Music icon Beyonce and rapper Kendrick Lamar won big at this year's 67th Grammy Awards which was held in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning (IST). After much speculation, Beyonce took home the covetous 'Album of the Year' award for her song 'Cowboy Carter'. This is her first win in the category, despite winning 32 career Grammys, more than any other musician. Andre 3000, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Jacob Collier, Billie Eilish, Chappel Roan, and Taylor Swift were in the race for the award along with Beyonce.

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Sabrina Carpenter performs at the Grammy Awards. Photo: X/ Recording Army

Kendrick Lamar took home the 'Record of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' for 'Not Like Us'. Kendrick was competing against Taylor Swift, Beyonce, The Beatles, Sabrina Carpenter, 360 Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish In the 'Record of the Year' category. The rapper also won an award for Best Music Video.

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Beyonce after receiving her award of the event for her song 'Cowboy Carter'. Photo: AF

The ceremony began with a performance by American folk rock band Dawes led by John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, and St Vincent to honor the resilience and supportive spirit of Los Angeles through a touching opening performance. The event is available for  streaming on Disney+Hotstar in India.

'Alligator Bites Never Heal' by Doechii won the Best Rap Album award, which was presented by Cardi B. With this, Doechii, who calls herself the Swamp Princess, has become the third woman to win the award, which was introduced in 1989. Sabrina Carpenter won her first Grammys, winning the Best Pop Vocal Album for 'Short n' Sweet'.

Columbian singer-songwriter Shakira won the Best Latin Pop Album for 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran'. She dedicated her win to the illegal immigrants who are currently facing the threat of deportation in the United States under the leadership of President Donald Trump. Charli XCX took home dance pop recording for 'Von Dutch,' dance electronic album for 'Brat' and best recording package.  Carpenter won for best pop solo performance for 'Espresso' and pop vocal album, while Roan was named best new artist. Carpenter also took home the Best Pop Vocal Album for 'Short n’ Sweet'. She was contending alongside Billie Eilish for 'Hit Me Hard and Soft', Ariana Grande’s 'Eternal Sunshine', 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' by Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift’s 'The Tortured Poets Department.'

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Cynthia Erivo and Herbie Hancock perform a song in honour of Quincy Jones. Photo: X/ Recording Academy

Power-packed performances
Grammy award nominees Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter delivered some memorable performances in their signature styles at the event. American singer-songwriter Chappel Roan, who was introduced by Olivia Rodrigo, gave an electric performance at the event. Her soulful and energetic rendition received a standing ovation at the Grammys. She also took home the Best New Artist award this year. Her powerful appeal to music labels to take care of their artists resonated with the scores of musicians and artists at the ceremony who stood up to give her yet another standing ovation. Beyonce who received 11 Grammy nominations this year, won her first award at the event in the 'Best Country Album' category for 'Cowboy Carter'. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won the Best Pop Duo accolade for their album 'Die With a Smile'. Beyonce and Miley Cyrus won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo or group performance on Sunday in one of the first honors handed out at the highest accolades in the music business. The pair won the trophy for 'II Most Wanted,' a song on Beyonce's album 'Cowboy Carter,' during a non-televised ceremony ahead of the primetime show. 

Will Smith paid special tribute to his longtime mentor and Fresh Prince of Bel Air producer Quincy Jones at the event, while Cynthia Ero and Herbie Hancock honoured the late musician with a song from Quincy Jones' albums.

The red-carpet event is also acknowledging the deadly wildfires that scarred a hub of the industry. Comedian Trevor Noah who is hosting the event took a friendly dig at Will Smith and the future of AI, among others.

Pre-telecast awards

Best Pop Solo Performance
'Espresso,' Sabrina Carpenter
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
'Neverender,' Justice and Tame Impala
Best Pop Dance Recording
'Von dutch,' Charli xcx
Best Rap Song
'
Not Like Us,' Kendrick Lamar, songwriter (Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Performance
'Not Like Us,' Kendrick Lamar
Best Melodic Rap Performance
'3' Rapsody featuring Erykah Badu
Best R&B Performance
'Made For Me (Live on BET).' Muni Long

Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, and Teddy Swims - all nominees in a competitive best new artist field - were among the night's scheduled performers. "I think this rookie class is one of the best rookie classes ever," genre-blending artist Swims told Reuters on the Grammys red carpet. "I'm just so honored."

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Shakira at the Grammy Awards. Photo: AFP

FUNDRAISING FOR LA WILDFIRES

The event was part an awards show and part fundraiser for people affected by the LA wildfires. Hundreds of musicians were among the thousands of Angelenos who lost homes in the disaster.

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Taylor Swift turned heads as she arrived at the venue of the 67th Grammy Awards 2025. Photo: AFP/ Neilson Barnard

As per Reuters, Singer Sheryl Crow said she supported the decision of Grammy organisers to go ahead with the ceremony with the added mission of raising recovery funds.

"People are going to feel like they are filled with purpose and not just picking up awards," she told Reuters on the red carpet. The major question for the awards was whether Beyonce would finally land the top prize.

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Tems receives the Best African Music Performance award for 'Love Me JeJe' during the premiere ceremony of the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

At last year's Grammys, Beyonce's husband and rapper Jay-Z argued that voters had not given proper recognition to Black artists including his wife. Grammy winners are chosen by the 13,000 singers, songwriters, producers, engineers and others who make up the Recording Academy.

'Cowboy Carter' was viewed by experts and fans as a reclamation and homage to an overlooked legacy of Black Americans within country music and culture. It became the first album by a Black woman to land at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart when it was released last spring

However, voters for the Country Music Awards snubbed the Beyonce album in their September nominations. The 'Cowboy Carter' nomination is Beyonce's fifth entry in the album of the year category. Swift has won the honor a record four times, including last year for "Midnights."

Beyonce had led all Grammy nominees this year with 11 nods, followed by Eilish, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone with seven nominations each. Swift landed six nominations and presented one of the night's awards.