Recap of the Grammys
Every year near the start of Feb., the annual Grammy awards take place. Hits are performed live and awards are given to the finest on music’s biggest night. In 2026, Kendrick Lamar led in nominations and won in five categories. Bad Bunny winning Album of the Year, Olivia Dean winning best new artist, and Lady Gaga’s performance were just a few highlights of the night.
All the best new artist nominees performed: Olivia Dean (she performed her radio hit “Man I Need”), Alex Warren (who suffered a technical mishap and was off-key while performing Spotify’s most played song of 2025, “Ordinary”), Leon Thomas (who performed his hit “MUTT”), KATSEYE (K-Pop group who performed “GNARLY”), sombr (who performed the chart-topping “12 to 12”), The Marias (the popular band that performed their hit “No One Noticed) and Lola Young (the powerful voice behind “Messy”). Other performances included a smashing opening with Bruno Mars and Rose doing “APT.,” Lady Gaga performing “Abracadabra,” Justin Bieber doing “Yukon,” and Sabrina Carpenter playing “Manchild” with a live dove.
A list of awards won can be seen below:
Album of the year: Bad Bunny, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”
Record of the year: Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “Luther”
Song of the year: Billie Eilish, “Wildflower”
Best new artist: Olivia Dean
Best pop solo performance: Lola Young, “Messy”
Best pop duo/group performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, “Defying Gravity”
Best pop vocal album: Lady Gaga, “Mayhem”
Best dance/electronic recording: Tame Impala, “End of Summer”
Best dance pop recording: Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”
Best rock performance: Yungblud, “Changes (Live from Villa Park) Back to the Beginning”
Best rock song: Nine Inch Nails, “As Alive as You Need Me to Be”
Best alternative music performance: The Cure, “Alone”
Best alternative music album: The Cure, “Songs of a Lost World”
Best R&B song: Kehlani, “Folded”
Best R&B album: Leon Thomas, “Mutt”
Best melodic rap performance: Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “Luther”
Best rap song: Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay, “TV Off”
Best traditional pop vocal album: Laufey, “A Matter of Time”
Best música urbana album: Bad Bunny, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”
Best global music performance: Bad Bunny, “EoO”
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: Various artists, “Sinners”
Best song written for visual media: HUNTR/X, “Golden (From KPop Demon Hunters)”
Best music video: Doechii, “Anxiety”
Best music film: John Williams, “Music by John Williams”
Many Virginia natives won big at the Grammys. Mad Skillz, a Richmond-based rapper, won best spoken word poetry album for “Words For Days Vol. 1.” Shaboozey, born in Woodbridge, won best country duo/group performance for his song “Amen” with Jelly Roll. Nate Smith, a jazz artist, won best jazz instrumental album for “Kinfolk 2: See the Birds.” The duo of Clipse won best rap performance for “Chains and Whips.”
