The 68th Grammy Awards had historical wins for artists and recordings for the past year. With many global artists and a diverse range of genres being nominated in the main categories, this past award ceremony seems to be a large step towards bridging borders within the music world. This matter is echoed among many celebrities showing solidarity with the immigrant community under attack in the United States. Adorning “I.C.E. OUT” pins, condemning the current administration in their speeches, and announcing the importance of love in the face of hate, the political state of the country was interwoven through the entire ceremony.
Bad Bunny made history when he took home the coveted Album of the Year, as well as Best Música Urbana Album with Debí Tirar Más Fotos. This was a pivotal moment in Grammy history, the record was the first non-English, all Spanish language record to win the top prize of the night. Strongly deserved, as Debí Tirar Más Fotos was one of the most successful and critically acclaimed albums of the year, and Bad Bunny has maintained cultural relevance as one of the most notable artists of the 2020s. In his central speech, he stated, “I.C.E. out… We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are American.” He was met with a wave of cheers and a standing ovation.
Record of the Year went to “Luther” with Kendrick Lamar and SZA, a strongly deserved win and SZA’s first win in the category. This also marks superstar producer Jack Antonoff’s first win in the category, completing his collection as one of the few to have won in all four main categories.
Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O’Connell bagged Song of the Year with “Wildflower,” making history as Billie Eilish is the only artist to win the award three times. This feels like a dated win overall. One could make the argument that “Wildflower” is the song of 2024, but against songs like “APT” “Manchild” and “Abracadabra” which are more representative of the soundtrack of 2025, this win settles uncomfortably.
It was enjoyable to see Lady Gaga get on the stage for the Best Pop Vocal Album on behalf of the career defining record MAYHEM. The record is by far her best, and this win ends the well-earned victory lap Gaga has been running this past year.
The Best New Artist category this year was one of the more interesting and competitive lists in Grammy history. The Marias, Addison Rae, and Leon Thomas all broke through to the masses and met with widespread critical acclaim. The charts this past year were rarely laden without Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” or Sombr’s multiple hits from his debut album. Katseye and Lola Young became driving points of culture with Katseye’s sleeper hit “Gnarly” and Young’s viral “Messy.” All this to say though, Olivia Dean was the clear victor with her mammoth single, “Man I Need,” consistently combing its way through the cultural zeitgeist of this past year.
For Best Pop Solo Performance, Lola Young’s “Messy” was possibly the most inconsequential song that could have won. For such a stacked category of hits and quality with Chappell Roan’s “The Subway,” Lady Gaga’s “Disease,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” “Messy” finds itself slipping through in terms of importance.
It was also great to see Cirkut and Amy Allen get their flowers after years of supplying the industry with hits, for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical respectively.
Cynthia Erivio and Ariana Grande’s rendition of “Defying Gravity” took home Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, another awkward win. Though beautiful, this isn’t an original song and didn’t have the cultural weight to defend this win, especially in the face of hits like “Golden,” “APT,” and “30 for 30.” “Golden,” from Netflix’s hit film K-Pop Demon Hunters, one of the biggest hits of the year, aptly won Best Song Written for Visual Media, making history as the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, paving new opportunities for the genre.
A few other highlights from the show: FKA twigs’ EUSEXUA won Best Dance/Electronic Album, her third grammy in over a decade in the industry. Never Enough from the Turnstile won Best Rock Album. The Cures’ Songs Of A Lost World bagged Best Alternative Music Album. Leon Thomas’s breakthrough MUTT deservedly won best R&B album, while Durand Bernarr BLOOM won Best Progressive R&B album. Kendrick Lamar caps off his mammoth album cycle with GNX winning Best Rap Album at the awards. Laufey continues her streak scoring Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her impressive record A Matter Of Time. Tyla wins Best African Music Performance for sizable online hit “Push 2 Start.” Best Traditional Country Album went to Zach Tops’ Ain’t In It For My Health whereas Best Contemporary Country Album went home to breakout star Jelly Rolls’ Beautifully Broken. Doechii’s “Anxiety” took home Best Music Video, and despite my lack of interest in the song, the music video was undeniably expertly put together.
Despite many deserved wins, there are a few artists that one can’t help but feel were undeservedly left without notice. Hayley Williams of Paramore returns to the solo spotlight with the record Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party, one of the most acclaimed records of last year and Williams’ most insightful work to date. The record won nothing, despite being nominated in multiple rock and alternative categories. “APT,” a massive hit by Rosé and Bruno Mars, also didn’t win any of its nomination categories, despite it being one of the most defining hits of 2025.
Overall, this past Grammys was an emotional and record-breaking ceremony that is bound to mark a pivotal turning point in the awards. It opened doors to more diverse and non-Western music to be honored fully at these awards, defending the idea that music has no defined language or land.
Performances:
16. Post Malone with Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Slash & Andrew Watt, “War Pigs”
15. Alex Warren, “Ordinary”
14. Sombr, “12 to 12”
13. Justin Bieber, “Yukon”
12. Lola Young, “Messy”
11. Bruno Mars, “I Just Might”
10. Clipse & Pharrell Williams, “So Far Ahead”
9. Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, “Trailblazer”
8. Ms. Lauryn Hill with guests, Medley of D’Angelo and Roberta Flack songs
7. The Marias with “No One Noticed”
6. Leon Thomas, “Mutt”
5. Rosé and Bruno Mars, “APT”
4. Tyler, the Creator, “Thought I Was Dead,” “Like Him,” “Sugar On My Tongue”
3. Olivia Dean, “Man I Need”
2. Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
1. Sabrina Carpenter, “Manchild”
