Immigration emerged as a pointed and recurring theme at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, as several artists used the ceremony to speak out against U.S. immigration enforcement and to highlight their own immigrant roots.
Bad Bunny delivered one of the night’s most explicit political statements after winning Best Album for his zeitgeist-shaping album Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Beginning his acceptance speech in English, he drew loud applause as he declared, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out.”
He wiped away tears as he walked up to the stage to accept the award and, after calming down, he thanked God, the Academy, his mother and everyone who worked on the album in Spanish. "I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams," he added in English.
When the Puerto Rican singer picked up another award during the evening - Best Urban Latin Music Album of the Year - he called in his speech to "get rid of ICE".
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens,” he continued. “We are humans and we are Americans.”
Billie Eilish won the song of the year award for "Wildflower" - and attacked ICE, the federal immigration agents in the United States, during her speech. "I don't feel like I have to say anything other than 'No one is illegal on stolen land,'" Eilish said, using a slogan protesting the definition of immigrants as illegal on land taken from indigenous peoples. "It's really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. We have to keep fighting and speaking out and protesting. It matters, people can change, fuck ICE." It is the singer's tenth Grammy win of her career.
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Billie Eilish won the song of the year award for 'Wildflower'
(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Israeli creative duo Vania Heymann and Gal Moja were nominated for the Video of the Year award for "Manchild," which they created for Sabrina Carpenter, but lost to rapper Doechii, who won the award for her music video "Anxiety."
Comedian and former "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah returned to host the ceremony for the sixth and final year, and among the award presenters taking to the stage tonight are Harry Styles, who is celebrating his musical comeback, rapper Doechii, Chappelle Rowan, recent Oscar winner Teyana Taylor, and more.
Earlier in the broadcast, Olivia Dean was named best new artist. Accepting her first Grammy, she wiped away tears as she reflected on her family history. “I never really imagined that I would be up here,” Dean said. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here. I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.” Dean also appeared on stage that evening, performing her hits from her album "The Art of Loving."
Dean’s win followed a sprawling best new artist medley featuring all eight nominees, staged across multiple areas of the arena, including backstage corridors and the loading dock. The performance showcased a wide range of styles, from the British soul of Dean and Lola Young to the hypnotic pop of Addison Rae and Katseye. The Marías opened the medley with their dreamy indie rock, while sombr and Alex Warren delivered their radio hits “12 to 12” and “Ordinary.” Leon Thomas capped the segment with polished R&B, underscoring why he was also nominated for album of the year.
The show’s first hour moved quickly through high-profile performances. Rosé and Bruno Mars opened the ceremony with an energetic rendition of their multicultural pop hit “APT.,” with the Blackpink singer channeling pop-punk flair in a tie and platinum blond hair. Sabrina Carpenter followed with her sharp-edged “Manchild.” Justin Bieber slowed the pace with “Yukon” from his comeback album Swag, and Lady Gaga reimagined “Abracadabra” as an electro-rock performance.
Noah, presiding over the Grammys for the sixth and final time live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, opened the broadcast by celebrating the breadth of talent among this year’s nominees while gently mocking them. At one point, he joked that Jelly Roll and Teddy Swims should be able to unlock each other’s phones, given their similar face tattoos.
Kendrick Lamar won the first televised award of the night, best rap album for GNX, accepting the trophy from Queen Latifah and Doechii. “It’s an honor to be here,” Lamar said. “Hip-hop is always going to be right here. We’re going to be having the culture with us.” The win gave Lamar a career total of 26 Grammys, breaking Jay-Z’s record of 25.
Lady Gaga won pop vocal album for Mayhem. “Every time I’m here, I still feel like I need to pinch myself,” she said. Pop solo performance went to Lola Young for “Messy,” whose brief, playful speech matched the song’s spirit. “I don’t know what to say,” she joked, adding that she was “very, very grateful.”
The newly created contemporary country album category went to Jelly Roll for Beautifully Broken. The Recording Academy this year split the former country album category into contemporary and traditional country, a move that drew online backlash after Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter won best country album. “I believe music had the power to change my life,” Jelly Roll said, spending much of his speech thanking God.
First-time winners were a notable theme even before the main broadcast began. At the Premiere Ceremony earlier in the day at the Peacock Theater, the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audiobook, narration and storytelling recording, defeating Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters won song written for visual media, marking the first time a K-pop act claimed a Grammy. The songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean. Music film went to Music for John Williams, giving director Steven Spielberg his first Grammy and completing his EGOT status.
Throughout the ceremony, artists repeatedly addressed immigration and enforcement policies. Shaboozey and Jelly Roll won country duo/group performance. Accepting the award through tears, Shaboozey thanked his mother, who recently retired after 30 years as a registered nurse. “Immigrants built this country, literally, actually,” he said. “So this is for them. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music and your stories.”
Amy Allen, who won songwriter of the year, nonclassical for the second consecutive year, wore an “ICE Out” pin. Kehlani, who won her first Grammys for R&B performance and R&B song, wore one as well. “I’ve never won anything before, this is a really crazy feeling,” Kehlani said, reflecting on her first nomination a decade ago, before turning to the political moment. “I’mma leave this and say, (expletive) ICE.”
Backstage, Gloria Estefan voiced her own alarm. “I’m scared,” she said. “There are hundreds of children in detention centers. I don’t recognize my country in this moment right now.”
Here's a list of select winners at Sunday's Grammys:
Album of the Year
Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Bad Bunny.
Record of the Year
luther, Kendrick Lamar with SZA.
Best Rap Album
GNX, Kendrick Lamar
Best Latin Urban Album
Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Bad Bunny.
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
Best Pop Vocal Album
Mayhem, Lady Gaga.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Messy, Lola Young.
Song of the Year (Songwriter's Award)
Wildflower, Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell.
Best Dance/Electronic Album
EUSEXUA, FKA twigs
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Defying Gravity, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Best Rock Album
Never Enough, Turnstile
Best Contemporary Country Album
Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll.
Best R&B Album
Mutt, Leon Thomas
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
A Matter of Time, Laufey
Best Latin Pop Album
Cancionera, Natalia Lafourcade
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Sinners, various artists
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (composer's award)
Sinners, Ludwig Garansson
Best Gospel Album
Heart of Mine, Darrel Walls, PJ Morton.
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Coritos Vol. 1, Israel & New Breed
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Golden,from "KPop Demon Hunters"
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Portrait, Samara Joy
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Southern Nights, Sullivan Fortner featuring Peter Washington and Marcus Gilmore
Best African Music Performance
Push 2 Start, Tyla
Best Reggae Album
BLXXD & FYAH,Keznamdi
Best Music Video
Anxiety, Doechii
Best Music Film
Music by John Williams
Best Alternative Music Album
Songs of a Lost World, The Cure
Songwriter Of The Year
Amy Allen
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Cirkut
Best Comedy Album
Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, Nate Bargatze.
Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording
Meditations: The Reflections of his Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama
Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
Words for Days Vol. 1, Mad Skillz.
Best Album Cover
Chromakopia
The Dr. Dre Global Impact Award
Pharrell Williams