Grammys 2025: Kendrick Lamar’s big victory, Taylor Swift snub and other highlights

One of the biggest criticisms levelled at the Grammys in the last decade has been that Beyonce, ironically the American awards show’s most decorated artiste, had never won its biggest prize – Album of the Year.

All that changed at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards that was broadcast and streamed live from Los Angeles, US, on Feb 2 (Feb 3, Singapore time).

The American pop diva finally won the coveted trophy

for her eighth album Cowboy Carter (2024), after being famously snubbed for her previous releases I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), Beyonce (2013), Lemonade (2016) and Renaissance (2022).

Like its predecessors, Cowboy Carter – boasting a career-first melange of country, soul and pop – has not only been widely acclaimed by critics for its depth and strong concepts, but is

also a certified commercial hit

that charted worldwide.

“I just feel full and very honoured,” Beyonce said after accepting the final accolade of the night with her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, onstage with her, and husband, rap mogul Jay-Z in the audience. “It’s been many, many years.”

She added: “I would love to tell you that this is the best moment in my life. But I feel this happy when I finish a song, or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love, or when I’m shot listing a music video, or when I’m rehearsing with my dancers or my band, or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show.”

The camera cut to the star-studded audience gathered at the Crypto.com Arena and fellow music superstars such as Lady Gaga, who were in tears, an indication of the impact of the long-awaited coronation.

Going up against strong contenders that included Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department and Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft, Beyonce’s 2025 victory was hard fought.

The Texas-born 43-year-old went into Grammys 2025 with the most nominations – 11 – and won three, including Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for II Most Wanted, a song from the album that features American singer Miley Cyrus.

Here are four other highlights from the 3½-hour telecast.

Kendrick Lamar’s big night

A much publicised rap feud helped American rapper Kendrick Lamar become the biggest winner of the night. The 37-year-old scooped up five awards, including the twin biggies Record of the Year and Song of the Year, for Not Like Us.

Released in May 2024 as a diss track to Canadian hip-hop star Drake, it has been praised for its scathing and incisive rhymes and infectious energy. It also won Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video.

Lamar and Drake had been embroiled in a high-profile spat in the past months, with both parties releasing songs that lyrically attack each other’s character – alleging, among others, domestic abuse and sexual predation.

Another Lamar diss track, Like That, with rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin, was also nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, but did not win.

Lamar’s Grammy triumph cements his status as one of hip-hop’s most lauded artistes. He is, after all, the only rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018 for his 2017 album Damn.

Rise of the ‘pop girlies’

Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan – the young and rising female artistes dominating pop culture in the past year – nabbed their first Grammys. It is a sign that Grammy organiser The Recording Academy, which has been criticised for ignoring contemporary pop, is becoming more in tune with the zeitgeist.

British singer Charli XCX took home three prizes from her seven nominations, including Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package for her sixth album Brat (2024). She also won Best Dance Pop Recording for the album’s lead single, Von Dutch.

American starlet Carpenter’s song of the summer earworm Espresso won Best Pop Solo Performance, while the album it is from, Short N’ Sweet, won Best Pop Vocal Album.

American performer Roan, who rose to fame through viral songs and her theatrical live performances, won Best New Artist, beating Carpenter and up-and-coming American rapper Doechii, who took home Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024).

In a move that drew applause, Roan used her thank-you speech to call out record companies that make “millions” from artistes but fail to provide basic benefits such as healthcare.

The trio also put on show-stopping performances at the ceremony, from Carpenter’s show tunes-inspired medley to Roan’s huge pink pony prop to Charli XCX’s basement rave blowout.

Snubs for Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Post Malone

The 2025 Grammys will also be remembered as the one where some of its biggest nominees, who are also pop’s biggest stars, went home empty-handed.

Taylor Swift, long a Grammy favourite and certified pop phenomenon, did not win any of her six nominations, including Album of the Year for The Tortured Poets Department. It was quite a contrast to the previous year, when she made history as the first artiste to win Album of the Year four times, after Midnights (2022) picked up the prize.

The American pop queen’s only moment in the spotlight was when she went on stage to present Best Country Album to Beyonce, who looked momentarily stunned when the results were announced.

American singer Eilish had seven nominations – including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for Birds Of A Feather, a track from Hit Me Hard And Soft – but lost in all the categories.

Genre-bending American singer Post Malone had eight nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Music Video for Fortnight, his collaboration with Swift. But he has yet to win his first Grammy, despite having been in the running several times since 2019.

The spectre of the Californian wildfires loomed large

The Southern California wildfires that have destroyed more than 16,000 homes and businesses loomed large over the ceremony. After all, the Grammys took place in Los Angeles, where neighbourhoods have been reduced to ash. The city is also home to multiple musicians, including the stars in attendance.

Grammys host Trevor Noah made regular appeals for donations for the residents affected, as well as the first responders who battled the blaze. He also acknowledged the corporations that have donated and announced that at least US$7 million (S$9.6 million) has been collected.

Many of the artistes used their time on the podium, as well as their performances, to pay tribute and offer encouragement to Los Angeles.

The opening act featured American folk rock band Dawes, comprising brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, whose homes were destroyed by the fires. Backed by stars such as John Legend and Sheryl Crow, they belted out the Randy Newman classic I Love LA (1983).

Instead of their hit duet Die With A Smile, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga performed a stripped-down version of The Mamas & The Papas’ 1965 staple California Dreamin’.

And in place of an A-list musician, it was a group of Los Angeles firefighters who went up on stage to read out the nominations and present Album of the Year.

While there was talk of cancelling the ceremony out of respect for victims of the tragedy, The Recording Academy decided to go ahead, highlighting the show’s impact on the local economy as well as music’s potential to inspire and heal.

Grammys 2025: Main list of winners

Album of the Year: Beyonce – Cowboy Carter

Song of the Year: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Record of the Year: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Best New Artist: Chappell Roan

Best Pop Vocal Album: Sabrina Carpenter – Short N’ Sweet

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile

Best Country Album: Beyonce – Cowboy Carter

Best Rap Album: Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal

Best Pop Solo Performance: Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso

Best Dance/Electronic Album: Charli XCX – Brat

Best Rock Performance: The Beatles – Now And Then

Best Rock Album: The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds