Highlights from the 2026 Grammy Awards
By Andrew Hutchinson · Staff Writer
Last Sunday, the Grammy Awards gathered celebrities and entertainers to celebrate noteworthy, popular and occasionally questionable music and music-adjacent releases over the past year.
Music’s biggest night came and went, with wins both expected and surprising, stunning performances and a thick atmosphere of politics. From the red carpet to the afterparties, the Grammys showcased the world of entertainment, stretching from the 2026 Best New Artist to remembering great musical artists who passed in the last year.
The awards this year came with far less controversy than past years, specifically Beyoncé’s wins in Country Album of the Year and Album of the Year with “Cowboy Carter.” The choice for AOTY was seen as a snub to Billie Eilish’s hugely successful “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and many country fans were dismayed that the category was won by a predominantly pop-filled album. This year’s main wins included Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” winning Album of the Year and Latin Album of the Year, Eilish’s “Wildflower” as Song of the Year, “Luther” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar for Record of the Year and Olivia Dean winning Best New Artist.
None of these were particularly surprising, as the top few choices in each category were remarkably strong, though the dearth of wins for Sabrina Carpenter’s album “Man’s Best Friend” was somewhat surprising. It remains my belief that the song “Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters” did not deserve any wins, and Billie winning Song of the Year was an admission of wrongdoing last year.
As always, the stage at the Grammys hosted the year’s hottest artists for a number of live performances, and this year’s collection was especially strong. Bruno Mars performed his new lead single “I Just Might” for the first time, and his effortless vocals and 70s-inspired choreography left zero room for improvement. Lady Gaga demonstrated her incredible voice in a re-harmonized version of “Abracadabra,” dressed as the cage from her Mayhem tour, and the best new artists performances were excellent.
Lola Young’s “Messy” was impassioned, Addison Rae channeled Britney Spears in her opening performance and despite some technical issues, Alex Warren performed the Tik Tok-famous “Ordinary” with an impressive level of performing maturity. However, two performances made the largest impact.
First, Best New Artist nominee Sombr sang his song “12 to 12” in a performance remarkably evocative of the 70s and 80s rock scene, and despite losing the Grammy, Sombr made it clear he will remain a musical force in a genre that has mostly disappeared in the pop music world. The star of the performances, albeit divisive, was Justin Bieber who performed an acoustic version of “Yukon” in nothing but boxers and socks. However, despite some awkward moments that have led the internet to question Bieber’s mental state, his vocals were crisp and sultry and created a calm, pensive atmosphere during the flashy and chaotic ceremony.
As usual, politics were not hidden at a Hollywood celebration, and in light of the recent events in Minnesota, many singers and celebrities wore “ICE Out” pins. The anti-ICE sentiment was even more explicit in the speeches given, with Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny repeating the same, and Eilish stating in her acceptance speech: “Nobody is illegal on stolen land” and “F*** ICE.”
While some praise the activism, many conservatives have decried the statement, calling such acts “performative” and “out of touch.” Comedian Ricky Gervais also chimed in, calling out political statements as useless, especially coming from individuals who live life in a protected, money and power-filled circle of influence. Whether one sees the actions as ridiculous and “woke” or is glad to see those with a platform using it for good, the constant emphasis on political views creates very strong emotions around the various awards.
With the biggest night in music passed, listeners can look forward to notable summer releases to see where music will go in the upcoming year.
