By MARIA SHERMAN, Related Press Music Author
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beyoncé has received album of the yr for “Cowboy Carter” at the 2025 Grammys, delivering her — ultimately — the present’s elusive prime award.
The celebrity, who’s each the most awarded and nominated artist in Grammys historical past, has been up for the class 4 instances earlier than and lots of really feel she has been snubbed by its prime honors.
In successful album of the yr with “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé has develop into the primary Black girl to win the highest prize within the twenty first century. The final was Lauryn Hill with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” 26 years in the past. Earlier than her was Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston. Which means Beyoncé is simply the fourth Black girl to win album of the yr on the Grammys.
Members of the Los Angeles Fireplace Division introduced Beyoncé with the trophy Sunday, one in every of a number of instances the present mirrored the current wildfires that burned 1000’s of properties.
“It’s been many, a few years,” Beyoncé mentioned in her speech. “I wish to dedicate this to Ms. Martell,” she mentioned, referencing Linda Martell, the performer who turned the primary Black girl to play the Grand Ole Opry.
“We lastly noticed it occur, everybody,” host Trevor Noah mentioned, nodding to the lengthy overdue achievement for one in every of music’s transcendent artists.
Kendrick Lamar received tune and document of the yr for his diss monitor “Not Like Us” on the 2025 Grammys, taking dwelling two of the evening’s most prestigious awards.
“We’re gonna dedicate this one to the town,” Lamar mentioned earlier than shouting out Los Angeles space neighborhoods.
It’s the second hip-hop single to ever win within the class. The primary was Infantile Gambino’s “This Is America.”
The Weeknd mends fences, Chappell Roan challenges music trade
The Weeknd has mended his fractious relationship with the Grammy Awards with a shock efficiency of his new single, “Cry For Me” and “Timeless” with Playboi Carti.
His determination is a direct reflection of the modifications the Recording Academy has made to diversify its voting physique, CEO Harvey Mason jr. mentioned in his introduction. The Weeknd has been brazenly important of the Grammys group, courting again to 2020 when he wrote on Twitter: “The Grammys stay corrupt.”
It was simply one in every of many nice surprises Sunday evening. Chappell Roan was named greatest new artist at the 2025 Grammys.
She learn a speech from a pocket book, talking on to main labels and the music trade, instructing them to “supply a residing wage and healthcare, particularly to creating artists.” She described getting signed as a minor, getting dropped and getting into the workforce throughout COVID-19 with no work expertise and no well being care. She requested them to deal with artists like “invaluable workers.”
“Labels, we acquired you,” she concluded her speech. “However do you bought us?”
Beyoncé and Chappell Roan give Grammys a rustic theme
In one of many greatest moments of the night to this point, Taylor Swift introduced the award for greatest nation album on the 2025 Grammys to Beyoncé. She turned the primary Black girl to ever win within the class.
“Style is a chilly phrase to maintain us in our place as artists,” she mentioned in her speech. “I’m nonetheless in shock. Thanks a lot for this honor.”
Beyoncé entered the evening because the main nominee.
A little bit little bit of the wild west, somewhat little bit of West Hollywood. Roan introduced a rocking model of her “Pink Pony Membership” to the 2025 Grammy stage. Joined by a posse of dancing clown cowboys, she sang from atop an enormous pink horse.
Los Angeles on the thoughts
In incorporating the wildfires all through the present, the Grammys put the highlight on the town’s resiliency.
Noah’s opening speech was devoted to these affected by the fires, promising a present that not solely celebrates them, however one which additionally celebrates “the town that introduced us a lot of that music.” The Grammys have additionally allotted advert time for use by native companies affected by the fires.
Because the present neared its finish, Noah introduced that viewers had contributed $7 million to reduction efforts Sunday evening to this point.
On a stage set as much as seem like the mountains of Los Angeles, the LA born-and-raised Billie Eilish and her brother/collaborator Finneas carried out her hit “Birds of a Feather.” It was one in every of quite a few methods the present seeks to salute the town. “We love you LA,” she instructed the group on the finish of the set.
The present kicked off with a strong opening efficiency of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” by Dawes — whose members had been instantly affected by the Eaton hearth — backed by John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent.
Star studded performances and victories
The first televised award went to Doechii for greatest rap album for “Alligator Bites By no means Heal.”
The tears had been fast. “This class was launched in 1989. Two girls have received, Lauryn Hill —” she mentioned, correcting herself. “Three girls have received. Lauryn Hill, Cardi B and Doechii.”
Will Smith launched a tribute to the late, nice, legendary producer Quincy Jones. “In his 91 years, Q touched numerous lives, however I’ve to say he modified mine ceaselessly,” he mentioned. “You most likely wouldn’t even know who Will Smith was with out Quincy Jones.”
Jones died in November at age 91. Kicked off by Cynthia Erivo, accompanied by Herbie Hancock on piano, the “Depraved” star sang Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” Then got here Lainey Wilson and Jacob Collier with “Let the Good Instances Roll,” adopted by Stevie Marvel and Hancock busting out “Bluesette” and “We Are The World.” For the latter, they had been joined by pupil singers from two faculties that had been misplaced within the LA-area fires.
Then, Janelle Monae with an impressed rendition of “Don’t Cease ‘Til You Get Sufficient,” channeling Michael Jackson in a glittery tuxedo and a simple moonwalk.
The Beatles’ “Now and Then,” which used AI expertise, took dwelling greatest rock efficiency. Sean Lennon accepted the award on behalf of his father John Lennon. “So far as I’m involved, it’s the most effective band of all time,” he mentioned of the Beatles.
First time winners had been plentiful. They included Carpenter, Roan, Doechii, Charli xcx, songwriter Amy Allen, Música Mexicana star Carin León, French metallic band Gojira and nation folks artist Sierra Ferrell.
The Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith led the group in a brief singalong of their hit “Below the Bridge,” reminding the group to “assist their pals and neighbors as they rebuild their lives,” mentioned Kiedis. Then they introduced the most effective pop vocal album award to Carpenter for “Brief n’ Candy.”
“I actually wasn’t anticipating this,” she mentioned. “That is, woo, my first Grammy so I’m going to cry.” (She’s now received two, however the earlier award was handed out a pre-telecast ceremony that many artists don’t attend.) She additionally carried out.
Winners use speeches to raise marginalized communities in tense political local weather
Shakira received Latin pop album for “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” and gave a strong, brief speech. “I wish to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters on this nation,” she mentioned.
Girl Gaga and Bruno Mars teamed up for a canopy of “California Dreamin’.” Later, SZA introduced them with the award for greatest pop duo/group efficiency for “Die With A Smile.”
“Trans persons are not invisible. … The queer neighborhood deserves to be lifted up,” Gaga mentioned in her speech.
Alicia Keys was awarded the Dr. Dre World Impression Award “DEI just isn’t a risk, it’s a present,” she mentioned in her speech, referencing range, fairness and inclusion applications which have been scrapped lately by the U.S. authorities and a number of other main companies.
For extra protection of this yr’s Grammy Awards, go to: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards
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