Grammys 2025 highlights: Winners and performances as Beyoncé takes home Album of the Year award with Cowboy Carter
Kanye West raised eyebrows as he and wife Bianca Censori turned up in controversial outfit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The biggest night in music took place on Sunday (February 2). The 2025 Grammy Awards took centre stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, as the world’s biggest stars in pop, rock, and hip-hop gathered for a night of celebration and show-stopping performances.
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter led a star-studded list of nominees, while comedian Trevor Noah returned to host for the fifth consecutive year.
Winners included The Beatles, Charli XCX, Carpenter and Lamar, with Beyoncé making history as the first Black woman to win Best Country Album. Kendrick Lamar took home Record of the Year for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us”.
Meanwhile, The Weeknd made a dramatic return after boycotting the ceremony over perceived “snubs” of his music, as he performed tracks from his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.
This year’s ceremony takes place against the backdrop of devastating wildfires that have torn through California in recent weeks. In response, the Recording Academy has pledged to use the event to support local relief efforts, ensuring that music’s biggest stage also serves as a platform for solidarity.
Meanwhile, Kanye West managed to cause controversy amid reports he was “escorted out” of the ceremony after turning up with his wife, Bianca Censori.
Follow live updates below:
Grammys 2025: When to watch, how to stream and who’s performing
The 2025 Grammys are right around the corner, ready to bring together and celebrate the standout voices shaping today’s music scene.
This year’s ceremony will welcome back Trevor Noah as host for the fifth consecutive year.
As the ceremony is slated to take place in Los Angeles, which has been ravaged by devastating wildfires, the Recording Academy has announced it has refocused its aim to support local relief efforts.
The Recording Academy will be “raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours,” CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Board of Trustees Chair Tammy Hurt told members in a recent statement.
Read below for everything you need to know about the forthcoming 2025 Grammys, from when and how to watch the ceremony to who will be performing and who’s been nominated.
Grammys 2025: When to watch, how to stream and who’s performing
This year’s ceremony will welcome back host Trevor Noah for the fifth consecutive year
VIDEO: Highlights from the 2024 Grammy Awards
The Grammy nominations in full
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter among 2025 Grammy nominees
The biggest names in music have been recognized for their contributions to the industry made throughout the past year
Sabrina Carpenter: How the Espresso singer rode frothy, flirty fun to Gen Z pop stardom
Sabrina Carpenter: How the Espresso singer became queen of Gen Z pop
The singer’s two latest singles have amassed more than 1.6 billion streams between them. Ahead of the release of Sabrina Carpenter’s hugely anticipated sixth album, Annabel Nugent chronicles her decades-long ride to the top from Disney alum to Gen Z pop star
Chappell Roan on Elton John, queer stardom, and Olivia Rodrigo’s advice
Back in 2023, we interviewed Chappell Roan ahead of the release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. With Chappell now up for a number of Grammys, including the coveted Album of the Year award, have a read here:
Chappell Roan on Elton John, queer stardom, and Olivia Rodrigo’s advice
She’s been hailed as a ‘queer pop superstar in the making’ and Olivia Rodrigo offers her heartfelt pearls of wisdom. Missouri musician Chappell Roan speaks to Isobel Lewis about her acclaimed debut album, coming out, and finally finding her feet in LA
FLASHBACK: Stars arrive at the Grammys in 2024
Charli XCX, BRAT review: Dance-pop star slips a little vulnerability into her clever, anarchic beats
Read our critic Helen Brown’s review of Charli XCX’s Grammy-nominated album
Charli XCX is her best brattish self on these clever, anarchic beats – review
Poised at the precipice of mainstream, the Essex artist gets busy untangling the contradictions of her ‘cult classic’ status
Who will (and who should) win at the 2025 Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are notorious for getting it wrong. Over the years, the Recording Academy has caused uproar as it either snubs those artists deemed most deserving or goes with a rogue choice that no one saw coming. This means that each year it’s really anyone’s guess, no matter how much of a certainty an artist might seem.
In 2025, the “big four” categories of Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist are as competitive as ever, with breakthrough pop stars Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter muscling up against heavyweights like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Pioneering British artist Charli XCX and groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar are up against The Beatles; UK singer and Grammys first-timer RAYE is competing with viral stars Benson Boone and Teddy Swims.
Ahead of the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday 2 February, here’s a look at the runners and riders for the big four categories at the Grammys.
Who will (and who should) win at the 2025 Grammy Awards
Some of pop’s biggest artists are vying for the top prizes this year. Roisin O’Connor picks the most likely candidates for the ‘big four’ categories
Sabrina Carpenter review, Short n’ Sweet: Confidently hair-flips its way between TikTok pop, yacht rock, and country
Sabrina Carpenter leans into her man-eating sizzle on Short n’ Sweet – review
‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’ are far from the only cool moments on this long-awaited record
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments