This year for music’s biggest night on the globe, the star of the night was the city of Los Angeles.
The historic fires that tore through Los Angeles became the theme of this year’s Grammys. Reminders of the tragedy seeped into the musical performances and donation drives for relief efforts throughout the show.
There were questions over whether the ceremony, the “Oscars for Music,” would go on as planned after its host city saw its most devastating fire disaster ever recorded. The week of glitzy parties and events that typically mark Grammys week were cancelled. Even the hallmark rowdy after-parties were axed.
In the end, it became a moment of perseverance for the city – the epicentre of entertainment – and a chance to shed light on the intense need for those who have lost homes and loved ones. Twenty-nine people have died and more than 16,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed – with whole neighbourhoods now ash. Many artists and industry professionals are among those who lost homes, studios and equipment.
The awards opened with a special performance by the Los Angeles band Dawes, two brothers whose homes were destroyed in the recent wildfires. The duo were joined on stage by former Grammy winners including Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard to perform Randy Newman’s classic song I Love LA.
Throughout the evening, multiple performances provided a nod to the area. Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga sang a powerful rendition of the Mamas & the Papas classic California Dreamin’. During a segment honouring the late Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder sang We Are the World with a choir of students from two schools lost in the fires.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, a band synonymous with LA, also took the stage to mark the evening. The Grammys audience sang along with Chad Smith and Anthony Kiedis in an impromptu performance of their hit “Under the Bridge” – about Los Angeles.
LA firefighters also took the stage during the show. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone spoke before the group and told the audience: “I am confident that we will recover and rebuild together, because we are LA strong.” Then firefighters presented the biggest award of the night – album of the year – with Beyoncé winning the elusive honour after four losses in the category over the years.
Nearly every commercial break during the show included a nod to the fires that happened here. Footage of burned down neighbourhoods or an inside look at a skate shop or small business that was destroyed in the blazes. Host Trevor Noah made mention of the fundraising effort throughout the show – acknowledging big donations that were made. He noted at one point during the broadcast that at least $7 million (£5.7m) had been donated thus far.
Much of the red carpet was plastered with fundraising signs and backdrops with QR codes to a Grammys website where people can donate. As celebrities strolled along the red carpet, groups of firefighters and first responders also took their walk before the media. They were greeted by loud applause and thank yous from everyone they passed. Many smiled and took selfies in their uniforms, some even nabbing pictures with celebrities. One firefighter’s jaw dropped when he saw the Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and they took a picture together.
Raising money for those affected by the disaster, Noah said advertising space had also been given to local LA businesses affected by fire.
Awards & winners wise, Beyoncé got her long-awaited album of the year win at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday: “Cowboy Carter” took the night’s final award, giving the superstar three wins (out of 11 nominations). Earlier, she became the first Black artist to win best country album.
Kendrick Lamar swept five categories, winning the most awards, including both song and record of the year for his Drake diss “Not Like Us.” Chappell Roan was named best new artist, capping a rocket-ship year.
Talented singer, performer & music star Tems has bagged what many would consider a historic win at the Grammy Awards 2025. The super talent etched her name in history as the most awarded Nigerian artist at the Grammy Awards following her impressive win at the 2025 edition of the award ceremony where she secured her second Grammy win in the Best African Music Performance category for her hit single ‘Love Me JeJe’. Tems expressed heartfelt appreciation for her supporters, team, and family during her emotional acceptance speech. She dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday coincided with the Grammy night.
Tems’ journey to this milestone began with her first Grammy win in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance on Future’s Wait For You, featuring Drake. She claimed her second Grammy in 2025, she has set a new record for Nigerian artists on the global music scene. In addition to her victory, Tems earned nominations in multiple categories, including Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning.
Below is a list of all the winners of the major categories.
Record of the Year
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
Album of the Year
“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé
Song of the Year
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)
Best New Artist
Chappell Roan
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Daniel Nigro
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Die With a Smile,” Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Best Pop Vocal Album
“Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
“Neverender,” Justice and Tame Impala
Best Dance Pop Recording
“Von Dutch,” Charli XCX
Best Dance/Electronic Album
“Brat,” Charli XCX
Best Remixed Recording
“Espresso (Mark Ronson x FNZ Working Late Remix),” FNZ and Mark Ronson, remixers (Sabrina Carpenter)
Best Rock Song
“Broken Man,” Annie Clark, songwriter (St. Vincent)
Best Rock Album
“Hackney Diamonds,” The Rolling Stones
Read our profile.
Best Alternative Music Album
“All Born Screaming,” St. Vincent
Best R&B Performance
“Made for Me (Live on BET),” Muni Long
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“That’s You,” Lucky Daye
Best R&B Song
“Saturn,” Rob Bisel, Cian Ducrot, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon and Scott Zhang, songwriters (SZA)
Best Progressive R&B Album
“So Glad to Know You,” Avery*Sunshine
“Why Lawd?,” NxWorries (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge)
Best R&B Album
“11:11 (Deluxe),” Chris Brown
Best Rap Performance
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“3:AM,” Rapsody featuring Erykah Badu
Best Rap Song
“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Album
“Alligator Bites Never Heal,” Doechii
Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
“The Heart, the Mind, the Soul,” Tank and the Bangas
Best Jazz Performance
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Me,” Samara Joy featuring Sullivan Fortner
Best Jazz Vocal Album
“A Joyful Holiday,” Samara Joy
Best Country Solo Performance
“It Takes a Woman,” Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“II Most Wanted,” Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus
Best Country Song
“The Architect,” Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
Best Country Album
“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé
Best Contemporary Blues Album
“Mileage,” Ruthie Foster
Best Folk Album
“Woodland,” Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Best Gospel Performance/Song
“One Hallelujah,” Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell and Israel Houghton featuring Jonathan McReynolds and Jekalyn Carr; G. Morris Coleman, Israel Houghton, Kenneth Leonard, Jr., Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Naomi Raine, songwriters
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“That’s My King,” CeCe Winans; Taylor Agan, Kellie Gamble, Lloyd Nicks and Jess Russ, songwriters
Best Gospel Album
“More Than This,” CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
“Heart of a Human,” Doe
Best Roots Gospel Album
“Church,” Cory Henry
Best Latin Pop Album
“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” Shakira
Read our profile.
Best Música Urbana Album
“Las Letras Ya No Importan,” Residente
Best Global Music Performance
“Bemba Colora,” Sheila E. featuring Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar
Best African Music Performance
“Love Me JeJe,” Tems
Best Global Music Album
“Alkebulan II,” Matt B featuring Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Best Reggae Album
“Bob Marley: One Love — Music Inspired by the Film (Deluxe),” (Various Artists)
Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album
“Triveni,” Wouter Kellerman, Eru Matsumoto and Chandrika Tandon
Best Children’s Music Album
“Brillo, Brillo!,” Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
Best Comedy Album
“The Dreamer,” Dave Chappelle
Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording
“Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration,” Jimmy Carter
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
“Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein,” Bradley Cooper, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (London Symphony Orchestra)
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)
“Dune: Part Two,” Hans Zimmer, composer
Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media
“Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord,” Winifred Phillips, composer
Best Song Written for Visual Media
“It Never Went Away,” from “American Symphony”; Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
Best Music Video
“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar), Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, video directors; Jack Begert, Cornell Brown, Sam Canter, Jared Heinke, Jamie Rabineau and Anthony Saleh, video producers
Best Music Film
“American Symphony” (Jon Batiste) Matthew Heineman, video director; Lauren Domino, Matthew Heineman and Joedan Okun, video producers
Best Recording Package
“Brat,” Charli XCX, Brent David Freaney and Imogene Strauss, art directors (Charli XCX)
Best Historical Album
“Centennial,” Meagan Hennessey and Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer; Richard Martin, restoration engineer (King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and Various Artists)
Best Immersive Audio Album
“I/O (In-Side Mix),” Hans-Martin Buff, immersive mix engineer; Peter Gabriel, immersive producer (Peter Gabriel)
Best Instrumental Composition
“Strands,” Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or ACappella
“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend, arrangers (Jacob Collier featuring John Legend and Tori Kelly)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
“Alma,” Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johanye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, arrangers (säje featuring Regina Carter)
