Arguably music’s biggest night of the year, the Grammys took place on February 2nd, 2025. The events that occurred were exactly what should be expected from Hollywood’s awards nights, leaving the 15.4 million Americans that tuned in to watch both in person, on TV, and on social media, with a taste of the hottest music, red carpet looks, and unforgettable performances. 

In the year leading up to the 2025 Grammys, many breakthrough artists and those who have sung their name into history released several new songs. The music scene saw multiple new artists rise to popularity, such as Benson Boone, Shaboozy, Chappell Roan, and many more.  Coachella and other events in the year prior played a major role in highlighting the work of these artists and exposing them to the general public, especially on social media platforms such as TikTok and X (formally known as Twitter). I, as well as other students, enjoyed the talent of these new stars and seeing their music nominated throughout the world. Keegan Brin ‘28 argued, “Out of all the new artists, I like Chappell Roan or Raye the most because of their vocals.” As a new generation of artists rose to the scene this year, they gave the public records and albums that would become nominated for other Grammys awards as well as Best New Artist. 

Well-renowned artists such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Beyonce, and others examined new styles of music and lyricism. A prime example of this is Beyonce’s country album Cowboy Carter, which brought attention to itself as the genre had not yet been explored by this Pop/R&B artist. Yet, this album took home many awards, leading to controversy among fans.

Award shows are made to be enjoyed, but fans cannot help but root for their favorite artist. This behavior was especially seen towards the award for Album of the Year, one of the most competitive categories, with the inclusion of albums that were both immensely streamed and celebrated throughout the year. Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter took home the gilded gramophone award, which centered on country music and features many well-known artists, such as Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Dolly Parton. However, many other music fans were left a bit shocked, since they believed other albums such as Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department were robbed of the award.  Chloe Montoya-Sullivan ‘28, a dedicated fan of Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, expressed, “[the album] should have won album of the year due to Billie’s and Finneas’ [Eilish’s brother and co-writer] skills put into their vocals, lyrics, and music.” She added, “The album quickly became popular after its release, gaining a significantly higher number of streams than Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter.” These ideas join many others, which were present in the weeks following the Grammys on social media platforms. However, fans of Beyonce have created a positive buzz around the album.  Ananya Patel ’27  did like some parts of the album in general, saying, “I’m a fan of Dolly Parton, and her being featured on the album with Beyonce singing Jolene was nice to hear.”

Even though music was the foundation of the event, what brought attention to the night was the effort of the Grammys to raise funds in collaboration with the FireAid Organization. The FireAid Organization raises funds to aid Los Angeles, California, which has recently been left devastated by a rampage of wildfires. FireAid also recently held two concerts in California for the same mission, and many stars took part, aiming to unite the city and country to support those in need. During the award show, a QR code always appeared on the screen, allowing audience members to visit the FireAid website and contribute to their donations.  

The show itself also supports small LA businesses by broadcasting some of their commercials, as well as constantly reminding the audience to donate if they can. For those who do not necessarily tune in to watch the Grammys, the event’s effort put into helping others was seen rather as a necessary moral action. Pine Crest Computer Science and Mathematics teacher Mr. Lowe articulated, “It doesn’t take away from the artists’ work and makes clear the ways that art and artists are essential for highlighting truth and encouraging people to work for the common good. Music transcends differences and unites people. We should use that ability of artists to make a better world.”

The Grammys did not disappoint when it came to performances. Artists such as Benson Boone, Shakira, and Sabrina Carpenter performed their greatest hits. The show went on for approximately three and a half hours, and this year was one for the history books! This night of celebration of all genres, artists, and fans is just a small demonstration of what music can bring to the world.