Grammys 2025: 10 takeaways from Beyoncé’s biggest night
FEBRUARY 3, 20258:34 AM ET
Stephen Thompson
Beyoncé finally won the Grammy she’d most wanted, with Cowboy Carter also winning best country album.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The Grammys call themselves Music’s Biggest Night, and they did a great job. Here are the night’s highlights, memorable performances, and sentimental favorites.
1. Our long national nightmare is finally over: Beyoncé has won album of the year.
Beyoncé, with 35 wins in 99 nominations, had never won album of the year. She won with Cowboy Carter, also best country album. It was a big moment, but not a huge surprise.
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Beyoncé’s win for best country album was a surprise. She was not nominated at last year’s Country Music Awards. The gap between the CMAs and Grammys has never been wider.
2. It was Kendrick Lamar’s night, too.
Lamar’s “Not Like Us” was nominated for five Grammys. It won all five. The song became an anthem for Los Angeles after devastating wildfires.
Lamar will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show and tour with SZA. His album GNX came out after eligibility closed. He’ll be big at next year’s Grammys too.
3. Organizers said it wouldn’t be a telethon, then put on a telethon
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the Grammys wouldn’t be a telethon. But it was dramatically different.
Host Trevor Noah focused on donations instead of jokes. The show opened with “I Love L.A.” by Dawes, with stars like John Legend joining. It was a night for LA, before “Not Like Us” won big.
4. The newcomers got a chance to shine — especially Chappell Roan.
2024 was a big year for music, with stars like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar making huge records. But the real story was the rise of new artists. Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and three newcomers—Benson Boone, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims—each had a hit song. Doechii, RAYE, and Khruangbin also made waves as best new artists.
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Everyone got a chance to shine at the Grammys, except Khruangbin. Carpenter dazzled with “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Boone showed off his skills with “Beautiful Things.” Swims and Shaboozey performed “Lose Control” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” for the umpteenth time.
RAYE, despite not winning, stole the show with “Oscar Winning Tears.” It’s no surprise she could win dozens of Grammys in the future.
Roan’s performance of “Pink Pony Club” was a highlight. Winning best new artist, she called for better support for new artists. She wants more healthcare and mental health support for them.
Oh, and let’s not forget the other best new artist nominee…
5. Doechii may have had the biggest night of all.
She didn’t win best new artist, but she’s set for a big rise in streaming. Her performance of “Catfish” and “Denial Is a River” was amazing. Her victory speech was one of the night’s best.
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The Grammys don’t just give out awards; they also choose industry ambassadors. Doechii was incredible in her performance, gracious in victory, and ready to be a Grammy staple. Don’t miss her Tiny Desk concert.
6. Brat Summer rolled on. Charli xcx didn’t win the biggest prizes, but she did get her first three Grammys. She won best electronic/dance album, best dance pop recording, and best recording package.
Her performance was unforgettable, with a medley of “360” and “Guess.” It featured many guest stars and a surprise rain of undergarments. The unworn clothes were donated, as a chyron noted.
7. Quincy Jones received a lavish, lengthy tribute.
Quincy Jones was a giant in music, a 28-time Grammy-winner. He inspired a tribute that honored his impact. Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and others performed a medley that celebrated his career.
8. The Weeknd returned to the fold, but Lady Gaga had to buy airtime.
When his album After Hours didn’t get any Grammy nominations in 2021, The Weeknd decided to boycott the Grammys. He refused to submit his music for consideration. Yet, he has appeared on Grammy-winning tracks by others and hasn’t performed or attended the Grammys since.
This year, he surprised everyone by performing at the Grammys. He sang “Cry for Me” and “Timeless (feat. Playboi Carti)” after Harvey Mason Jr. introduced him. It seemed like a way to promote his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, released just two days before.
Lady Gaga also made a surprise appearance. She performed with Bruno Mars but didn’t promote their duet “Die With a Smile.” Instead, she used commercial airtime to premiere her new single “Abracadabra.” It might have been cheaper to boycott the Grammys first.
The Premiere Ceremony had its moments, too.
The main Grammy telecast gave out only nine awards. This meant 85 awards were given out in a long, four-hour ceremony earlier in the day. It was a chance to see Jimmy Carter win his fourth Grammy.
You can find the full list of winners online. But sentimental favorites include Tank and the Bangas and Gojira. Tank and the Bangas won as Tiny Desk Contest winners. Gojira, known for their performance at the Olympics, won best metal performance.
Alas, someone had to be shut out.
In 2020, Billie Eilish swept the big four categories, winning nine Grammys. But this year, she went 0-for-7. Taylor Swift, with 14 Grammys, also had a tough night, going 0-for-6.
Despite her losses, Swift seemed to enjoy the night. She danced and cheered, showing no signs of leaving the spotlight. She’ll be cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl, too.
