By Isabelle King (Y12)
THE GRAMMYS, which are hosted every year, have finally rolled around for this one. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards concluded with a bunch of groundbreaking milestones. From the first-ever Spanish-language Album of the Year win to an EGOT crowning, here is your full recap of the night’s most memorable moments.
The Main Event: Bad Bunny Shatters the Glass Ceiling
The evening’s crowning achievement went to Bad Bunny, whose project Debí Tirar Más Fotos officially became the first all-Spanish album to win Album of the Year. The Puerto Rican superstar didn’t just win; he used the global stage to combat growing tensions in the US.
During an exchange, he was asked if he could move to Puerto Rico if things in the U.S. worsened, to which Bad Bunny replied by stating that, “Puerto Rico is part of America.” Later, while accepting his award for Best Música Urbana Album, he opened his speech with, “ICE out,” dedicating his win to the humanity of immigrants and emphasizing that “we are not savages.” This political stand aligns with his ongoing efforts to protect his fans, as the artist has prioritized hosting shows in Puerto Rico to ensure his audience remains safe from being targeted by immigration enforcement.
History in the Making
Kendrick Lamar did well in the technical categories, walking away with five trophies. His win for Record of the Year for “Luther” officially makes him the most-decorated rapper in Grammy history with 27 wins, surpassing Jay-Z.
The Cher Mishap: Cher took the stage to announce Lamar’s win, but misread the title and announced Luther Vandross as the winner, despite him being long deceased. Kendrick Lamar responded positively, though, and gave the R&B legend an ode.
Empowering the Studio: Lady Gaga had four wins, including Best Pop Vocal Album for Mayhem. In her speech, she urged women to fight for their creative autonomy as producers, reminding them to “make sure you are heard loudly.”
A Songwriter’s Streak: Billie Eilish and Finneas won Song of the Year for “Wildflower.” This marks their third victory in the category, a historic first for any songwriting duo.
The Performance Recap:
Olivia Dean’s vocals: Fresh off her win for Best New Artist, Olivia Dean impressed with a vocal performance that critics are calling the most stable of the night. With her jaw-dropping performance that truly showed her mastery of the art.
The Bieber Reveal: Justin Bieber delivered a raw, acoustic rendition of “Yukon” that many fans preferred over the studio cut. However, his choice of attire, performing in nothing but silk boxers and socks, made news. The look was reportedly a last-minute decision to showcase his brand, Skylrk.
Addison Rae’s frantic run off: Addison Rae performed on the back of a truck in the parking lot. While her vocals faced some “shaky” critiques, her high-energy choreography and cinematic ending, where she literally ran away from the camera after her set, became a highly laughable moment.
The unfortunate and the unlikely Winners
Sabrina Carpenter’s dilemma: In perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, Sabrina Carpenter left the ceremony empty-handed. Despite being highly rated this year and holding six nominations, she did not get a single award.
The EGOT Community: Director Steven Spielberg officially joined the elite EGOT ranks, winning a Grammy for Best Music Film for his documentary on John Williams.
K-Pop appearance: The genre hit a new high as “Golden” (from the film K-Pop Demon Hunters) became the first K-Pop track to win Best Song Written for Visual Media.
This year’s Grammys proved that the Academy is embracing a more global, politically vocal, and unpredictable musical landscape that will hopefully continue to evolve into a more accepting space. Whether you’re talking about Bad Bunny’s historic stand or Bieber’s lack of pants, the 68th Grammys were unforgettable.
Citations:
Rosenbloom, Alli. “What you missed at the 2026 Grammys: Politics, nudity and appearances by legends.” CNN, 2 February 2026, https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/02/entertainment/grammys-2026-bad-bunny-kendrick-cher-gaga. Accessed 9 February 2026.