That's a wrap!
Well, that was a less charged affair than last year, though still full of emotional moments – the best new artist win for Olivia Dean, a surprise pop solo performance win for Lola Young, the star-studded tributes to D’Angelo and Ozzy Osbourne, and chiefly the big album of the year win for Bad Bunny, the first majority Spanish-language album to do so.
The Puerto Rican superstar was an affable, gracious presence throughout the ceremony – his ongoing bit with Trevor Noah, trying to get the singer who’s contractually barred from performing (because Super Bowl) to sing, was the best of a show that spread the love around. The night’s top-nominated artist, Kendrick Lamar, took home five awards (two during the telecast), becoming the most-decorated rapper in Grammys history with 27 total awards. Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, along with Grammys stalwart Lady Gaga, rounded out the televised award winners.
But it was Bad Bunny, usually so cool and collected, being moved to tears by the big win, clearly processing the enormity of the moment, that will stick with me. This show took place during an extremely intense time in the US, with widespread protest over the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown, particularly on Spanish speakers. And the violence was top of mind for many winners, from Eilish to Dean and of course Bad Bunny, who asserted: “ICE out. We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we are humans and we are Americans.”
And with that, the Grammys are through. Thanks for sticking with us! We’ll see you next year. And for Bad Bunny fans – on to the Super Bowl!
For a full run-down of this nearly four-hour show, my colleague Benjamin Lee has the recap:
