Every February, the most notable music awards show of the year rolls around, complete with triumphs, surprises and undeniable upsets. The 67th Grammy’s brought together some of music’s most famous at the Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the spirit of Los Angeles after January’s devastating wildfires.
Newcomers to the Grammy’s stage shone with an array of Best New Artist performances. Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year for “COWBOY CARTER,” and Kendrick Lamar demolished the competition with five Grammys for “Not Like Us.” Doechii gave a tearful acceptance speech as she became the third woman to win Best Rap Album. Chappell Roan used the stage to demand fair working conditions from record labels.
Like any other year, the 2025 Grammys elicited some strong reactions. The Scribe’s Features team is here to share our biggest takeaways.
Kaylie Foster | Features Editor
First and foremost, Lamar now has the same amount of Grammys for “Not Like Us” as Drake has in total. That speaks volumes.
Lamar took everything he deserved. To win five Grammys off a diss track is unfathomable, but he did that. Drake can never show his face in America again.
Secondly, I am in absolute shock that The Weeknd performed at the Grammys again. After the incomprehensible “After Hours” snub of 2021, I, like The Weeknd, lost all faith in the Grammys.
Then, a cryptic Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, discussed changes he made after The Weeknd and other artists called out the Grammys for their inconsistency. A shock was sent through my body when Mason Jr. welcomed The Weeknd back to the stage. I never thought I would see the day.
The performance was a perfect return. The Weeknd played his new song “Cry For Me,” and Playboi Carti joined him to adlib his way through “Timeless.” I am so thankful.
I’m surprised at how satisfied I am with the way the Grammys went. I am on the record predicting the Grammys would make political decisions to satisfy the industry’s big names. I was sure the Grammys would continue their longstanding tradition of snubbing deserving artists in favor of image.
After a night of zero Taylor Swift awards, Beyonce winning Album of the Year, Lamar sweeping in a Canadian tuxedo and Best Rap Album not going to the one white man in the category, I am impressed with the Grammys’ growth.
Roan deserved her win for best new artist, and I loved that she took the time to advocate for artist wages on stage. Doechii is an insane performer — she was singing while held up in a full split by her supporting dancers. Who does that?
Mustard is adorable. I was living for the joy he brought to every acceptance speech. I don’t think I have ever seen Dr. Dre smile the way he did at every Lamar win. So wholesome.
Abigail Katharin | Features Reporter
The performances at the Grammys proved that even in an unstable political climate and city-wide devastation, art is alive. Music’s biggest night was full of twists, turns and at least one major snub.
All the nominees for Best New Artist performed. Sabrina Carpenter and Roan reminded the world what it means to put on a show with their renditions of “Espresso” and “Pink Pony Club.”
At one point in her performance, Roan held out the mic to the crowd and everyone sang the chorus of “Pink Pony Club,” captivating a room full of music’s biggest names. It was incredible. Charli XCX brought down the house with her performances of “Von dutch” and “Guess,” songs from her award-winning album “BRAT.”
The new artist performances, kicked off by Boone, were fresh and invigorating. Boone started the performance from his table in the crowd and then moved to the stage after his tuxedo was ripped off to reveal a bold and tightly fit, baby blue jumpsuit.
The release of “COWBOY CARTER” in March 2024 caused outrage among the country music community. It seems as if the decision to award Beyonce Country Album of the Year was directly related to that controversy.
“COWBOY CARTER” transcends genre. It was written as a love letter to Beyonce’s country roots but resists classification. Awarding the album a genre-based award feels as if the 13,000 voting members of the academy missed the point entirely.
The Grammy for Country Music Album of the Year should have gone to Lainey Wilson. Her album “Whirlwind” is a blend of traditional country roots along with a modern country sound.
Chris Stapleton won Best Country Music Solo Performance for his song, “It Takes A Woman.” With a voice like rain on a dusty prairie, it’s no wonder he took home the award.
Kacey Musgraves won Best Country Song for “The Architect.” In her acceptance speech, Musgraves talked about how there is “so much darkness in the world right now, and it feels so good to fight that darkness through song,” staying true to the song’s message about the world’s beauty.
Despite proving her power and influence as a country songwriter with hits such as “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma” and Megan Moroney’s “Noah,” Jessi Alexander lost out on the Grammy for Songwriter of the Year to Amy Allen, the songwriter behind the biggest hits of Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. Allen became the first woman to win the category.
Throughout the show, it was clear how the Palisades Fire in LA affected the music industry from the ground up. There was a heightened recognition of the importance of everyone involved behind the scenes of the music industry, from stagehands to producers.
The Grammys were a bright light in the darkness. They reaffirmed the importance of art and the beauty of celebrating something together.
P.S. Benson Boone, call me!
Ava Knox | Features Reporter
For lovers of rock, metal and alternative music, this year’s Grammy winners were … surprising.
The Beatles took home the Grammy for Best Rock Performance for “Now And Then.” The song was up against solid contenders from other classic rock bands like Green Day and Pearl Jam.
“Now And Then” was a shocking choice from the Academy, especially considering that the song was completed with the use of A.I. I understand that The Beatles have made an immense contribution to the genre, but this choice felt disappointing. The classic bands in the running produced new material, and they should have been recognized for that.
“Dark Matter” by Pearl Jam deserved this one for being nostalgic, yet innovative, and it wasn’t produced with A.I.
Best Rock Song went to “Broken Man” by St. Vincent, Annie Clark, rightfully so. I would have loved to see a win for Pearl Jam here, but I can appreciate the pure artistry of “Broken Man.”
The Rolling Stones won Best Rock Album for “Hackney Diamonds,” their highly stylized 2023 album. This album isn’t for everyone, and it certainly isn’t for me.
The Rolling Stones win was expected in this category, but I was naively holding out hope for “Romance” by Fontaines D.C. They held their own in this race against more established names, and I have a feeling they’ll be back.
The award for Best Metal Performance went to Gojira for “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” over songs from Judas Priest, Knocked Loose, Poppy, Spiritbox and Metallica. I am not mad at this one — “Mea Culpa” felt fresh and new compared to the other entries.
St. Vincent continued her sweep with awards in both the Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Album categories. Best Alternative Music Performance went to “Flea,” which was competing against others like Fontaines D.C.’s “Starburster” and “Neon Pill” by Cage the Elephant. St. Vincent completely deserves this win. I will always go to bat for Fontaines D.C., but “Flea” was a standout performance in this category.
“All Born Screaming” was recognized for Best Alternative Album. St. Vincent undeniably earned the acclaim for “All Born Screaming.” However, I would have been pleased with “What Now” by Britanny Howard or “Charm” by Clairo.
In other pop-rock-alternative news, Lady Gaga debuted her new single “Abracadabra” during a commercial break. The song is part of her upcoming album “Mayhem,” dropping March 7. “Abracadabra” is electric, classic Gaga. I am excited to see her return to her old sound.
One final note: never let the Red Hot Chili Peppers present another award again, please. That was agony.
Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone.