Ceremony: How It Went
The event was opened by Bruno Mars and Rosé with their hit "Apt." Stars in attendance included Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber with Hailey, Bad Bunny, and John Legend.Trevor Noah, the host of the evening, emphasized: "The Grammys are not just awards, but a reflection of current world events."
Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the program with her song "Manchild," followed by the nominees for the "Best New Artist" category. Justin Bieber presented a new track in an unusual look.
The audience was also amazed by Lady Gaga's performance of "Abracadabra."
Political Aspect
The 68th Grammy Awards turned out to be one of the most politically charged in history. Winners and guests actively spoke out against the actions of U.S. immigration police, which recently led to the deaths of two protesters. Rapper Kendrick Lamar won in five categories, with other winners including Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga, according to the BBC.Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper, delivered an emotional speech while accepting his award. He won a Grammy for "Album of the Year" with his record "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," becoming the first artist to win in this category with a fully Spanish-language album.
Next week, Bad Bunny will headline one of the most anticipated concerts in the U.S., which will take place during the Super Bowl finale.
While accepting the award, he stated: "Before thanking God, I will say: 'Down with ICE!'" — he began his speech while receiving another award in the category of Música urbana.
Billie Eilish also called for protest, noting: "It's hard to understand what to do and what to say right now, but we must keep fighting and expressing ourselves. Our voices matter, and people matter."
List of Winners
In the "Album of the Year" category, Bad Bunny won with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which became the first Spanish-language album to receive this award. Other nominees included Justin Bieber (Swag), Sabrina Carpenter (Man's Best Friend), Lady Gaga (Mayhem), Kendrick Lamar (GNX), Clipse (Let God Sort Em Out), Leon Thomas III (Mutt), and Tyler, The Creator (Chromakopia).Song of the Year went to Billie Eilish for "Wildflower," with nominations also including Lady Gaga (Abracadabra), Doechii (Anxiety), Bruno Mars and Rosé (Apt.), Bad Bunny (DtMF), Kendrick Lamar and SZA (Luther), Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild), and the soundtrack from the animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Golden.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA won in the "Record of the Year" category for the song "Luther." Other nominees in this category included Bad Bunny (DTMF), Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild), Doechii (Anxiety), Billie Eilish (Wildflower), Lady Gaga (Abracadabra), Chappell Roan (The Subway), and Bruno Mars and Rosé (Apt.).
Kendrick Lamar also received a Grammy for Best Rap Album (GNX), Best Rap Track (TV Off), Best Rap Performance (Chains & Whips featuring Pusha T and Pharrell Williams), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (Luther). With 26 trophies, he became the most awarded rapper in Grammy history.
Complete List of Winners:
- Best Rap Album - GNX, Kendrick Lamar;
- Best New Artist - Olivia Dean;
- Best Urban Album - DeBí TiRAR Más FOToS, Bad Bunny;
- Best Contemporary Country Album - Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll;
- Best Vocal Pop Album - Mayhem, Lady Gaga;
- Best Solo Pop Performance - Messy, Lola Young;
- Song of the Year - Wildflower, Billie Eilish;
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Defying Gravity;
- Best Song Written for Digital Media - Huntr/x, Golden;
- Best Dance-Pop Recording - Abracadabra, Lady Gaga;
- Best Dance/Electronic Album - Eusexua, FKA twigs;
- Best Spoken Word Album - Words For Days Vol. 1, Mad Skillz;
- Best Rock Performance - Changes (Live from Villa Park, Back to the Beginning), Yungblud;
- Best Metal Performance - Birds, Turnstile;
- Best Rock Album - Never Enough, Turnstile;
- Best Rock Song - As Alive As You Need Me To Be, Nine Inch Nails;
- Best Alternative Music Performance - Alone, The Cure;
- Best Alternative Album - Songs of a Lost World, The Cure;
- Best R&B Performance - Folded, Kehlani;
- Best R&B Album - Mutt, Leon Thomas;
- Best Progressive R&B Album - Bloom, Duran Bernard;
- Best Traditional R&B Performance - VIBES DON'T LIE, Leon Thomas;
- Best R&B Song - Folded, Kehlani;
- Best Rap Performance - Chains & Whips (Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams), Clipse;
- Best Traditional Pop Album - A Matter Of Time, Laufey;
- Best Rap Song - tv off, Kendrick Lamar;
- Best Jazz Performance - Chick Corea, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade - Windows (live);
- Best Jazz Vocal Album - Portrait, Samara Joy;
- Best Global Music Performance - EoO, Bad Bunny;
- Songwriter of the Year - Amy Allen;
- Producer of the Year - Cirkut;
- Best Music Video - Anxiety, Doechii;
- Best Album Cover - Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia;
- Best Melodic Rap Performance - luther, Kendrick Lamar and SZA;
- Best Orchestral Performance - Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra) - Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie;
- Best Classical Solo Vocal Album - Telemann: Ino - opera "Arias for Soprano";
- Best Non-Classical Remix - Abracadabra - Gesaffelstein Remix, Gesaffelstein, remixer (Lady Gaga, Gesaffelstein);
- Special Award Global Impact Award - Pharrell Williams.
