The Grammys: Beyoncé wins album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter'

Beyoncé accepts the Best Country Album award for "COWBOY CARTER" onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The 2025 Grammy Awards recognized some of the most talented performers and biggest hits in music, including Beyoncé – who won the show's top honor. 

The ceremony was transformed by the Los Angeles area wildfires but put a spotlight on the city’s resiliency. The telecast began with a powerful opening performance of Randy Newman’s "I Love L.A." by Dawes — whose members were directly affected by the Eaton fire — backed by John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent. 

Here's what to know:

Beyoncé wins album of the year

Beyoncé, who is both the most awarded and nominated artist in Grammys history, has been up for the category four times before.

In winning album of the year with "Cowboy Carter," Beyoncé became the first Black woman to win the top prize in the 21st century. The last was Lauryn Hill with "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" 26 years ago. Before her were Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston. That means Beyoncé is only the fourth Black woman to win album of the year at the Grammys.

Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department presented Beyoncé with the trophy, one of several times the show reflected the recent wildfires that burned thousands of homes.

"It’s been many, many years," Beyoncé said in her speech. "I want to dedicate this to Ms. Martell," she said, referencing Linda Martell, the performer who became the first Black woman to play the Grand Ole Opry.

"We finally saw it happen, everyone," host Trevor Noah said, nodding to the long overdue achievement for one of music's transcendent artists.

Kendrick Lamar wins song, record of the year

Kendrick Lamar won song and record of the year for his diss track "Not Like Us," taking home two of the night's most prestigious awards.

"We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," Lamar said before shouting out Los Angeles area neighborhoods.

It is the second hip-hop single to ever win in the category. The first was Childish Gambino’s "This Is America."

Alicia Keys accepts Dr. Dre Global Impact Award

Alicia Keys defended diversity, shouted out female producers and gave props to her award’s namesake when she accepted the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.

"Tonight is a beautiful, powerful thing we’re cultivating," she said.

Keys said she was honored to be recognized in part for her work as a producer because women so rarely are.

"This is for all the ladies that know the magic that they bring to the room." From there she spoke up for broader inclusion.

"This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices," she said. "We’ve seen on this stage talented hard-working people from different backgrounds and it changes the game."

"DEI is not a threat it’s a gift, and the more voices the more powerful the sound."

And she gave "big love to my brother Dr. Dre," who covered his face and appeared to be tearing up.

Shakira wins best Latin pop album

Jennifer Lopez got to present the best Latin pop album award to her fellow Super Bowl headliner Shakira. The two rocked the halftime show in 2020.

"Here’s the truth in any language music’s biggest night only gets bigger and better when it brings us the whole world of music," Lopez said.

"I want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country. You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you," said Shakira during her award speech.

Will Smith attends the Grammys

Will Smith, who has won four Grammys himself, presented a tribute during the prime-time telecast to his late mentor Quincy Jones. But don’t expect the Oscar-winning actor to show up for the Academy Awards in a month’s time. He’s still under a 10-year ban for his slap of Chris Rock during the 2022 awards show.

Ye and Bianca Censori leave Grammys 

Kanye West and his wife Biana Censori showed up to the Grammys to walk the red carpet and then left on their own.

While some reports claimed that West and Censori were booted from the event, a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that West, was an invited guest because of his nomination in the best rap song category for "Carnival." The rapper and Censori walked and exited without being escorted out, the source said.

Chappell Roan wins best new artist

Chappell Roan used her best new artist acceptance speech to push for health care and profit sharing for young artists.

"I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage, and health care especially, to developing artists," she said, reading from what looked like a diary, to loud cheers.

She talked about being dropped from her initial label deal when she was a minor and being left without job experience and health insurance.

"Labels, we got you, but do you got us?" she said.

Beyoncé wins best country album for 'Cowboy Carter'

Beyoncé sat shocked in the audience for a moment after Taylor Swift read that the superstar had won best country album for "Cowboy Carter." Once on stage, as Beyoncé thanked her family, cameras cut to Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter standing and beaming in the audience.

The Grammys shows Los Angeles some love after devastating wildfires

What they're saying:

After a short intro from host Trevor Noah, Dawes kicked off a tribute to Los Angeles with "I Love L.A.," along with a backing band consisting of stars John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent.

RELATED: California fires updates: Sunday, Feb. 2

Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith lost a portion of the Altadena house he shares with his wife, actor-singer Mandy Moore, and his home recording studio and instruments were destroyed. His brother and bandmate, Griffin Goldsmith, and his pregnant wife also lost their home in the fire. Dawes also performed at the FireAid benefit concert on Thursday.

Noah replaced the usual revved-up opening to the Grammys with sober talk about the California wildfires.

"Just a few weeks ago we weren’t sure tonight that this show would even happen," he said from backstage before walking out on the stage at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

"His city has just been through one of the largest natural disasters in American history."

The backstory:

The blazes that began Jan. 7 have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 25 people. The conflagrations fueled by dry Santa Ana winds have scorched at least 63 square miles of land, forcing thousands of people from their homes, stretching firefighting efforts thin, knocking out power to tens of thousands and making the water unsafe to drink in some areas. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fires.

The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from live coverage of the 2025 Grammy Awards, official Grammy press releases, and media reports from entertainment news outlets. 

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