Monday, February 3, 2025
If you’ve been stuck in an endless state of doomscrolling this year thus far, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards brought some musical joy to Sunday evening with rousing performances, fun moments and a show dominated (rightfully so!) by women.
Summer’s Pop Girls Bring Colorful Fun
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, who both dominated the charts last summer with hits like “Espresso” and “Hot to Go,” performed sets that were colorful and entertaining. Carpenter’s was a sampling of “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe or early Britney Spears. Carpenter even had Taylor Swift, who was attending the show in a Kansas City Chiefs red minidress, dancing to the music. Swifties of course will remember that Carpenter opened for Swift on multiple dates of her mega “Eras Tour.”
Chappell Roan performed her hit “Pink Pony Club,” partly on top of a gigantic pink pony while dancers gyrated around her in clown makeup. Roan performed the song as a tribute to Los Angeles.
Carpenter went on to win the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso” and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Short n’ Sweet.” Roan, whose elaborate costumes recall a young Lady Gaga, won the coveted Best New Artist Grammy. During her acceptance speech, she called out record labels for not paying developing artists a living wage, nor providing healthcare. Her words earned standing ovations from Swift and fellow best new artist nominee Benson Boone.
Beyoncé Finally Gets Album of the Year
Believe it or not, while Beyoncé has more Grammys than any other artist in history, until last night, she had yet to be awarded the Grammy for Album of the Year. She won for her genre-bending country album “Cowboy Carter,” which featured collaborations with Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and others. “Cowboy Carter” also took home the Best Country Album award.
We May Have a New Music Duo
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song “Die with a Smile.” During the telecast, the duo performed a hauntingly beautiful cover of “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas. Perhaps the two may record more music together?
Raising Awareness and Money to Help LA Wildfire Victims
Multiple artists performed in honor of Los Angeles and all the victims of the fires earlier this year. The band Dawes, made up of brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, performed along with Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard to open the show with Randy Newman’s “I Love LA.”
Host Trevor Noah mentioned donating for fire relief throughout the show, telling viewers to use a QR code on screen to donate. Toward the end of the show, he mentioned $7 million had been raised at that point.