Everything that happened at the 2026 Grammys

On Sunday, Bad Bunny’s seminal “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” made history when it become the first predominantly Spanish-language release to win album of the year at the 68th Grammy Awards.

With this win, the Puerto Rican artist became the third Latino act to win the highest honor at the ceremony — joining Santana, led by the Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana, and Brazilian musician João Gilberto.

The Grammy Awards show is synonymous with iconic fashion.

Sunday night’s red carpet didn’t disappoint, with topless, sheer and glamorous looks that pushed the envelope wide open. Chappell Roan took the naked dress to a whole new level in a Mugler gown that hung from her nipple rings. Sabrina Carpenter looked ethereal in a Valentino number dripping in pearls. Rosé and Olivia Dean, meanwhile, opted for timeless black-and-white gowns with full skirts.

According to President Trump, the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday were “virtually unwatchable.” Still, he watched enough to take issue with comedian Trevor Noah’s latest turn as the ceremony’s host.

Trump, in a Sunday night post to his social media platform, said he intends to sue the comedian and former “Daily Show” host as he ragged on the “garbage” music ceremony, which aired live on CBS. Specifically, he says he’s seeking legal action against Noah’s quip linking him and former President Bill Clinton to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

History was made in more than one way at Sunday night’s 68th Grammy Awards.

Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” won album of the year — the first Spanish-language LP to take the Recording Academy’s highest honor. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” was named record of the year, making Lamar the winningest rapper in Grammy history (and just the fourth artist to go back-to-back for the record prize). Then there were Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, who took song of the year with “Wildflower”; they’re now the only songwriters with three wins in that prestigious category.

BEIJING — Beijing on Monday criticized the Dalai Lama ’s first Grammy win, describing the music industry award for an audiobook, narration and storytelling as “a tool for anti-China political manipulation.”

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, who lives in exile in India, took the award on Sunday for his book “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

History was made at the 68th Grammy Awards.

Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell and Huntr/x were among the artists with record wins. And musicians used their acceptance speeches and platforms to denounce immigration raids. Even with all the action, there’s a lot audiences didn’t see on TV. Here’s what Times reporters caught behind the scenes.

In speech after speech, this year’s Grammy-winning artists returned to one message — ICE is a menace that must be stopped.

After dramatic, violent escalations in federal raids on immigrant communities and their supporters in Minneapolis and across the country, Americans have been shocked into despair and action. Many artists up for top Grammys have been vocal about their opposition to the raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but at Sunday’s Grammys, the topic was front and center for many winners in their speeches.

While accepting the record of the year Grammy alongside her “Luther” collaborator Kendrick Lamar, SZA encouraged viewers to not give up hope despite the country’s fraught political climate.

Back in the press room, she reaffirmed that “it’s incredibly dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades ... and people are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street.”

Still, the artist said, “I really believe in great possibilities. I believe that empathy can breed change.”

“I will not be going quietly into the dying of the light,” she said.

At this year’s Grammys ceremony, the Recording Academy called on artists Post Malone, Lauryn Hill and Reba McEntire to honor the musicians who died in the last year.

The annual “In Memoriam” segment paid tribute to artists including Roberta Flack, D’Angelo and Ozzy Osbourne. From heavy punk numbers to jazzy R&B ballads and solemn country-infused performances, the academy celebrated those who have shaped music, whether through their artistry or on the business side.

After clinching the Americana album Grammy for “Big Money,” Jon Batiste told the press room that he’s unfazed by AI-assisted attempts at replicating his music.

“I don’t think that AI can sound like a human. It’s not something that’s possible,” the highly awarded composer said. “It can sound like a simulacrum [of] Jon Batiste, but it won’t be Jon Batiste.”

“That’s exciting for artists who make music in the way that utilizes the superpowers and traditions and lineages that have been left us by ancestors for hundreds of years,” he continued, “because that’s something that an algorithm or a large language model can’t facilitate.”

Batiste conceded that he’s certainly not against placing guardrails around the technology, but ultimately argued that artistry is too nuanced to be co-opted by it.

With the 2026 Grammys officially upon us, read about all of the night’s best and worst moments below in our live chat between pop music critic Mikael Wood and staff writer August Brown.

8:45 p.m. Great as always, August, to process these Grammys with you in real time. Thanks to you and to all of our readers for following along. Until next year … —M.W.

It’s always a delight to riff on the Grammys with you, Luth…errr, Mikael and everyone behind the scenes here. This was quite literally one for the history books. See you and Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl next week (from very, very far away from the field). —A.B.

The Grammy Awards returned to L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. with Trevor Noah hosting for the sixth and final time and after more than half a century, CBS broadcast the awards show for the last time. It will move to Disney outlets in 2027.

The night’s major Grammys went to Olivia Dean for new artist, Billie Eilish and Finneas for song of the year, Kendrick Lamar with SZA for record of the year and Bad Bunny for album of the year. The majority of the 95 awards were handed out at the non-televised premiere ceremony, hosted by Darren Criss.

Bad Bunny’s “Débi Tirar Más Fotos” was named album of the year at Sunday night’s 68th Grammy Awards — the first time a Spanish-language LP has won the Recording Academy’s most prestigious prize.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” was named record of the year at Sunday night’s 68th Grammy Awards, giving Lamar his second straight win in the category after he took it in 2025 with his smash hit Drake diss, “Not Like Us.” He accepted the Grammy with a team of collaborators after a confused intro from Cher.

The Compton-born rapper is one of only four acts in Grammy history who’ve gone back to back in record of the year, along with Billie Eilish, U2 and Roberta Flack.

Confusion reigned when Cher, fresh off accepting her award for lifetime achievement, announced Luther Vandross as the winner of record of the year.

Cher appeared to not know where to find the name of the winner, but caught on to the fact that the song, called “Luther,” samples Vandross. Kendrick Lamar soon appeared onstage and paid his own tribute to the genius of the legendary soul singer.

“Golden,” the breakout song from the Netflix hit movie “KPop Demon Hunters,” now has a Golden Globe and a Grammy under its belt. On Sunday, it took home the award for song written for visual media. (“Wildflower” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell won song of the year.)

Will the empowered anthem ride the awards wave all the way to the Oscars? Huntr/x member Ejae’s answer is “knock on wood.”

“I don’t want to have any expectations,” the singer-songwriter added, “just here to have fun and enjoy the moment, celebrate all music, all cultures, Korea, such a profound moment for us.”

And while an Academy Award win would be “surreal,” she continued, “the biggest pinch-me moment is just the fans’ reactions — getting letters or videos or DMs, or people on the street singing the songs.”

As Lola Young reveled in her surprise pop solo performance win for the crowd-favorite “Messy” in the Grammys press room, she explained the self-imposed break she took following a recent health scare at the All Things Go music festival.

“We constantly have to be protected as artists always,” Young said, “and I had to make a decision to do it for myself and to be kind to myself, give myself space.”

During her portion of the Grammy best new artist nominee medley, she took to the piano for a stripped-down version of “Messy,” singing as though reinvigorated from what she called her “timeout.”

“But now I am back. I feel better. I will do as much as I can to be good for my fans and to be good for the people that love me,” she added.

Fresh off his win for contemporary country album for “Beautifully Broken,” Jelly Roll told the Grammys press room that while he felt unqualified at the time to speak on the country’s current political moment, we’ll be hearing from him soon.

The artist said that growing up in a “drug addict household … I didn’t even know politics were f— real until I was in my mid 20s in jail.” On top of that, he’s not on social media, nor has he consistently had a personal cellphone.

Still, he said he was mulling over a lot, and promised his fans would, within the week, “hear exactly what I have to say about it in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoken in my life.”

Jelly Roll also said he’s written around 100 songs this year, many of which will likely see the light of day.

“It’s going to be so much fun this year,” he said. “I’m gonna drop more music than I’ve ever dropped in my career in the next 12 months.”

Rapper Tyler, the Creator released two albums, “Chromakopia” and “Don’t Tap the Glass,” nine months apart from each other. So for his Grammys performance, he started off in a green bellhop uniform, wearing the same mask and hairstyle seen on “Chromakopia’s” album cover, which won a Grammy earlier Sunday. With a stick of dynamite in his hand, he allowed the camera to get up close and personal with him.

In a matter of seconds, he traded the green uniform for a red leather outfit aligned with “Don’t Tap the Glass.” At one point, he drove his red sports car into his “Chromakopia” self, while singing “Sugar on my Tongue.” By the end of the performance, he had been soaked by a gas spill, money was thrown in the air and he used dynamite to blow up the stage.

Sitting at a table with Bad Bunny, Trevor Noah broke into song, crooning snippets of “DtMF” as he stared into the megastar’s eyes. Bad Bunny teased the audience, opening his mouth and then listening along, dropping in with just a few words as a band of trumpet players pumped up the crowd.

The surprise, impromptu performance was more than the audience could hope for given the fact that the King of Trap is contractually obligated to not perform in advance of next weekend’s Super Bowl.

Siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell nabbed the Grammy for song of the year, becoming the first three-time winners in the history of the category.

The duo previously won in 2020 for “Bad Guy” and 2024 for “What Was I Made For?” This marked the 10th total Grammy win for the musical duo.

Blinding white lights flickered, giving the audience small flashes of Lady Gaga as she took the 68th Grammy Awards stage Sunday.

Gaga’s voice overpowered Crypto.com Arena, her robotic movements captivating the audience as she performed a rock version of her Grammy-winning hit “Abracadabra.”

In a heart-themed set, Bruno Mars made his second appearance on the Grammys stage to perform his latest release, “I Just Might.” Like the opening number with Rosé, Mars was once again backed by a massive band. The audience camera panned to artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Addison Rae dancing along, as Lady Gaga cheered on her former collaborator.

Trevor Noah even cracked a joke that Joni Mitchell was looking at Mars, thinking, “I Just Might.”

Even after all these years, Lady Gaga still feels like she has to “pinch herself,” she said after “Mayhem” won the Grammy Award for pop vocal album. She also still feels like it can be hard for women in the studio.

“I know sometimes when you’re in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard, so I urge you to always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas,” she said. “Fight for your songs. Fight for yourself as a producer; make sure that you are heard loudly.”

A lone woman in the arena’s nosebleed seats could be heard screaming in response, “Yes! It is hard!” Cheers ensued. Gaga’s words clearly resonated with many female musicians in the venue.

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The best looks from the 2026 Grammys red carpet

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See even more photos of the fashion from the 2026 Grammys red carpet.

As he accepted the Grammy Award for choral performance, Grant Gershon of the Los Angeles Master Chorale wondered aloud about co-winner and Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel’s looming departure.

“Thank you to Gustavo Dudamel! Why are you leaving L.A.? What’s up with that,” Gershon, chorus master on the winning performance of “Ortiz: Yanga” said after accepting the award on behalf of the “amazing singers of the L.A. Master Chorale” and thanking composer Gabriela Ortiz.

After a transformative 17 years, Dudamel will leave the L.A. Phil to join the New York Philharmonic. His final season, which has been dubbed “Gracias Gustavo,” ends in June.

Less than half an hour into the 68th Grammy Awards, Kendrick Lamar had already made history.

Lamar became the most-awarded rapper of all time at the Grammys, with 26 wins, which became 27 at the end of the night. Lamar received three awards during Sunday‘s premiere ceremony before the telecast and racked up more throughout the show.

The only things Justin Bieber was wearing during his Grammys performance of “Yukon” were silver shorts, socks and a purple guitar strapped to his back.

The arena was riveted by his stage presence. Women were swooning and sighing in their seats. Random screams and whistles could be heard. The sexy, low lighting made the room in the Crypto.com Arena feel intimate despite its massive size.

Before Bad Bunny could thank anyone while accepting his award for música urbana album, he said “ICE Out,” resulting in a full standing ovation inside Crypto.com Arena.

“We’re not savages; we’re not animals; we’re not aliens; we are humans and we are Americans,” he said.

As Bad Bunny spoke, the crowd was hushed and sitting on the edge of their seats, taking in every word.

He encouraged watchers not to get caught up in hate, but rather to focus energy toward love.

“The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” he said.

The award came after a joke from Trevor Noah about Puerto Rico not being in America — an ongoing topic since Bad Bunny was named to play the Super Bowl halftime show next week.

It started on stage as María Zardoya of the Marias enchantingly sang the band’s breakout hit, “No One Noticed.” As Zardoya slipped between English and Spanish lyrics, the trance-like energy quickly shifted as Addison Rae rode into Crypto.com Arena on the back of a truck. Sporting a bright purple trench coat and mysterious shades, the former TikTok star delivered a dance-focused performance of her song “Fame Is a Gun” from the bowels of the arena.

Just a few feet away, the six-member girl group Katseye kept the choreography motif going, as they moved in sync to their polarizing hit, “Gnarly.” As they sang about boba tea and robotics, they made their way back to the Grammys main stage, where Leon Tomas was ready with his band. The former Nickelodeon star and R&B singer added a sultry feeling to the performance with his rendition of “Mutt.”

Then Alex Warren was handed a microphone from a snack vendor in the arena. He was greeted by rows of waving phone lights as he belted his brooding pop ballad, “Ordinary,” eventually making his way to a levitating platform. Lola Young appeared behind a piano, singing a stripped-back version of “Messy.” To finish off the best new artist performances, Olivia Dean and Sombr brought a disco feel to the set — as Dean performed under a larger-than-life disco ball and Sombr wore an equally reflective suit (sans shirt).

Olivia Dean, the British R&B singer who scored a major pop hit with “Man I Need,” has won the Grammy for best new artist.

Dean’s mix of elegant soul vocals and modern pop sophistication draw from a lineage of Grammy favorites like Amy Winehouse, Sade and Carole King. After opening for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” tour, she quickly became an arena headliner herself.

The lights were dim, except for the silhouettes of Bruno Mars and Rosé. The duo started off back to back. Mars was wearing his signature bandana tied around his head and a guitar strapped to his chest. Rosé wore a white cropped tank top and loose black tie. Adding a new rock sound to their chart-topping pop single “Apt,” the singers, engulfed by smoke, brought vivacious energy to the opening set. The performance marked the first time that a K-pop artist performed at the Grammy Awards.

Crypto.com Arena is filling up as guests rush to take their seats in advance of the start of the live telecast. Loud dance music plays as the many bars and snack stands that ring the arena close and hordes of people in flashy suits and flashier dresses duck into various doorways. At the center of the arena, close to the stage, tables with mood lighting mark the areas where tonight’s big stars will sit.

Supermodel Heidi Klum gathered a literal parade of gawkers inside Crypto.com Arena ahead of the Grammys as she took short, mincing steps down the main thoroughfare in a nude latex dress that hung like a suit of nipple-baring armor.

It was so immovable that Klum could barely walk, moving her feet about an inch or two with each step. She pushed through the obviously trying ordeal with a winning smile and stopped for photos every few feet.

How Klum planned to sit down during the show became a hot topic of conversation among the onlookers. Ten minutes later, they got an answer when she reappeared in a black, strapless, knee-length dress with rivetheads down the back. She offered a sly “hi” as she walked past again in the less-revealing, but still form-fitting, outfit.

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Heidi Klum teeters along in nude dress

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Heidi Klum wore a skin-tight nude gown to the 2026 Grammy Awards, captivating gawkers ahead of the show.

Chappell Roan arrives on the carpet at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

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Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s music has always felt somewhat beyond classification, even to her.

But after accepting her second Grammy Award for traditional pop vocal album Sunday, she told the Grammys press room that she treasures her position as a bridge between musical eras and genres.

“I always wanted to make my own music,” Laufey said, but “it’s a bit of a north star for me to introduce these more traditional styles of music to new audiences and … [open] up ears to hearing different chords and instrumentation that they’re perhaps not used to hearing in pop music today.”

The artist added that her aim was, and remains, “to become a musician that I felt I was missing as a little music student.”

Maybe it was due to the bleakness of recent events in America, but the L.A. party scene in the ramp-up to the Grammys felt notably restrained and purposeful this year. The rowdiest night of the week seemed to be a grunge-cover tribute to Mariah Carey’s lost ‘90s album at the MusiCares gala. But a few events did try to blend in acknowledgments of current crises with the usual industry-focused honorifics and cheerleading.

The Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Honors gala, held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on Thursday, found Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in the audience (we can only imagine the questions from guests who bumped into her at the bar) and Recording Academy Chief Executive Harvey Mason Jr. on the stage to laud three canonical Black acts — gospel giant Kirk Franklin, R&B chanteuse Brandy and producer Pharrell Williams, who earned the academy’s Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, a lifetime achievement honor for the music, fashion and film mogul.

The night had scores of lively sets, from album of the year nominees Clipse in crisp tuxes, John Legend and Lecrae working through Franklin’s soulful catalog, and a Brandy medley from Coco Jones, FLO and Kehlani. Eve finally got her actual Grammy for her contributions to the Roots’ “You Got Me,” while Leon Thomas pressed the flesh wherever he could on his hunt for a best new artist win. Justin Timberlake emphatically danced to his early-career Pharrell hits like his last world tour was never ruined at all.

Franklin was gracious in his speech — “Being in a room of geniuses, it’s humbling … I want to walk in humility and be a good man,” but his gospel-crossover hits like “Stomp” shook the room. Brandy looked a little awed to not just be returning to Grammy week stages, but so lovingly regarded as a preeminent vocalist of her era — “I’m very much alive, and I’m still here, and by the grace of God, I have unlimited opportunity to get out and be somebody — maybe even an icon,” she said.

Album nominee Tyler, the Creator gently roasted his idol Williams — “Outside of the weird bootcut jeans you’ve been wearing, you seem to always have an answer,” before lauding Williams’ weirdo visionary spirit that drove him to make music.

Williams — the era-spanning hitmaker turned Louis Vuitton creative director — was poignant in his acceptance speech, flanked by Mason and Dre himself. “I want to pray for the leaders of this nation, the ones who are giving these orders. I’m praying they find it n their hearts — some empathy, some grace and most importantly some mercy for people who may not have been born in this country but love it just as much as you do.”

He got a few groans when he closed with “It don’t matter how you voted, it matters how you pray” — a few attendees at my table noted under their breath that it clearly did matter how you voted — but his heart was in the right place for a guy who has achieved so much in music while keeping his sincerity about art’s capacity to change minds.

On Saturday afternoon, at Lucian Grainge’s annual Music is Universal Artist Showcase confab for the UMG stable in Hollywood, Olivia Rodrigo also spoke to the current crises in her acceptance speech for the company’s Amplifier award for activism. Rodrigo’s uncompromising advocacy for reproductive rights and healthcare is a fixture of her touring career; she’s more recently been vociferous in opposing ICE’s brutal raids.

“Music has always been about more than sound. It’s about connection. It’s about telling the truth,” she said. “It’s about showing up for one another, especially when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Now, more than ever, in Minneapolis, and around the world, our platforms, no matter the size, can amplify more than our own voices.”

Her remarks came in between short sets from best new artist nominees Leon Thomas, Katseye, Olivia Dean and other nominees-in-waiting. But the most phones came out to shoot the three singers of Huntr/x — Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — who took a pass through their song of the year nominee “Golden.” The UMG execs and guests’ tweens back home may or may not have been wowed by Tucker Wetmore and Role Model, but even on Grammy weekend, there’s still no star power like “KPop Demon Hunters.” (August Brown)

Sabrina Carpenter arrives on the carpet at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

See more photos from the red carpet.

Country artist Shaboozey fought back bouts of tears as he addressed the Grammys press room Sunday.

The “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hitmaker became emotional as he spoke about his Nigerian immigrant parents and the sacrifices they made to come to the United States.

“To know that I’m an example of that, and I’m from that lineage, and I’m inspiring people, hopefully, and trying to just live up to my fullest potential, I’ve had so many dreams of being able to do something like this,” he said.

The Grammy winner went on to reference his small-town upbringing, saying, “I wasn’t the most talented kid in any respect, but I just had dreams,” before becoming overwhelmed with emotion.

As he stepped back to wipe away tears, the room erupted into applause, with one reporter shouting, “You deserve this!”

Margo Price arrives on the carpet at the 68th Grammy Awards.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The stars are arriving at the Grammys. See more photos from the red carpet.

Sporting an “ICE Out” pin, Kehlani spoke to reporters Sunday in the Grammys press room about artists’ responsibility to be vocal about social justice issues. In the past, the singer has had performances canceled because of her political stances. Kehlani called out ICE during her acceptance speech earlier in the afternoon.

“An artist’s job is to reflect the times,” the Grammy winner said. “I think we’re often what leads or aids revolution or provides a lens for people who will understand certain things better via art.”

“People all over the world can see even just when we open our mouths one time,” she added, “so I think we have an opportunity to use it wisely.”

Kehlani won her first Grammys on Sunday for R&B performance and R&B song.

“When God says yes, can’t nobody say no, and when it’s God’s time and it’s your time, then he’ll pave the way for everything else to just clear itself,” she said.

Even if she’d lost today, the artist said, “it would have been a blessing for me and a blessing for all of us.”

Last year, Amy Allen became the first woman to win the Grammy Award for songwriter of the year, nonclassical. On Sunday, she accepted the honor for the second year in a row.

Back in the Grammys press room, Allen said “songwriters are the ones that make songs possible” and encouraged those aspiring toward the career to “collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.”

“Keep finding people that inspire you, that lift you up and you are learning from every day, and keep finding new ways to fall in love with music,” Allen said. “Because that’s what I always come back to. As long as I’m loving music and finding new ways to fall head over heels in love with it, I love the songs that I’m making, so keep collaborating.”

Allen this year also received dual nominations for song of the year for her work on Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “Apt.” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.”

Trevor Noah is gearing up for one last Grammys hurrah.

This year, the comedian and former host of “The Daily Show” will helm the awards show for the sixth and final time, CBS announced Tuesday. Noah has emceed the ceremony every year since 2021.

The first thing folk music legend Joni Mitchell said in her Grammy acceptance speech was that she appreciated the glitz and glamour in the crowd. The sentiment was followed by a long pause as she looked around, unsure of what had happened. She noticed the Grammy behind her and asked, “Oh, I won?”

She earned her 11th Grammy for historical album for “Joni Mitchell Archives - Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980).” Once she realized what had occurred, she shared memories of how she transitioned from folk music to a more jazzy sound and her frustrations with the music industry at the time.

Yungblud, the 28-year-old musician-actor who won the rock performance award for his live cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” at Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning farewell concert in July 2025, called that act his “David and Goliath moment.”

“It’s one of the moments where you can’t mess up,” the artist said in the Grammys press room after his win Sunday, “and I can’t believe how well received this was.”

Yungblud added that “what’s really beautiful about rock music right now [is] it feels cross-generational.”

Whereas for the last two decades, the old and new guard have mostly grated against each other, he said, the Back to the Beginning show brought them together.

“That’s really just kind of ignited a spark, and it feels like [the rock genre’s] got a new meaning and a sense of unity and a sense of fire again,” he said.

For the first time in more than 50 years, the Recording Academy revived its award for album cover. The resurrected Grammy went to Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia.” The cover of Tyler, the Creator’s eighth studio album is a black-and-white image of the masked rapper.

At the first Grammys in 1959, Frank Sinatra’s “Only the Lonely” received the award. It was presented yearly until 1973, when the Siegel-Schwall Band won for its self-titled album. After that, the category was renamed album package and then changed again in 1994 to recording package. This year, Tyler, the Creator was up against the likes of Djo, Wet Leg, Perfume Genius and Bad Bunny.

Shaboozey had just walked into the Grammys Premiere Ceremony when he heard his name called. He won his first Grammy for “Amen,” featuring Jelly Roll, in the country duo performance category. Reading off a crumpled paper, the 30-year-old singer thanked his mother, who immigrated from Nigeria and worked three to four jobs to provide for him and his siblings.

“Immigrants built this country, so this is for them, for all children of immigrants. This is for those who came to this country in search of [a] better opportunity, to be a part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunities,” Shaboozey said during his acceptance speech.

“Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions. You give America color.”

Gloria Estefan, who on Sunday took home the award for tropical Latin album for “Raíces,” expressed concerns about the ongoing immigration raids.

In the Grammys press room, Estefan asserted that in this trying time the country must “hold dear and true” to its core democratic principles: “the reason why everyone wants to be here.”

“I hope that our government listens to our plea for humanity, which is the main thing we need in this world,” the Cuban American singer said.

Grammy winner FKA Twigs started writing her experimental dance-pop album “Eusexua” in the “toilets of underground raves in Prague,” she said backstage on Sunday.

“For me, techno is in the rawest and deepest places of culture, and with the help of my collaborators, with so much trial and error, I feel like I was able to bring that experience into an album and to my fans,” the artist said.

Twigs went on to encourage listeners to engage with music “not through the phone or through an app,” but in the real-life places it was written to be heard in.

“Enjoying a techno or a dance song that’s 10 minutes long and doesn’t give you any release or any drop, you know, until seven minutes in,” the artist said, “it’s gratifying to wait.”

Addison Rae slides into a booth at Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank and orders — what else? — black coffee and a chocolate milkshake.

The singer, actor and social media personality has been on a David Lynch kick of late; this, of course, is where the late filmmaker famously came every afternoon for years to sustain himself with that order while he wrote.

Kehlani won multiple Grammys at the Premiere Ceremony.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Before Kehlani could say anything when accepting her first Grammys, she said she needed to “thank Jesus.” The R&B singer was first nominated for a Grammy 10 years ago for her mixtape, “You Should Be Here.” On stage, she accepted the awards for R&B song and R&B performance for her breakout song, “Folded.” She said it was the first time she “ever won anything.”

The 30-year-old singer also wore an “Ice Out” pin. She added, “Together, we’re stronger in numbers, [and have] to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now. I hope everybody’s inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on.”

She ended her speech with “F— Ice.”

Leon Thomas won the traditional R&B performance for “Vibes Don’t Lie,” but he wasn’t there to pick up his Grammy. Instead, his mom, Jayon Anthony, accepted the award for him.

“Right now he’s on stage rehearsing,” she explained.

“He worked so hard on this album and he was so happy to get such a wonderful reception,” she said.

However, Thomas was in the theater a few minutes later to accept the R&B album Grammy for “Mutt.” As he accepted the award, he explained he was out of breath because he ran from the rehearsal.

“This is such a moment because it’s a miracle of endurance,” Thomas said.

With a win for “Music by John Williams” in the music film category, filmmaker Steven Spielberg has earned EGOT status. Spielberg produced the documentary, which shared the life and contributions of composer John Williams. Following his Oscar wins for “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan,” Emmy wins for “E.R.” and “Animaniacs” and his Tony for “A Strange Loop,” the Grammy was the missing piece in Spielberg’s awards legacy.

“This acknowledgment is obviously deeply meaningful to me because it validates what I have known for over 50 years: John Williams’ influence on culture and music is immeasurable and his artistry and legacy is unrivaled,” wrote Spielberg in a statement to The Times. “I am proud to be associated with Laurent [Bouzereau]’s beautiful film.”

One way to honor your 93-year-old host: by calling him a “f— gangster” who’ll “slit your throat for a hit record.”

That’s how Monte Lipman big-upped Clive Davis on Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton, where Davis had convened an invite-only crowd of celebrities and music-industry insiders for his annual night-before-the-Grammys gala. Lipman, who runs Republic Records, was there to receive the Recording Academy’s Industry Icon award along with his brother and business partner, Avery; clearly, the commendation had gotten him feeling all warm and fuzzy about the record-biz machers who paved his way.

Following a win for the score of Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” animated blockbuster “KPop Demon Hunters” won its first award for its breakout hit “Golden.” The inescapable earworm took home the award for song written for visual media. The Netflix movie is up for five awards tonight, including song of the year.

“KPop Demon Hunters” took the world by storm last summer, as the fictional girl group Huntr/x battled evil with their punchy K-pop beats. Since its release, the movie has become Netflix’s most popular film of all time, amassing over 480 million views.

If anyone told Mariah Carey ahead of time that Friday night’s MusiCares Person of the Year tribute would feature a live auction — an auction in which a meet-and-greet with the singer in Abu Dhabi was offered to the highest bidder — you sure couldn’t tell by observing her reaction.

Seated near the stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center, a camera feeding close-up images of her face to several screens, Carey appeared genuinely surprised by an auctioneer’s description of the backstage hangout in which she’d be expected to participate next month.

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” already broke a record by earning 16 Oscar nominations, but on Sunday the film picked up some Grammy hardware, winning compilation soundtrack for visual media as well as score soundtrack for visual media.

Composer Ludwig Göransson missed the first award but got in the Peacock theater in time for the acceptance speech for the latter.

Last year, British singer FKA Twigs released two full-length albums, “Eusexua” and “Eusexua Afterglow,” exploring facets of underground rave culture. During the Grammys premiere ceremony on Sunday, her third studio album, “Eusexua,” earned the award for dance/electronic album, marking her first-ever win.

“It’s been the most incredible journey,” Twigs said onstage. “I’ve actually been doing this a really long time. So to any artist, don’t give up. Follow your vision because that’s what’s gonna make the world fall in love with your art.”

Sometimes an album cover could be worth a thousand words. And the Grammys finally agree.

The 2026 ceremony will be the first time in 53 years that the award for best album cover will be presented. Previously, the award for a recording package included the album’s visuals and physical materials. Last year, Charli XCX earned the accolade for the virality of “brat” and its distinct mucus-y green.

With 86 awards to give out, Darren Criss handed out the first award of the day during the Grammys premiere to “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for their performance of “Defying Gravity” for best pop duo/group performance.

Lukas Nelson is sitting on his tour bus behind the Fonda Theatre on a recent evening as he awaits a takeout bag with dinner inside it.

In a few hours, the 36-year-old singer and songwriter will take the stage for a show behind this year’s “American Romance,” his first solo LP after a decade and a half fronting his band Promise of the Real. It’s a handsome and philosophical set of tunes about life, love and the endless road that Nelson cut just about a mile away from the Fonda at Hollywood’s Sunset Sound. And now it’s nominated for a Grammy Award in the traditional country album category.

The Grammy premiere ceremony, where the vast majority of the awards are handed out long before the telecast, has just begun. (You can watch it on YouTube or via the Grammys’ website.)

The ceremony opened with a funky cover of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star” featuring Grammy nominees such as Israel Houghton, Lila Iké, Trombone Shorty, Grace Potter and Maggie Rose.

“Music tells the truth when it’s hard,” Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive of the Recording Academy, told the crowd at the Peacock Theater for the ceremony.

“Creativity is not a luxury, it’s essential.”

Gerald Casale of Devo wore an anti-ICE pin on the red carpet at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

As Grammys guests arrive on the red carpet, a number are wearing pins protesting ICE.

This time 36 years ago, Fabrice Morvan was preparing for his first Grammy Awards. It had been a wild few years for the 23-year-old Parisian and his best friend Robert Pilatus from Germany. The duo known as Milli Vanilli had rocketed to fame, going from obscure dancers in Munich to dominate the pop music scene. Not only were they nominated for best new artist, but they were expected to perform live. Underneath it all, the pair were quickly reaching their breaking point.

Don Henley’s “The End of the Innocence” was nominated for both song and record of the year. Indeed, for the tens of millions of Milli Vanilli fans who bought their records, the 1990 Grammy ceremony marked an end of innocence of sorts. To this day, Milli Vanilli are the only artists in the history of the Grammys to have their award revoked.

As he mills around backstage at Inglewood’s YouTube Theater on a recent evening, John Janick could be just another of the countless dads who’ve brought their kids here to see the K-pop girl group Katseye.

Dressed in jeans and a rumpled T-shirt, the 47-year-old looks on as North West — rapper, influencer, middle-school-age daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West — blows into the greenroom in a blur of sunglasses and blue hair and poses for a picture with the six bandmates after their show. It’s a valuable photo op for an act whose fans live on social media, and the young women of Katseye are clearly thrilled by West’s presence (at least until they all strike looks of studied nonchalance for the camera).

Across a large conference room table somewhere inside the bowels of the Wynn Las Vegas, the members of Grupo Frontera appeared tired.

The Tex-Mex quintet had been shuffling up and down the Las Vegas strip for eight straight hours doing media interviews in the lead-up to the Latin Grammys, held on Nov. 13 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. They were nominated twice in the regional Mexican song category for their cumbia norteña tracks “Me Jalo,” a collaboration with the clamorous Mexican American band Fuerza Regida, and “Hecha Pa’ Mí,” but would lose out to Los Tigres del Norte’s “La Lotería.”

During the summer of 1998, a 19-year-old rapper named Eve (formerly known as Eve of Destruction) received a phone call from her producer friend Scott Storch about an opportunity to hop on a record with the Roots.

The hip-hop band from Philadelphia, formed by Black Thought and Questlove, was bubbling at the time and Eve, a known battle rapper in the city, was excited to work together on a song called “You Got Me.”

As it turns out, ‘80s pop star Kate Bush and fictional girl group Huntr/x from “KPop Demon Hunters” have a lot in common.

Over the last several years, Netflix has positioned itself as one of the few video streaming services focused on making an impact in the music industry.

There is no rest for songwriter Edgar Barrera, who in the weeks leading up to the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles finds himself hopping around northern Mexico doing what he does best — penning your favorite artist’s songs.

“Right now I have some writing sessions [in Monterrey] for Fuerza Regida’s new album, two days from now I start Carin León’s new album, then I go to L.A. for the Grammy Week,” Barrera said through Zoom, having freshly arrived from Tulum.

Leave it to Beyoncé to shape the Grammy Awards in a year when she’s not even on the ballot.

With 35 trophies to her name, the pop superstar is the winningest artist in the nearly seven-decade history of music’s most prestigious awards show; with 99 nods, she’s the most-nominated act of all time too.

As is always the case, the Grammys this year will be dominated by pop, rap, country and rock. But the best races often lie in the less mainstream genres. Take best jazz vocal album, where Samara Joy, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap, Michael Mayo, Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell and Nicole Zuraitis are competing for the honor.

The highly impressive group reflects the current state of jazz, where both young guns and veterans are combining to bring the music to a new swell of fans. To talk about the present state of jazz, The Times brought together 26-year-old Joy and 75-year-old Bridgewater. What followed is an incredible conversation on politics, race, equality and mutual fandom.