Every award season comes and goes with its usual cast of characters—rude reporters, Kanye West being outrageously himself, Grammy sweethearts sweeping the board—and this year was no different. But there was something about the 67th Annual Grammy Awards that felt… different.
Maybe it was The Weeknd’s surprise performance, marking the end of his two-year boycott. Maybe it was the noticeable absence of Drake, the industry’s biggest critic of the Grammys. Or maybe it was the fact that for once, women truly had their moment in the spotlight.
It’s almost like the music industry is healing. Almost.
Biggest Grammy Moments of 2025
1. Beyoncé Finally Wins Album of the Year
After four previous losses, Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. She also made history as the first Black woman to win Best Country Album. Many saw this as the Recording Academy finally correcting past snubs, but either way, it was a moment long overdue. She remains the most decorated Grammy artist ever, increasing her record by three wins this year.
2. Tems Wins Best African Performance
Tems secured her second Grammy, winning Best African Performance for Love Me Jeje. She beat out major African stars like Burna Boy, Asake, and Yemi Alade to take home the first-ever award in this category. This solidifies her as one of Africa’s biggest global stars, following her 2023 Grammy win for her work on Future & Drake’s Wait For U.
3. Kendrick Lamar Might just be the Ultimate Troll
Kendrick Lamar won Record and Song of the Year for Not Like Us. This marks just the second time a rap song has won both categories, after Childish Gambino’s This Is America in 2019. Perhaps the biggest win was getting Taylor Swift, Diana Ross, Billie Eilish and a room full of Drake’s peers to sing along to the chart-topping hit.
Viewers were also quick to point out his peculiar outfit – a denim on denim ensemble usually referred to as a Canadian tuxedo which might have been one more jab at his Canadian enemy.
4. Doechii Makes Rap History
2024 was a great year for TDE artists and this was cemented when Doechii, the only female rapper of the (mainly) rap record label, became the third woman ever to win Best Rap Album, joining Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. She called out “To every Black girl watching—don’t let anyone project stereotypes onto you. You are exactly who you need to be.” Later, she delivered a high-energy Best New Artist performance that had Jay-Z, Billie Eilish, and SZA visibly impressed.
5. Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish Snubbed
Speaking of Billie Eilish, her and fellow grammy-darling Taylor Swift, left without a single win. Billie Eilish was nominated for her hit What Was I Made For?, and Taylor boasted seven nominations. While fans were upset, Swift didn’t seem to mind supporting every performance like a true music lover.
https://x.com/complexmusic/status/1886280247647273233?s=46
6. Trevor Noah Kept Killing the Vibes
Five time host of the grammys just couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room. It however seemed that everyone was tired of the elephant in the room. The year already had a rough start and many viewers called out his deadpan, unnecessary jokes. He repeatedly pointed out how “quiet” the night felt not to mention what some people are describing as inappropriate comments regarding the immigration crisis while talking about Shakira.
Even Doechii agreed with fans pointing out a clip where she is seen rolling her eyes while Noah happily tells his joke beside her.
7. The Weeknd Ends His Grammy Boycott (but was it worth it?)
After two years of boycotting the Grammys, The Weeknd made a surprise return with a performance of Timeless. While his return was meant to symbolize a mended relationship with the Academy, his performance felt awkwardly out of place compared to the night’s high-energy moments. It also felt too convenient with the release of his album just a day before.
8. Kanye West’s Controversial Return Sparks Confusion
Kanye West made a dramatic return to the Grammys, walking the red carpet alongside his wife, Bianca Censori, whose see-through slip dress left her completely nude for cameras. The couple’s appearance caused an immediate stir.
Shortly after their red carpet moment, West and Censori disappeared, leading to online rumors that they had been kicked out of the event. A source close to the Grammys denied this, stating that Kanye “walked the carpet, got in his car, and left.” Despite his 2022 career implosion following antisemitic remarks, West still managed a comeback in 2024 with Carnival, which was nominated for Best Rap Song, but West did not attend the ceremony itself.
9. Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, and Diana Ross Take a Stand
Without mentioning Trump by name, some of the biggest artists at the Grammys made powerful political statements. Lady Gaga fiercely defended trans rights and the LGBTQ+ community while Diana Ross spoke about hope for children who may feel scared in today’s climate. Even Shakira during her acceptance speech for Latin Album of the year spoke about her immigrant brothers and sisters.
10. Babyface Snubbed for Chappell Roan
In a cringe-worthy red carpet moment, Associated Press reporters cut off Babyface mid-sentence to interview Chappell Roan. Fans called out the interviewers for being disrespectful to a music legend, though Babyface handled it with grace. This continuous pattern of rude reporters in the entertainment industry needs to change.
So, are the Grammys finally getting it right?
The 67th Grammys had its highs and lows, but one thing is clear: Women dominated in the right way, Africa was represented and so much history was made.
While the night wasn’t entirely without controversy, there’s a sense that the industry is shifting—maybe for the better.
Now, let’s see if they can keep this momentum going next year.
Here is a full list of nominees and winners.
