Martin, Cynthia Erivo, John Legend and Stevie Wonder also performed tributes celebrating “the city of Los Angeles,” as well as those in the industry who had died in recent years, such as Liam Payne and Quincy Jones.
After previously boycotting the awards due to their alleged lack of diversity, The Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) also gave a special surprise performance.
“It’s a system rooted in fairness, integrity, and the belief that every voice matters,” Recording Academy President Harvey Mason Jr said of his organisation.
When accepting her Dr. Dre Global Impact award, singer Alicia Keys thanked industry trailblazers and “all the ladies who know the magic they bring to the room”.
“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices,” she said.
Early winners, announced in a separate Premiere ceremony, included Carpenter’s Espresso for Best Pop Solo Performance and Charli XCX’s Brat for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
