Historical past was made on the 68th Grammy Awards.
Kendrick Lamar, Unhealthy Bunny, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell and Huntr/x had been among the many artists with report wins. And artists used their acceptance speeches and platforms to denounce immigration raids. Even with all of the motion, there’s so much audiences didn’t see on TV. Right here’s what Occasions reporters caught behind the scenes.
Unhealthy Bunny and Trevor Noah on the 68th Grammy Awards.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Occasions)
Unhealthy Bunny in disbelief
After making historical past for successful album of the 12 months, Unhealthy Bunny sat inventory nonetheless at his desk on the ground of the sector — together with his head in his palms. What registered as a small pause on TV felt like an enormous silence contained in the venue, because the viewers collectively held its breath, staring down on the solitary winner — frozen in a reverent tableau of disbelief — earlier than he lastly gathered himself to method the stage and declare his trophy. — Jessica Gelt
Kehlani holds the Grammys for R&B efficiency and R&B music.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
Kehlani says artists lead revolutions
Sporting an “ICE Out” pin, Kehlani spoke to reporters Sunday within the Grammys press room about artists’ accountability to be vocal about social justice points. Up to now, the singer has had performances canceled due to her political stances. Kehlani referred to as out Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout her acceptance speech earlier within the afternoon.
“An artist’s job is to reflect the times,” the Grammy winner stated. “I think we’re often what leads or aids revolution or provides a lens for people who will understand certain things better via art.”
“People all over the world can see even just when we open our mouths one time,” she added, “so I think we have an opportunity to use it wisely.”
Kehlani gained her first Grammys on Sunday for R&B efficiency and R&B music.
“When God says yes, can’t nobody say no, and when it’s God’s time and it’s your time, then he’ll pave the way for everything else to just clear itself,” she stated.
Even when she’d misplaced right now, the artist stated, “it would have been a blessing for me and a blessing for all of us.” — Malia Mendez
Trevor Noah hosted the Grammys for the sixth and closing time on Sunday.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Occasions)
Take your seat … or else
Folks actually couldn’t get to their seats on time. Whereas viewers at dwelling watch an onslaught of commercials throughout breaks within the present, the viewers contained in the venue makes a mad sprint to loos, bars and concession stands. An enormous digital display onstage includes a countdown clock and a loudspeaker alongside the primary thoroughfare additionally retains friends appraised of how a lot time they’ve the get again to their seats. Miss the buzzer and also you’re locked out of the auditorium till the following industrial break. You’d suppose the considered shedding out on a efficiency by Woman Gaga would drive individuals to be on time, however no. It doesn’t matter what got here subsequent, dozens of individuals remained locked out between numbers and others actually walked in entrance of cameras after the present had gone dwell, a state of affairs that promoted host Trevor Noah to jokingly admonish offenders on air. — J.G.
Shaboozey gained the Grammy for nation duo/group efficiency.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Occasions)
Shaboozey honors his Nigerian immigrant dad and mom
Nation artist Shaboozey fought again tears as he addressed the Grammys press room Sunday.
The “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hitmaker grew to become emotional as he spoke about his Nigerian immigrant dad and mom and the sacrifices they made to come back to america.
“To know that I’m an example of that, and I’m from that lineage, and I’m inspiring people, hopefully, and trying to just live up to my fullest potential. I’ve had so many dreams of being able to do something like this,” he stated.
The Grammy winner went on to reference his small-town upbringing, saying, “I wasn’t the most talented kid in any respect, but I just had dreams,” earlier than turning into overwhelmed with emotion.
As he stepped again to wipe away tears, the room erupted into applause, with one reporter shouting, “You deserve this!” — M.M.
Share through Shut further sharing choices
Heidi Klum wore a skin-tight nude robe to the 2026 Grammy Awards, charming gawkers forward of the present.
Heidiween on the Grammys?
Supermodel Heidi Klum turned heads inside the sector as she tottered alongside like an unsteady baby inside a wierd nude-colored latex costume that resembled a unadorned physique with nipples and pronounced buttocks. The garment didn’t bend or transfer, which tremendously diminished Klum’s means to get round. It was extra like a swimsuit of armor than a costume, and the parade of onlookers following behind her made a sport of guessing how Klum would possibly sit down through the ceremony. The reply quickly arrived when Klum swapped the costume for a slinky black quantity. — J.G.
Aura V and Fyütch gained the Grammy for kids’s music album.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
The purple “princess of the Grammys”
After father-daughter duo Fyütch and Aura V clinched their win for greatest youngsters’s music album with the exceedingly healthful “Harmony,” the 2 took their matching purple outfits for a spin within the Grammys press room.
Whereas Fyütch lauded their “whimsical stylist” for fashioning his daughter as “the princess of the Grammys,” Aura V took credit score for the colour choice.
“I picked out this lavender color because it’s chill, it’s relaxing, it helps me settle in,” defined the 8-year-old — now the youngest individually named Grammy winner in historical past.
Moreover, she added, a purple costume would have blended into the purple carpet, and “I gotta stand out.” — M.M.
Remy Le Boeuf, to not be confused together with his twinner
As Santa Cruz-born composer Remy Le Boeuf celebrated his win for instrumental composition within the press room, he took care to make clear why he would possibly look acquainted to the gang — regardless of Sunday marking his first Grammy win.
That’s as a result of final 12 months, his twin, composer Pascal Le Boeuf, acquired the identical award. However to not fear, the previous Le Boeuf stated, the 2 aren’t so aggressive with one another.
The Grammy winner additionally gave an earnest clarification for why AI has no place in his inventive course of.
“Jazz tradition is very much about being very present and in the moment and interacting with other members of the band and creating space in the music for that kind of interaction,” he stated.
“So AI doesn’t really apply to what I do so much.” — M.M.
Bruno Mars performs on the 2026 Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Area.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Occasions )
A maze of a venue
You wouldn’t understand it from the telecast, however Crypto.com Area is an enormous venue. The Grammys are, by far, the most important and most sprawling awards present of the season. The venue feels extra like a stadium than an auditorium as a result of that’s actually what it’s. Merchandising stations for wildly overpriced food and drinks ($15 scorching canine and $23 cocktails) ring the auditorium, and a visitor can stroll in a 365-degree circle to get to their seat. It’s the proper place to get misplaced in a crowd and other people watch. Company will see celebrities blended in with common music trade of us and presumably rating a rest room selfie with a mannequin. Nonetheless, there’s a stiff, virtually company really feel to the place that even the wildest present can’t escape. — J.G.
