Rapper Kendrick Lamar dominated the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night, sweeping all the categories for which he was nominated. “Not Like Us” won five Grammys: best rap song, best rap performance, best music video and two of the biggest awards of the night: record and song of the year.
But the biggest win of the night went to Beyoncé, who finally won her long-awaited Grammy for album of the year. Beyoncé also took home the prize for her country album, Cowboy Carter. With 99 nominations, Beyoncé is the most-nominated artist in history. She’s also won the most Grammys of any artist, hitting 35 with Sunday night’s wins.
The Grammys also turned over its stage to many new faces, including several of this year’s breakout artists: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Benson Boone and Teddy Swims. Carpenter won for pop solo performance and best pop vocal album; Roan was named best new artist and Doechii won best rap album.
In the wake of devastating wildfires in January, the 2025 Grammys were dedicated to the city of Los Angeles with Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga performing the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” after a video piece on the fires. The show aired a QR code on the screen throughout the ceremony with proceeds going to MusicCares and fire relief. Later in the show, a spot set to Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” aired, encouraging donations to MusicCares and other aid organizations. And Mastercard sponsored an entire music video featuring Lady Gaga and her new song, “Abracadabra” from her upcoming album, “Mayhem,” while pledging a donation to MusicCares.
The show also featured select small businesses and organizations impacted by the fires, such as Two Dragons Martial Arts, which burned down in the Eaton fire; Pacific Palisades-based skate shop, Paliskates.net, and the LA Lost Stuffy Project.
A few artists used their wins to make light political statements with Roan calling for developing artists to be provided with a living wage and healthcare. Colombian pop star Shakira encouraged immigrants after winning for best Latin pop album. Lady Gaga, after winning for best pop duo/group performance with Bruno Mars, said “trans people are not invisible and the queer community deserves to be lifted up.”
“DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift,” said Alicia Keys, while accepting the Grammys' global impact award. “When destructive forces try to burn us down, we rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Music is the unstoppable language that connects us all.”
By the end of the show, the Grammys had raised more than $7 million for wildfire relief.
