A Night of Highlights – Grammy Awards Recap

Amy Valentine

Online Editor

On Sunday, February 2nd, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, the ceremony was filled with various performances and awards celebrating the achievements within the music industry. However, the star-studded night also carried great importance in raising awareness for relief efforts due to the devastating wildfires that took place in Los Angeles last month.

The event kicked off with a touching tribute to Los Angeles first responders with a performance of the song “I Love L.A.” The performance included multiple artists, such as John Legend and Sheryl Crow. Throughout the night, there were multiple calls towards viewers to donate money towards the fire relief efforts. Due to the broadcast of the awards ceremony, over $9 million was raised the same night.

A notable part of the night was when Sabrina Carpenter performed a medley of two of her biggest hits of 2024, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” The glamorous performance had a comedic tone, with Carpenter having intentional errors throughout. The singer won the “Best Pop Vocal” award for her album Short n Sweet, making it her first time winning a Grammy award.

Rap artist Doechii also won her first Grammy during the event for “Best Rap Album” with Alligator Bites Never Heal. The artist delivered an impactful acceptance speech, stating, “I know that there are so many Black women out there watching me right now, and I just want to say you can do it. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you…I am a testimony.” Doechii also performed “Denial is a River,” one of her biggest hits within the album.

Chappell Roan performed an electrifying rendition of her hit, “Pink Pony Club.” The singer also won “Best New Artist,” and used her acceptance speech to bring attention to an important cause. During her speech, Roan urged record label companies to provide livable wages and health insurance, citing her own personal struggles regarding the matter. “If my label would have prioritized artists’ health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to,” she said.

Honoree Alicia Keys was awarded the “Global Impact Award.” Keys thanked the multiple woman artists that paved the way for her to be honored with the award, but also drew attention to her views regarding President Trump’s efforts to go against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift,” she stated. “The more voices, the more powerful the sound.”

The late Quincy Jones was also paid tribute to at the ceremony. Jones made a huge impact on the music industry, winning 28 Grammy awards throughout his long and influential career. Wicked star Cynthia Erivo and Herbie Hancock performed “Fly Me to the Moon” in his honor, receiving a standing ovation. Several artists were joined onstage by high school choir singers impacted by the wildfires to perform “We Are the World,” which was produced by Jones.

Kendrick Lamarr also had a successful night with multiple wins. The rapper won “Song of the Year” for “Not Like Us,” a diss track towards fellow rapper Drake. The song also won in five different categories altogether, making it the most awarded rap song in the history of the Grammys.

Beyoncé received one of the biggest awards of the night, winning “Album of the Year” for Cowboy Carter. This is Beyoncé’s first time winning in the category, and has also become the first Black woman to win the award in the 21st century. With two other wins for “Best Country Album” and “Best Country Duo/Group Performance,” the singer now has been awarded 35 Grammy awards, continuing her title as being the most awarded artist in Grammy history.