Grammys ceremony opens with tribute to Los Angeles

The 2025 Grammy Awards have opened with a particular efficiency by the Los Angeles band Dawes, two brothers whose properties had been destroyed within the latest wildfires.

The duo had been joined on stage by former Grammy winners together with Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard to carry out Randy Newman’s basic track I Love LA.

“It is usually mentioned that within the darkest of occasions, the perfect of humanity shines by means of, and the folks of Los Angeles proper now are an ideal instance of that,” mentioned host Trevor Noah, introducing the efficiency.

“So tonight, we determined we’re not simply going to be celebrating our favorite music. We’re additionally celebrating town that introduced us a lot of that music.”

The comic, who’s internet hosting the ceremony for the fifth time, mentioned that “only a few weeks in the past, we weren’t certain that this present would even occur”.

“Fortunately, because of the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and regardless of all of the devastation, the spirit of town has emerged,” he added, to beneficiant applause.

A number of firefighters had been invited to the awards to honour their efforts; and walked the purple carpet taking selfies with the most important stars in music.

Los Angeles native Billie Eilsh was the second artist on stage, enjoying her Grammy-nominated track Birds Of A Feather in opposition to a backdrop impressed by California’s pure magnificence.

“I like you LA,” she mentioned because the music ended.

The ceremony is elevating cash for these affected by what Noah referred to as “one of many largest pure disasters in US historical past”; and organisers have handed over a portion of their airtime to let native companies promote totally free as they attempt to rebuild.

Noah additionally joked that winners whose speeches ran longer than one-and-a-half minutes would pay $1,000 for each additional second they spoke.

As for the awards, Beyoncé is the evening’s greatest nominee, with 11 nods for her country-inspired album Cowboy Carter – together with album of the yr.

The star arrived on the ceremony with extra Grammys than every other artist in historical past, a complete of 32, however she has by no means gained the most important prize.

Forward of the primary ceremony, she picked up one extra trophy – greatest nation duo/group efficiency, for II Most Needed, a duet with Miley Cyrus.

Different artists awarded within the early “premiere ceremony” included the Beatles, who gained greatest rock efficiency for his or her AI-assisted observe Now And Then, based mostly on an outdated John Lennon demo.

British pop star Charli XCX gained three trophies for her trend-setting membership album Brat; and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was named greatest pop solo efficiency.

The primary prize of the primary ceremony was greatest rap album, which went to Florida-born rapper Doechii, for her mixtape Alligator Bites By no means Heal.

She famous it was solely the third time a girl had gained the class because it was launched in 1989, with a shout-out to her predecessors Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.

“I put my coronary heart and soul into this mixtape,” she added. “I bared my life, I went by means of a lot, I devoted myself to sobriety and God informed me that I’d be rewarded.”

She ended her speech with a message to different aspiring feminine artists.

“There are such a lot of black ladies on the market which are watching me proper now, and I wish to let you know, you are able to do it.

“Something is feasible. Do not enable anyone to undertaking any stereotypes on you [or] let you know that you may’t be right here, that you simply’re too darkish, or that you simply’re not good sufficient, or that you simply’re too dramatic otherwise you’re too loud.

“You’re precisely who it’s good to be to be proper the place you might be and I’m an affidavit. Reward God.”