Grammys 2025 highlights: Winners and performances as Beyoncé takes home Album of the Year award with Cowboy Carter
Kanye West raised eyebrows as he and wife Bianca Censori turned up in controversial outfit
The biggest night in music took place on Sunday (February 2). The 2025 Grammy Awards took centre stage at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, as the world’s biggest stars in pop, rock, and hip-hop gathered for a night of celebration and show-stopping performances.
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter led a star-studded list of nominees, while comedian Trevor Noah returned to host for the fifth consecutive year.
Winners included The Beatles, Charli XCX, Carpenter and Lamar, with Beyoncé making history as the first Black woman to win Best Country Album. Kendrick Lamar took home Record of the Year for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us”.
Meanwhile, The Weeknd made a dramatic return after boycotting the ceremony over perceived “snubs” of his music, as he performed tracks from his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.
This year’s ceremony takes place against the backdrop of devastating wildfires that have torn through California in recent weeks. In response, the Recording Academy has pledged to use the event to support local relief efforts, ensuring that music’s biggest stage also serves as a platform for solidarity.
Meanwhile, Kanye West managed to cause controversy amid reports he was “escorted out” of the ceremony after turning up with his wife, Bianca Censori.
Follow live updates below:
From Beyoncé to Kendrick, the 2025 Grammy Awards were one long apology to snubbed artists
The Grammys had quite a bit to be sorry about when it came to recognising and celebrating diversity. In 2025, they decided to make up with the best artists in the world before it was too late, writes Hannah Ewens.
This year’s Grammys felt like one big apology to the artists they snub
Lady Gaga sends powerful message to trans community during Grammys speech
Lady Gaga used her acceptance speech at the 2025 Grammy Awards to express her support for the transgender community after Trump issued new executive orders rolling back transgender rights.
In his first week as President, Trump rolled back a number of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives and reinstated policy to restrict transgender military service.
Gaga took to the stage at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles after winning the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance accolade for her collaboration with Bruno Mars on “Die With A Smile”.
Accepting the award, the singer said: “It is a privilege to be a songwriter and a producer, a musician, such an honour to sing for all of you.
“And I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love. Thank you.”
Lady Gaga sends powerful message to trans community during Grammys speech
Charli XCX fans call wild Grammys performance the ‘best ever’
Charli XCX fans have praised the pop star for her uninhibited performance at the Grammy Awards following her victory in three categories during the ceremony.
The singer threw a huge party onstage as she danced with her friends Alex Consani and Julia Fox during a performance of her hit songs “Von Dutch” and “Guess”.
She began the performance outside the venue as she exited a black SUV – printed with “XCX” printed on the number plate – while wearing a black fur coat over denim two-piece, paired with black high heels and a pair of sunglasses. She was joined by an entourage of partygoers who followed her as she strutted into the Crypto.com Arena and stripped off her coat.
The “Girl, so confusing” singer was surrounded by dozens of dancers who recreated a club scene while kissing each other and grinding on the floor. Hundreds of pairs of underwear were then dropped from the ceiling like confetti – a reference to the song “Guess”, which includes the line “You wanna guess the colour of my underwear”.
During the performance, a note on-screen read: “All unworn garments featured in Charli XCX’s #GRAMMYs performance will be donated to domestic violence survivors.”
Charli XCX fans call wild Grammys performance the ‘best ever’
Grammys 2025 winners: Complete list as Beyoncé takes home Album of the Year
Kendrick Lamar has been one of the big winners at this year’s Grammy Awards, taking home Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us.”
Elsewhere, Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year, as well as Best Country Album, for her latest record Cowboy Carter. She went into the night with 11 nominations, making her the most nominated artist of all time, with a total of 99 nominations throughout her career. She was previously tied with her husband, Jay-Z, at 88.
Grammys 2025 winners: See the full list
Benson Boone: Who is the backflipping, crotch-grabbing star at the Grammys?
Benson Boone who wowed the Grammys crowd and viewers at home with his performance on Sunday, while also demonstrating some acrobatic flair.
The 22-year-old singer-songwriter made his Grammy debut on Sunday at the Los Angeles Crypto.com arena.
He made a show-stopping appearance, stripping down from his formal suit into shimmering blue Seventies-style skintight bodysuit featuring a plunging neckline.
Audience members Heidi Klum and Nikki Glaser assisted Boone with the outfit change, each grabbing one jacket sleeve to rip the suit in half.
Who is Benson Boon? The backflipping, crotch-grabbing showstopper at the Grammys
Why Kanye West and Bianca Censori pulled off shocking ‘nude’ stunt at the Grammys
Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s nudity stunt at the Grammys has caused uproar and confusion with fans calling for the couple to be arrested for “indecent exposure”.
Maira Butt looks back at the couple’s controversial history with revealing outfits and why they were attempting with Sunday’s headling grabbing moment.
Why Kanye West and Bianca Censori pulled off shocking ‘nude’ stunt at the Grammys
The biggest artists snubbed at the Grammys 2025: From Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish
Although the Grammys were a triumphant night for the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce, some of the biggest names in music left the awards empty-handed.
We’ve compiled all the biggest names that lost out on Sunday from Taylor Swift to Post Malone.
The biggest artists snubbed at the Grammys 2025: From Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish
The Beatles and Rolling Stones win big at Grammys – 60 years after their first gong
When it was ‘64, The Beatles won their first ever Grammy. Now, more than half a century later the band secured what will likely be their last.
The Liverpudlian whippersnappers earned their first Grammy 61 years ago during the height of Beatlemania, nabbing both Best New Artist and Best Performance by a Vocal Group for their third studio album A Hard Day’s Night.
In 2025, the group are continuing to add to their impressive trophy case after winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for their last remaining song, “Now and Then”, during Sunday night’s Grammy Awards ceremony.
The Beatles weren’t the only rock ’n’ roll legends represented at the Grammys. Their long-time rivals Rolling Stones also added to their mountainous collection at this year’s ceremony, winning Best Rock Album for Hackney Diamonds – their first album of new material since A Bigger Bang was released 18 years prior, and their first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.
The Beatles and Rolling Stones win big at Grammys – 60 years after their first gong
Blue Ivy and Jay-Z celebrate Beyoncé's Album of the Year win at Grammy Awards 2025
The Crazy In Love singer made history as she won her first ever award for Album of the Year, for her country-influenced album Cowboy Carter, at the star-studded ceremony in LA.
As Beyoncé’s name was announced, both Blue Ivy and Jay-Z jumped to their feet, with the superstar’s daughter embracing her mother.
The singer then took to the stage to give her acceptance speech and praising the firefighters who tackled the LA wildfires.
She said: “I feel very full and honoured, it’s been many, many years.”
Grammy's host Trevor Noah aims dig at Trump: ‘This may be the last time I get to host anything’
Grammys host Trevor Noah made several digs at Donald Trump during Sunday night’s ceremony, joking “this may be my last time I get to host anything in this country”.
The South African comedian noted how the Grammy winners are determined after a vote of 13,000 members of the Recording Academy and also joked that the vote included “20 million illegal immigrants”.
The 40-year-old later said: “There’s been a few changes in Washington. So I’m gonna enjoy tonight because this may be the last time I get to host anything in this country.”
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