This year’s 67th annual Grammy Award show was one for the books, as the show might’ve been cancelled due to the California wildfires. It was exciting to see beautiful performances from hit artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, while also getting to see artists like Doechii and Beyonce winning awards for either the first time or making a comeback from years prior.
Opening the production, Grammy host, Trevor Noah begins with a memorable speech dedicated to all the losses in the California fires. Across their big screen on stage is a video show, showcasing the citizens who have lost their homes, and the memories made inside them. Noah also covers the determination of the city during the aftermath of everything, presenting how in the worst of times, people come together to truly help one another.
“Neighbors who had never spoken before are helping each other… families are welcoming strangers into their homes so they, too, have a place to sleep,” Noah stated. This year’s Grammy show was not just about celebrating people’s favorite music, but also about celebrating what brings people together, which leads the show into the first performance of the night by the band, Dawes, playing the classic, “I Love L.A.” by Randy Newman.
Performing for and winning her first two Grammy’s, Sabrina Carpenter rocked the night away. Showing up on stage in a sparkly black suit-dress, Carpenter performed her hit song, “Espresso,” revealing a blue bodysuit, covered in jewels, underneath the black suit-dress. She goes on to sing “Please Please Please,” wowing the crowd with her stage talent.
This year’s Grammy Awards was Carpenters first time being nominated. Winning two awards that night, she took home Best Pop Vocal Album for “Short n’ Sweet,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for her song, “Espresso.”
“I want to thank all the fans that let my music be heard by the recording academy… thank you, this is so special to me and Short n’ Sweet means the world…” Carpenter said, expressing her gratitude while accepting Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winning Best New Artist, Chappell Roan makes her debut in the music industry, accepting her first Grammy. During her acceptance speech, Roan stood out from everyone else, giving her opinion on the industry and how it should take care of their artists. Back in the pandemic, her record label dropped her, leaving her stranded without a job and healthcare, “Labels, we got you. But do you got us?” she states before leaving the stage.
Inspired by being nominated for this category, she puts on a show, performing her song, “Pink Pony Club,” which is dedicated to growing up and living the life she’s always dreamed about, fitting for the occasion.
Doechii, a brand-new rap artist from Tampa, Florida, was nominated and won Best Rap Album for her record, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” She is an underground rap artist who climbed her way up to the top by collaborating with artists such as Tyler, The Creator.
Inspiring others, Doechii states, “I know that there is some black girl out there, so many black women out there that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you, you can do it.” She originally became popular back in 2021 on TikTok, but regained popularity in 2024 by her song, “DENIAL IS A RIVER.”
Despite being nominated four times but never winning Album of the Year, Beyoncé made her comeback, achieving this award for the first time for her album, “Cowboy Carter.” Waiting for this category all night, many viewers believed that Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish were to win this year, and they were shocked when Beyoncé’s name was called out. “I just feel very full and very honored, it’s been many, many years,” Beyoncé said on stage, making history.
Making the night even more special, Beyoncé also took home Best Country Album. She wanted to thank the rest of the nominees for accepting her album into this genre, calling it a “code word to keep us in our place as artists.”
No matter the challenges California has faced, people have still come together in celebration of music, the one thing everyone can bond over. This year’s Grammy Awards has made history, getting to recognize new and older artists.
