After a couple of rough weeks in the hills of Los Angeles with the wildfires, riots, and earthquakes, not many people would expect a large event to be held just two weeks later. Although the expectations were low, the Grammys pulled through, and 15.4 million people tuned in, and attended the Grammys this year, though this is a 9% drop in attendance from last year (Statista). Drama was flowing down the red carpet and many opinions took over, but this year’s Grammy award ceremony looked different from the traditional.
Many celebrities experienced rough times recently, losing their homes in the deadly raging fires that swept through Los Angeles. Paris Hilton spoke about the loss of her home and how it has impacted her personal life, but how it has also brought Los Angeles together. Taylor Swift arrived at the Grammys after being nominated for six different categories. Chappel Roan, a new and rising music artist, showed up and walked the carpet along with Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, a new rising trio. Along with the controversy with Beyonce’s category win, her daughter, Blue Ivy, joined her on stage to support. Many people have a lot to say about the award choices, songs, and albums chosen, but the Grammys is gaining popularity after the event.
There were a total of 94 categories at the Grammys this year. There was a wide variety from classical piano music to big pop hits. This also meant many people had multiple opportunities to win a Grammy this year. There were many big names and faces that appeared on the carpet this year, but that also drags drama along with it. Kendrick Lamar, a 37-year-old rap artist, wrote a diss track about Drake in 2024, and this rap hit instantly became one of the top listened to songs. With its catchy beats and hilarious phrases, it was none short of a Grammy winner. Let alone five Grammys. “Not Like Us” reeled in five categories: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Song, and lastly, Best Rap Performance. With all of these awards for just one song, you would think people would be impressed, many said that Kendricks’ song did not deserve the two biggest labeled Grammys’ (Vulture). Continuing on the path of large awards, “Country Album of the Year”, is one of the biggest awards at the Grammys. Many people thought the winner of this Grammy, Beyonce with her album Cowboy Carter, was not as deserving of this title as Chris Stapleton, as many Vulture writers stated the people voting for this award are not real country fans anyway. Another huge dramatic moment was when worldwide popstar, Taylor Swift, after winning Album of the Year for the fourth consecutive time with her album Midnights in 2024, did not take any Grammys home, although she was nominated for six. Chappel Roan made a huge statement from the stage after winning “Best New Artist.” She said, “Labels, we got you, but do you have us?” Chappel Roan stated this hoping to move the label companies to assist up-and-coming artists because she herself struggled as a new artist. The breathtaking performance by Benson Boone was also a major topic at the 2025 Grammys’ from his surprise audience starter, to his bedazzling outfits, and many backflips and tricks on stage, he was truly a “show-stopper” (AP News).
Though the drama and shock continue to swarm throughout the country, the 2025 Grammy Award ceremony is definitely “one for the books.” This ceremony will be the one many people may look back on in the future and think it either did amazing things for the music industry or damaged the industry. Many familiar faces swept in and out of the ceremony this year coming in with expectations, and leaving either with a new-found passion or with much disappointment. Either way, many people appreciate the music these artists create whether it is “Grammy worthy” or not. With so much growth and change being made in one year, who knows what the 2026 Grammy Award ceremony may present?
