Grammy Awards 2025: Beyoncé wins best country album

By Mark Savage, BBC Music Correspondent, Feb.3: A stunned expression shot across Beyoncé's face as her latest record, Cowboy Carter, was named best country album at the 67th Grammy Awards.

In a moment laced with symbolism, the award was announced by Taylor Swift - another artist who has successfully switched genres - and who is Beyoncé's competition for the night's main prize, album of the year.

"Wow, I really was not expecting this," said the star, thanking "all of the incredible country artists" who had voted for the prize.

The recognition came five months after Beyoncé was snubbed at the Country Music Awards - even after she became the first black woman to have a number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart, with Texas Hold 'Em.

The star and her husband Jay-Z (right) looked shocked as the announcement was made

Taylor Swift presented Beyoncé with her trophy

That song was also nominated for record of the year, but lost to Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us.

The rap hit, which was the knock-out blow in Lamar's long-running rap battle with Drake, scooped all five of the awards it was nominated for, including song of the year, best rap song and best music video.

It was only the second hip-hop song win record of the year (following Childish Gambino's This Is America in 2019) but Lamar played the achievement down, focusing instead on his hometown of Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wildfires.

"We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," he said. "Compton, Long Beach Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the valley... This is my neck of the woods that held me down since a young pup."

The ceremony, at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, doubled up as a fund-raiser for people affected by the fires, raising more than $7 million (£5.7 million) by the end of the night.

The show opened with a special performance by the local band Dawes, whose homes were destroyed in the inferno, playing Randy Newman's classic song I Love LA.

Later, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars delivered a rousing version of California Dreamin', originally by The Mamas & Papas, dedicated to the first responders who helped tackle the fires.

Comedian Trevor Noah, who hosted the ceremony, admitted that "just a few weeks ago, we weren't sure that this show would even happen".

"Thankfully, due to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has emerged," he added, to generous applause.

Squads of firefighters were invited to the awards to honour their efforts; and they walked the red carpet taking selfies with the biggest stars in music.

Los Angeles native Billie Eilsh was the second artist on stage, and played her award-nominated song Birds Of A Feather against a backdrop inspired by California's natural beauty.

"I love you LA," she said as the music ended.

Noah later joked that winners whose speeches ran longer than one-and-a-half minutes would be forced to donate $1,000 for every extra second they spoke.

As for the awards, Beyoncé arrived at the ceremony with the most nominations - 11 in total.

She already has more Grammys than any other artist in history, a haul of 32 trophies, but has never won the biggest prize, album of the year.

Winning best country album signalled that she's in the running for the top trophy at the fifth time of asking - but the category is stacked with equally-deserving records by Billie Eilish and four-time winner Taylor Swift.

British pop star Charli XCX is also in the running for Brat - which has already won three trophies, including best dance/pop album.

Sabrina Carpenter is another strong contender, having already won best pop vocal album for Short 'n' Sweet, and best pop solo performance for her flirtatious summer anthem, Espresso.

Lady Gaga gets political

Lady Gaga used her acceptance speech to address trans rights

Chappell Roan won best new artist, and used her speech to call for equitable pay and conditions in the music industry.

"I told myself, if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists, would offer a liveable wage and health care, especially to developing artists," she said.

"Labels, we got you, but do you got us?"

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga was one of many artists to stand up for the LGBTQ+ community, after President Trump issued executive orders that banned diversity, equity and inclusion in the government, as well as one that recognised two sexes, male and female.

"I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible," she said, accepting the award for best pop duo/group performance with Bruno Mars, for their duet Die With A Smile.

"Trans people deserve love, the queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love. Thank you."

Rapper Doechii became only the third female artist in Grammys history to win best rap album

The first prize of the main ceremony was best rap album, which went to Florida-born rapper Doechii, for her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal.

She noted it was only the third time a woman had won the category since it was introduced in 1989, with a shout-out to her predecessors Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.

"There are so many black women out there that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you, you can do it," she added.

"Anything is possible. Don't allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you [or] tell you that you can't be here, that you're too dark, or that you're not smart enough, or that you're too dramatic or you're too loud.

"You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are and I am a testimony. Praise God."

Janelle Monaé was one of several artists to pay tribute to the late, great Quincy Jones

The show also featured a lengthy tribute to Quincy Jones, who died last year at the age of 91, after producing some of the most iconic tunes in pop history for artists including Frank Sinatra, Dizzie Gillespie, Michael Jackson and Chaka Khan.

The segment was introduced by Will Smith, making his first appearance at a televised awards ceremony since since he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars in 2022.

The musician said he owed his career to Jones, who cast him in the 1990s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and called him "one of the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our times".

He then introduced Wicked star Cynthia Erivo and pianist Herbie Hancock, who performed Jones's arrangement of Fly Me To The Moon.

The tribute continued with Stevie Wonder performing We Are The World, and Janelle Monaé delivering a pitch-perfect version of Michael Jackson's Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, in a replica of the star's glittery tuxedo and silver crystal ankle socks.