At the 68th Grammy Awards, music collided with politics, bold fashion statements, and major career moments.
Between the unpredictability of its segments and history-making wins, the Grammys once again showed how the show reflects the larger cultural zeitgeist. Music’s biggest night centered on what concerned the audience and who people were still talking about after the broadcast ended.
KICKING ICE
Several of the evening’s biggest names used the spotlight to take a clear stand against U.S. immigration enforcement. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and super-producer Jack Antonoff were among the artists who walked the carpet wearing “ICE OUT” pins, with some reiterating the message during acceptance speeches. The statements landed during a tense political upheaval in the U.S., transforming the awards show into a protest stage and drawing massive online attention throughout the night.
Showstoppers
Musically, the ceremony doubled down on live music spectacle. The night kicked off with pop star power as Rosé and Bruno Mars opened the broadcast with their chart-dominating single “APT,” setting an upbeat tone that carried through the early part of the night. The performance quickly trended worldwide, cementing the duo’s crossover draw across pop and K-pop audiences.
Moreover, British soul breakout Olivia Dean stole the show with a stripped-back performance that leaned on charm and voice over visual excess, earning one of the strongest crowd reactions of the evening. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tyler, The Creator delivered his signature high-concept chaos, complete with towering green CHROMAKOPIA set pieces and a surprise appearance from Academy Award-winning actress Regina King woven into one of the show’s cinematic performance segments.
Then came the internet’s favorite instance of chaos. Justin Bieber appeared in a literally a stripped down outfit (boxers), a guitar slung low, and an actual car as part of his stage setup. Social media split instantly between calling it iconic and calling it nonsense, turning Bieber’s look into one of the most debated Grammy visuals in years.
Bieber’s boxers, though, were no match for Chappell Roan, who arrived in a sheer red wine dress held together by jeweled nipple clasps. Last year’s Best New Artist Award-winner’s look dominated red carpet coverage before the ceremony even began.
Record Breakers
By the end of the night, history belonged to Kendrick Lamar, who officially became the most awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 awards, surpassing Jay-Z’s long-standing record of 25.
Bad Bunny also emerged as one of the evening’s biggest winners, taking home Best Musica Urbana Album and Album of the Year. His win for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS marks the first time a fully Spanish-language album has won a top prize in the Grammys’ 68-year history.
