The 68th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles delivered a ceremony that was as musically rich as it was culturally resonant. Hosted for the sixth and final time by Trevor Noah, the night was a mix of electrifying performances, historic milestones, impassioned speeches, and moments of unexpected live-TV chaos.
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KENDRICK LAMAR SETS NEW GRAMMY RECORD Kendrick Lamar has become the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history. With his latest wins, Kendrick now holds 27 Grammy Awards, surpassing Jay-Z’s previous record of 25. As he accepted his fourth Grammy of the night, Kendrick said, “Hip-hop is always going to be here. We’re going to be in these suits, looking good, bringing our people with us, and representing our culture. I appreciate y’all.” This year, Kendrick led all artists with nine Grammy nominations, and he also had a standout performance at last year’s awards
THE DALAI LAMA BECOMES A GRAMMY WINNER AT 90
The Dalai Lama added an unexpected accolade to his legacy becoming a Grammy winner at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The Tibetan spiritual leader, 90, won Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’. He joined fellow Grammy winner, director Steven Spielberg, in the first-time winner’s honours. Musician Rufus Wainwright accepted the award on the Dalai Lama’s behalf during the ceremony, which streamed on YouTube. “OK, I am not the Dalai Lama, obviously,” Wainwright joked, “It was a privilege to participate in this project. It’s an honor to accept this recognition on behalf of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose wisdom is at the heart of this work.” The Dalai Lama later acknowledged the win on Instagram, writing that he was “grateful” for the Grammy win and that it would help spread his message. “I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility,” he wrote. “I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility. I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective responsibility for all eight billion human beings.”
ARTISTES USE GRAMMY WINS TO CONDEMN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
Artistes including Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny, British singer Olivia Dean, and country star Shaboozy used their Grammy wins to call out the Trump administration’s continued immigration enforcement operations. Bad Bunny’s speech was the most explicit political moment of the ceremony. After winning Best Música Urbana Album, he paused before thanking God to shout, “ICE out.” He continued, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we’re humans,” and urged the crowd to resist hate with love. “The only thing that’s more powerful than hate is love,” he said, echoing the tone of protests across the country. New artist winner Olivia Dean also spoke out, honouring her immigrant roots. Her grandmother was a part of the Windrush generation. “I’m up here as the grand-daughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other,” she said. Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for ‘Wildflower,’ added her voice, urging continued activism. “Our voices really do matter,” she said. On the red carpet, many wore ‘ICE OUT’ pins. Shaboozy, winning his first Grammy, dedicated his award to immigrants, honouring his Nigerian mother’s sacrifices and declaring, “Immigrants built this country.
