After an epic year in music came to an end, the 2025 Grammy Awards were held on the third of February 2025. It was an eventful night, with some unexpected appearances and tight competition for the awards.

Here's a breakdown of what happened, plus a list of winners of the major categories.

Kanye's Controversial Red Carpet Entry

Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is known to make waves on the internet with his eccentric and controversial comments. He made an unexpected appearance on the red carpet with his wife, Bianca Censori. Bianca was wearing a completely see-through dress, which stirred up controversy. They allegedly arrived with an entourage of 5, and it remains unclear whether they were asked to leave.

Ye was looking to win his 25th Grammy with "Carnival," a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, being nominated for Best Rap Song.

Photo by David Shankbone from Wikimedia Commons

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The Weeknd Ends Grammy Boycott with Surprise Performance

Nearly four years after boycotting the Grammys, music superstar The Weeknd performed at the 67th Grammy Awards. After his After Hours album with record-shattering songs like "Blinding Lights" and "Save Your Tears" was nominated for zero awards in 2021, he issued a statement talking about how the academy is responsible for maintaining transparency. He also alleged corruption and "secret committees" that blocked his work from being nominated.

Photo by Salandco from Wikimedia Commons

The Weeknd killed it on stage with Playboi Carti, performing songs like "Cry for Me" and "Timeless" from his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. The academy's CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., spoke about how the Grammys have begun to modernize, including adding more than 3,000 voting members and incorporating diversity.

The Winners

1. Album Of the Year

Beyoncé won the biggest award this year for her country album Cowboy Carter. This album also bagged the award for Best Country Album, presented to her by Taylor Swift. This marks her first win in the Album of the Year category. "It's been many, many years," Beyoncé said in her acceptance speech. She thanked the firefighters who presented her with the award "for keeping us safe," as well as her songwriters and collaborators on the album.

Photo by Philip Nelson on Wikimedia Commons

2. Song of the Year

Arguably the biggest track of the year, Kendrick Lamar took home the award with his diss track "Not Like Us." With the song's clever wordplay and catchy beats taking over social media and the internet, Kendrick has sealed his dominance over Drake, with whom he has had a longtime feud. This song also won Record of the Year, seizing two of the biggest awards of the night.

Not Like Us also won Best Music Video, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance, with appearances from Kendrick's partner Whitney Alford as well as his children in the music video. With 5 wins in huge categories, Not Like Us has cemented itself as the anthem of 2024.

3. Best New Artist

With tough competition from artists like Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims, Chappell Roan was declared the Best New Artist at the Grammys. Her hits like "Good Luck Babe" and "HOT TO GO!" from the 2024 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess have won listeners' hearts worldwide. In her acceptance speech, she spoke about how poorly record labels treat their artists, sharing her personal experiences and calling for change.

Photo by Jason Martin from Wikimedia Commons

4. Best Pop Solo Performance

Gen-Z superstar Sabrina Carpenter's hit single Espresso bagged the award for Best Pop Solo Performance. It was one of 2024's summer anthems, taking over social media worldwide. It also earned Carpenter her first number-one single on the Billboard Global 200 and has been certified Platinum or higher in fourteen countries.

Her album Short n' Sweet also won Best Pop Vocal Album. The album received widespread praise for Sabrina's vocals and songwriting, producing smashing hits like "Please Please Please," "Taste," and "Bed Chem." Sabrina has impressed us time and again and has left us wanting more!

5. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga rightfully won the Grammy for their huge success "Die With A Smile," a single from Lady Gaga's upcoming album Mayhem. With incredible vocals as well, wonderful songwriting and composition, this talented duo has won our hearts. It peaked at number one on Spotify and Apple Music and still remains in first place on the Today's Top Hits playlist on Spotify, even 5 months after its release.

Bruno Mars is currently Spotify's most streamed artist, with hits like Die With A Smile and APT. taking over the internet.

Other Important Winners

1. Doechii won Best Rap Album for her hit album Alligator Bites Never Heal.

2. Shakira proved that her hips never lie, even now, with her album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran winning Best Latin Pop Album.

3. Charli XCX's viral sensation Brat won Best Dance/Electronic Album, with hit single "Von dutch" winning Best Dance Pop Recording.

4. Best Rock Performance went to The Beatles for "Now and Then.".

You Can't Please Everyone

Netizens have shown mixed opinions towards the winners. Many feel Billie Eilish was robbed, with Hit Me Hard and Soft not winning a single award even after producing hit singles like "Birds of a Feather" and "Blue." Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department also failed to bag an award, with fans expecting the music video for "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone to win big.

Photo by Glenn Francis on Wikimedia Commons

It's impossible for everyone to win. But all we can do is recognize and appreciate the immense hard work and talent that goes into making music. We are lucky to have access to the magic of music, and it is a powerful tool to bring us together.