AUTHOR: Sarah Xu
COPY EDITOR: Shaye-Love Salcedo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Sanya Sharma
Another year, another Grammys. Following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards took place at Crypto.com Arena, balancing celebration with fundraising for the recovery efforts. As always, the night was a showcase of music, culture and creativity.
Beyoncé led the 67th Grammy nominations with an impressive eleven nods, ultimately winning Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. Not Like Us dominated with five nominations and two wins, upending Kendrick Lamar’s usual stronghold. The competition for Best New Artists was fierce, with Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Doechii in the mix. Billie Eilish’s participation, while highly anticipated, felt underwhelming.
Fashion Highlights
Fashion remains a defining feature of the Grammys, and this year is no exception.
- Chappell Roan embraced a Renaissance-inspired patterned dress paired with avant-grande makeup.
- Gracie Abrams exuded elegance in a Chanel gown, complimented by a veil and smoky eyes.
- Sabrina Carpenter in a light blue JW Anderson gown, adorned with feathers, perfectly matching her signature aesthetic.
- Olivia Rodrigo opted for a minimalist chic, wearing a vintage Versace black gown with striking lines.
Of course, no Grammys would be complete without its viral celebrity moments. Taylor Swift, was spotted running, chatting, and cheering across the venue, while Beyoncé gifted the internet another meme-worthy reaction. Lady Gaga delivered her signature theatrics, and The Weeknd was the biggest secret of the night.
The Best Dressed Stars
The Grammys always bring out fierce fashion competition, making it hard to distinguish between the ceremony and the Met Gala.
Who owns best-dressed star in your mind?
Chappell Roan stole the spotlight with an oil painting-patterned Jean Paul Gautier dress and dramatic purple-yellow eyeshadow. Her ensemble channelled the nostalgia and artistry of Edgar Degas’ Dancer with a Bouquet, while her curly hair and makeup evoked the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland.
Gracie Abrams should be a nominee of best-dressed star. She was a vision in an ivory Chanel dress, adorned with intricate embellishments at the chest and waist, exuding femininity with an air of mystery.
Sabrina Carpenter presented a delicate, yet striking aesthetic in JW Anderson’s light blue satin gown. The halter neckline, extended pearl necklace, silhouette, and soft feather details added just the right balance of sweetness and allure.
Olivia Rodrigo, chose a sleek all-black, ensemble. The young female artist featured a high neckline and daring cutouts, her overall look was equal parts sophisticated and edgy.
Not strikingly a fresh concept, Taylor Swift’s red ensemble radiated her confidence, charm, and power as one of the world’s best artists and Margaret Qualley, who embodied understated elegance in Chanel. Beyoncé, the undisputed queen of the night, shimmered in a radiant Schiparelli gown as she accepted the Album of the Year award Meanwhile, Lady Gaga pushed boundaries with her unconventional styling— short bangs and bleached eyebrows, making a memorable statement.
More Than Just a Party
Fashion was an appetizer, and music and culture were the entreés that appealed to the public’s palate. Despite ongong criticism that the ceremony prioritizes predictability over innovation, it continues to reflect societal themes and challenges.
Seen from her red carpet look to her theatrical performance of Pink Pony Club captivated audiences. Roan fully embraced a rodeo-clown aesthetic dressed in a custom-made Zana Bayne and Steve Madden ensemble. “Throughout the costume are special details to bring the rodeo clown princess fantasy into reality, with everything crafted in my downtown Los Angeles studio,” Bayne told Vogue.
Roan’s journey from a small-town singing contest in Willard, Missouri, to the Grammy stage took thirteen years. Inspired by the energy and freedom of a gay club, the production of Pink Pony Club expressed her imagination and wildness. “That song changed everything,” she told BBC. Her story is a testament to perseverance, especially after experiencing a pushback release and severe cost-cutting during the pandemic, and encountering a boom of the music that “put her in a new category.” Her story is a testament to perseverance: from working in a drive-through doughnut shop to becoming a rising pop icon, she embodies resilience and ambition. “A drag queen does not say things to flatter people. A queen makes you blush,” she says, “I would demand that labels in the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage in health care, especially to developing artists.”
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars took home Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Gaga is resilient figure who nevertheless encounters criticism and controversy still explores the concept of inner turmoil and self-discovery. She uses the moment to amplify LGBTQ+ voices: “Trans people are not invisible; trans people deserve love; the queer community deserves to be lifted.”
Black artists had a defining presence, coinciding with Black History Month. the world witnessed Black musical artists’ voices, and impacts during the 2025 Grammys such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Doechii.
Standing out from the drastic competition for Album of the Year, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter was a standout for its powerful commentary on Black identity, empowerment, and the reclamation of country music’s roots. Blending country, blues, rock, and hip-hop, the album maintains a manifesto in showcasing the often-overlooked contributions of Black pioneers of American music.
Kendrick Lamar dominated the night with seven nominations and two awards. His viral diss track Not Like Us—a response to his feud with Drake—topped the charts and shattered streaming records. Reflecting on his artistry in Harper’s Bazaar, he stated, “This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something.”
Doechii became the third female artist who win the Best Rap Album since 1989, underscoring the ongoing challenges and triumphs of black female rappers. If ‘Black,’ ‘Female,’ and ‘Rapper’ are reasons pushing her to the edge, then ‘talent,’ ‘resilience,’ and ‘determination’ are conditions making a wildflower live wildly.
At its core, the Grammys celebrate artistry, identity and cultural evolution. The concepts of self, equality, and authenticity are ongoing social concerns requiring the efforts of individuals, generations, and decades to develop.
While debates about industry politics, racial representation, and creative stagnation continue, one truth remains: music is a universal force that unites, challenges and inspires. What we appreciate here is the energy, the possibility, and the integrity of human nature.
