The 2025 Grammy Awards blend celebration with charity, honouring those affected by devastating fires.

The 2025 Grammy Awards were a unique blend of celebration and solidarity as Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar took centre stage, while the ceremony also raised funds and paid tribute to the victims of the California wildfires.

Beyoncé triumphed in the night’s most prestigious category, winning her first Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. The award, presented by the Los Angeles fire department, was one of many nods to the people affected by the wildfires, which had a significant impact on the ceremony’s tone. The event, held at the Crypto.com Arena in LA, honoured those battling the aftermath of one of the state’s most catastrophic natural disasters.

Beyoncé’s win was historic. She became just the fourth Black woman to take home this coveted award. “It’s been many, many years,” she said, overwhelmed by the reception. She also claimed Best Country Album, admitting to being “surprised” by the recognition. In her acceptance speech, she challenged artists to embrace their true passions despite genre constraints, stating, “Sometimes genre is a codeword to keep us in our place.” Beyoncé, alongside Miley Cyrus, also won Best Country Duo Performance, marking another milestone as the first Black woman to win a country Grammy in 50 years.

Kendrick Lamar also had a remarkable night, winning five awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for his controversial Drake diss track “Not Like Us.” The rapper, who is set to perform at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, dedicated his victories to the city, reflecting the spirit of resilience seen in Los Angeles.

This year’s ceremony saw a strong showing from female artists. Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Doechii, and Chappell Roan all took home major awards. Roan, the winner of Best New Artist, used her speech to advocate for a livable wage and healthcare for emerging musicians, recounting her own struggles in the early days of her career.

Charli XCX collected three awards in the pop categories, though Sabrina Carpenter triumphed in both Pop Solo Performance and Pop Vocal Album. Doechii made history as only the third woman to win Best Rap Album. Other notable female winners included SZA, who took home Best R&B Song for “Saturn,” and Kacey Musgraves, who was honoured with Best Country Song for “The Architect.”

The night also saw posthumous recognition for figures like Jimmy Carter in the audiobook category, while other controversial choices included Dave Chappelle winning Best Comedy Album and Chris Brown claiming Best R&B Album.

Host Trevor Noah began the evening acknowledging the “unusual” circumstances surrounding this year’s ceremony, describing it as a time to honour the resilience of those affected by the wildfires. He introduced Dawes, a band that lost homes and instruments in the disaster but has since worked to raise funds for other affected families. The show also featured performances from John Legend, Sheryl Crow, and St Vincent, all contributing to a poignant tribute to Los Angeles.

Throughout the night, Noah encouraged viewers to support fire relief efforts via a QR code and highlighted the contributions of local businesses impacted by the fires. Amazon Music, CBS, and Mastercard were among the major donors for the cause.

In one of the evening’s most emotional moments, Diana Ross presented the Song of the Year award, reminding everyone of the collective power to rebuild and show compassion. The ceremony also featured performances by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, who performed “California Dreamin’” before winning Best Pop Duo Performance for “Die with a Smile.”

A notable moment also included Alicia Keys receiving the Dr Dre Global Impact Award, where she spoke passionately about diversity in music. She stressed that female producers have always powered the industry and that the diversity of voices must be preserved.

Other performances included Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and a surprise appearance by The Weeknd, who made a comeback after his previous boycott of the Grammys. His performance was introduced by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who highlighted structural changes that helped bring The Weeknd back into the fold.

The evening also featured a tribute to Quincy Jones, who passed away last year. Will Smith, making his first major appearance since the infamous Oscars incident, called Jones one of the most influential figures in music. The tribute performance featured icons like Janelle Monae, Herbie Hancock, Cynthia Erivo, and Stevie Wonder, who led a moving rendition of “We Are the World.”

The In Memoriam section also paid homage to stars like Liam Payne, Kris Kristofferson, and Marianne Faithfull. Despite six nominations, Taylor Swift left the ceremony empty-handed, while other artists such as Shaboozey, Post Malone, and Billie Eilish also went without awards.

This year’s Grammys not only celebrated outstanding music but also showed the industry’s collective strength in the face of adversity, ensuring that the spirit of Los Angeles and its people remained a central theme throughout the night.