Music

Bad Bunny makes Grammy history at a gala marked by criticism at the ICE.

Donald Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah, the awards show host

Bad Bunny accepting the Grammy for best urban music album
ARA
02/02/2026
6 min

BarcelonaBad Bunny has achieved a historic milestone in his career and for Spanish-language music. The Puerto Rican musician won the Grammy for Album of the Year on Sunday, the most important category at the awards ceremony, which celebrated its 68th edition. The event was marked by political messages and criticism of Donald Trump's immigration policies and the controversial ICE, Immigration and Border Protection.

I SHOULD TAKE MORE PHOTOS It has become the first album entirely in Spanish to win the Grammy for best album of the year, beating out some of the favorites of the night such as Mayhem, by Lady Gaga, or Swagby Justin Bieber. Bad Bunny also won the Grammy for Best Urban Music Album and the Grammy for Best Global Music Performance for the song EoO.

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny) couldn't get up from his chair or hold back his tears when Harry Styles called his name. "Before I thank God, I'll say: ICE out!" exclaimed the artist, who in a week will headline the legendary Super Bowl halftime show, the biggest sporting event in the United States. "We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens. We are human beings and we are Americans," he added in a speech that called for confronting hate with love.

Carole King, wearing a badge that read "ICE out"[Out with ICE]" was in charge of presenting the award for best song of the year. The award went, to everyone's surprise, to Wildflowerr, by Billie Eilish, which was competing with tracks like I SHOULD TAKE MORE PHOTOS, by Bad Bunny; Luther, by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, or the viral GoldenEilish, who still couldn't quite believe she had won the award, uttered a phrase that provoked a long ovation from the audience: "No one is illegal in stolen land." "It's very difficult to know what to say and what to do right now; I hope we continue to fight with music," she added. The singer finished with a powerful:Fuck ICENext, Tyler, the Creator put on a spectacular performance that culminated in an acrobatic jump over a car.

British singer Olivia Dean, 25, the daughter of Jamaican and Guyanese parents, has won the Breakthrough Artist award. Visibly moved and in tears, she spoke about the plight of migrants. "I think these people should be celebrated. We are nothing without each other," she said. Since 2017, all the winners of this award have been women.

China angered by the Dalai Lama's award

For the first time in history, the Dalai Lama has won an award from the U.S. National Recording Academy. The spiritual leader, Tenzin Gyatso, took home the Grammy for Best Audiobook for [title of the album]. Meditations: the reflections of his holinessRufus Wainwright accepted the award on his behalf at the Los Angeles ceremony. The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in Dharamshala for over 65 years, was proclaimed the thirteenth Dalai Lama and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called him a "political exile" and used his "political exile" as a "political tool against China." While last year's ceremony was notable for the scarcity of political speeches, coinciding with Donald Trump's rise to power, the 68th edition was clearly marked by the context of great tension and outrage in the United States following the fatal shootings by immigration agents. The ceremony's host, Trevor Noah, was one of the most outspoken critics of Trump's policies, delivering a distinctly ironic speech. This was his sixth and final year hosting the Grammys. In his opening monologue, he joked that Nicki Minaj had missed the ceremony because she was still at the White House discussing "important matters" with Donald Trump. "Welcome to the Grammys, live, live, because if we edit this show in any way, the president will sue us for $16 million," he said, alluding to the lawsuit filed by Trump against the program. 60 minutes for editing an interview with Kamala Harris that he deemed inappropriate. Noah also didn't mince words about the US president's geopolitical ambitions and speculated about his interest in Greenland: "Since Epstein is gone, he needs a new island to meet with Bill Clinton," he said, eliciting laughter from the audience. Trump was not amused by Noah's joke and responded through his platform, Truth Social. The US president threatened to sue the host.

Trump doesn't hold back on the insults: "The Grammys are the worst thing ever, they're practically unwatchable! CBS is lucky they don't air that crap anymore. The host, Trevor Noah, whoever, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Academy Awards. Noah said, INCORR on Epstein's island. LIE!!! I can't speak for Bill, but I've never been to Epstein's island, or anywhere near it, and until tonight's false and defamatory statement, I've never been accused of going there, not even by the Fake News Media," Trump asserted, adding, "Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and the others, how this is all going to end. Ask CBS too! Get ready, Noah, I think I'll have fun with you!"

The performances at the Grammys were quite spectacular. The first to take the stage were Rosé and Bruno Mars, full of guitars and energy, with the song APTThen it was Sabrina Carpenter's turn, who reigned supreme on the red carpet and performed Manchild Surrounded by airport conveyor belts and suitcases, the performances by the nominated emerging artists then began. Addison Rae entered in a truck from the backstageKatseye have also performed, with GnarlyLeon Thomas sang with electric guitars in the audience, and Alex Warren brought his well-known Ordinary Through the hallways, accompanied by violins and a heart. Justin Bieber, who has presented his song SwagHe appeared on stage dressed only in underwear and displaying tattoos, accompanied by a guitar and a synthesizer. Lady Gaga, dressed in black and red feathers and a giant hat, offered a spectacular visual and acoustic performance. Abracadabra.

The complete list of winners

Recording of the Year

LutherKendrick Lamar featuring SZA

Album of the Year

I SHOULD TAKE MORE PHOTOSBad Bunny

Song of the Year

Wildflower, Billie Eilish O'Connell and Finneas O'Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean

Producer of the Year (non-classical music)

Cirkut

Composer of the Year (non-classical music)

Amy Allen

Best Pop Solo Performance

MessyLola Young

Best Pop Performance - Duo/Group

Defying gravityCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

Best Pop Vocal Album

MayhemLady Gaga

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

End of summer, Tame Impala

Best Pop Dance Recording

AbracadabraLady Gaga

Best Dance/Electronic Album

EusexuaFKA Twigs

Best Rock Performance

Changes (Live From Villa Park / Back to the Beginning)Yungblood with Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman and II

Best Metal Performance

BirdsTurnstile

Best rock song

As alive as you need me to beTrent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers (Nine Inch Nails)

Best Rock Album

Never enoughTurnstile

Best Alternative Music Performance

AloneThe Cure

Best Alternative Music Album

Songs of a Lost WorldThe Cure

Best R&B Performance

FoldedKehlani

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Vibes don't lieLeon Thomas

Best R&B Song

Folded, Darius Dixson, Andre Harris, Kehlani Parrish, Donovan Knight, Don Mills, Khris Riddick-Tynes and Dawit Kamal Wilson, songwriters (Kehlani)

Best Progressive R&B Album

Bloom, Durand Bernarr

Best R&B Album

Mutt, Leon Thomas

Best Rap Performance

Chains & Whips, Clipse, Pusha T and Malice featuring Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams

Best Melodic Rap Performance

Luther, Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA

Best Rap Song

TV off, Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears and Kamasi Washington, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar with Lefty Gunplay)

Best Rap Album

GNXKendrick Lamar

Best Poetry Album Read

Words for Days Vol. 1Mad Skillz

Best Jazz Performance

Windows - LiveChick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade

Best Jazz Vocal Album

PortrésSamara Joy

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Southern nights, Sullivan Fortner with Peter Washington and Marcus Gilmore

Best Jazz Big Ensemble Album

Without further ado, Vol 1Christian McBride Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

A tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King ColeGonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro

Best Alternative Jazz Album

Live-Action, Nate Smith

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

In a matter of time, Laufey

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Brightside, Arkai

Best Musical Theatre Album

Buena Vista Social ClubMarco Paguia, Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek, producers (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Country Solo Performance

Bad as I used to be (of F1: The Movie), Chris Stapleton

Best Country Performance, Duo/Group

AmenShaboozey and Jelly Roll

Best Country Song

Bitin' list, Tyler Childers, songwriter (Tyler Childers)

Best Traditional Country Album

It's not in it for my health, Zach Top

Best Contemporary Country Album

Beautifully brokenJelly Roll

Best Mexican Music Album

To's Word (Dry) , Carín León

Best Latin Tropical Album

Roots Gloria Estefan

Best Latin Pop Album:

Songbook Natalia Lafourcade

Best Music Video

Anxiety — Doechii

Best audiobook

Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama— Dalai Lama

Best Folk Album

What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow, Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson

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