On Feb. 1, 2026, the 68th annual Grammy Awards shook the music scene. With newly debuting artists being recognized for the first time, and long-established musicians receiving another spotlight, this ceremony was truly one for the history books.
As the eyes of the internet were focused on his drama with Drake, 2025 was the year of Kendrick Lamar. He was praised for the release of his 2025 album, GNX and the standout performance at last year’s Super Bowl halftime show. As such, it was no surprise to anyone that he took the Grammys by storm. This hip-hop legend took home five separate awards. Including Best Rap Album (GNX), Record of the Year ("Luther" with SZA), Best Rap Song ("TV Off"), and Best Melodic Rap Performance ("Luther"). His song beat big names like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan in the category of Record of the Year.
When accepting his award for Best Album, Kendrick noted the significance of hip-hop in our culture and as a lasting tradition.
“Every time I tell you this, hip-hop going to always be right here…we are going to have the culture with us,” Lamar said.
The Grammys did not stop the hip-hop hype, with Tyler, the Creator brilliantly performing his songs, “Thought I was Dead” and “Sugar on My Tongue” after he had won an award for Best Album Cover. These two songs notably came from each of the two different albums he dropped during 2025. The flashy red costume and the intricate sets (including a moving Ferrari F40 and a Gas station) were entertaining and engaging. The performance concluded with a pyrotechnic show as he exploded the gas station.
As far as one of the most prestigious awards goes, winning Album of the Year for the first time ever was Bad Bunny with his LP, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” This album has an estimated 36.95 million streams and became the first all-Spanish album to win this award. This Grammy provided fuel for the Bad Bunny hype as he recently performed for the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime show. During both events, the artist sought to share his positive message, saying that the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
Later in the night, hip-hop country sensation Post Malone performed a cover of the iconic Black Sabbath anthem, War Pigs, in honor of the recently deceased Ozzy Osbourne. Guns and Roses’ Slash and Red-Hot Chili Peppers’ Chadd Smith joined him.
Claiming victory in the film sector was the soundtrack of Sinners, with its unique blend of folk, soul, and rock, headed by Nikki Sherrod, winning the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Meanwhile, musical theatre triumphed in the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Cynthio Erivo and Ariana Grande covering the classic Broadway song “Defying Gravity.”
With so many fresh and talented voices emerging in the music world, it was a tall order to pick Best New Artist. However, Olivia Dean took home the award, beating out singers like Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren and The Marias. She showed this talent off with her breathtaking performance of her song, “Be the Man I Need[AB1] .”
With new voices like Olivia Dean and the other nominees, music enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to in the 69th annual Grammy Awards. All of the results of this year's Grammys can be found on their website.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons
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