Grammys 2025: the winners, the losers, the performances – live

5 days ago

The Guardian

Grammys 2025 the winners the losers the performances live

This year’s ceremony, with nominations led by Beyoncé, will be a celebration of music and tribute to those affected by LA wildfires

Following Doors, Noah gets right back on the mic to answer everyone’s burning question: is Beyoncé here? Not yet, but maybe soon? “Yes, Beyoncé will be here tonight,” he said. “Well, I hope she’ll be here. I can’t make her do anything.”

Roving about the crowd, particularly hovering around Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan, Noah took the lightest of digs at the night’s big stars, starting with the biggest. Beyoncé has 11 nominations and just announced her 2025 Cowboy Carter tour, “Beyoncé, there’s tariffs,” said Noah. “We can’t afford a new tour. Maple syrup is about to be $50.”

Noah joked about the “power of AI” – “maybe one day, we could get another Rihanna album” – and Swift’s Eras Tour. “She got more Americans traveling than those Turkish hair transplants,” he joked.

And he alluded to Trump’s presidency as “changes” in Washington, DC. “I’m going to enjoy tonight, because this may be the last time I’m allowed to host anything in this country,” he joked. Well…oof.

And we’re off! Host Trevor Noah kicks things off by acknowledging the elephant in the room: it’s weird to have an award show in LA so close to the devastating wildfires. “This city has just been through one of the largest natural disasters in American history,” he said.

Thanks to heroic firefighters, “the fires have now been contained,” he continued. “And despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has endured.”

Noah summarily explained the mission of the evening: celebrate music, yes, but also “the city that brought us so much of that music.” He shouted out the LA inspirations for hometown heroes Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg, as well as Chappell Roan and Stevie Wonder, before introducing local band Doors, who lost multiple homes and their studio in the fires, for an opening performance with an all-star band including John Legend, Sheryl Crow, St Vincent, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard. Repeating the mantra “We Love LA,” they bring the crowd to their feet.

Tonight will feature a starry tribute to Quincy Jones who died last November. Here’s a look back to a great tribute from Alexis Petridis:

From Dizzy to Donna to Stevie: how hit-making legend Quincy Jones created superstars and changed pop history

Well, we seem to have a winner for most baffling red carpet outfit … Jaden Smith and his head/housepiece.

After teasing and then delaying a big announcement (a result of the wildfires), tonight’s most-nominated star, Beyoncé,has now officially revealed that she will be going on tour this year to support her most recent album, Cowboy Carter.

Here’s the teaser she released on Instagram:

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A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

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If there’s one thing the Grammys love, it’s a controversial award choice – despite a decade-plus worth of abuse allegations outlined a recent documentary, the recording academy gave Chris Brown the award for best R&B album for 11:11. The film, Chris Brown: A History of Violence, includes testimony from a woman who sued Brown for sexual assault in 2022 and explicitly asks why he is still embraced by fans and the music industry. Brown has sued Warner Bros Discovery over the film, claiming defamation.

There will also likely be blowback over noted transphobe Dave Chappelle’s win for best comedy album, his third win in a row in that category and sixth overall.

The majority of tonight’s winners have been revealed before the official ceremony kicks off, as is the weird way of the Grammys. There’s an awful lot to burn through so perhaps it’s a relief for those of us in for the long-haul.

Here are some of the winners we have so far:

Best dance/electronic music album

Charli xcx – Brat

Best pop solo performance

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

Best rock performance

The Beatles – Now and Then

Best rap performance

Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Best country duo/group performance

Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus – II Most Wanted

Best dance pop recording

Charli xcx – Von Dutch

Best R&B song

SZA – Saturn

Best rock album

The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds

Best dance/electronic recording

Justice and Tame Impala – Neverender

It was a question asked by many within the industry: will the Grammys still go ahead? The Oscar nominations were delayed twice and the Critics Choice awards postponed, but the Recording Academy has stuck to the original date, hoping the night can act as a moment of coming together for an industry hugely affected by the wildfires.

Here’s a bit more about what to expect from an unusual ceremony:

2025 Grammys will celebrate music but also raise money for LA fire relief