Bad Bunny Makes Grammy History

Bad Bunny, the versatile Puerto Rican musician, has become the first artist in the 68-year history of the Grammy Awards to win Album of the Year with a record performed entirely in Spanish.

He received the award for his sixth album, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos, a personal and powerful exploration of Latin musical history, which triumphed over contenders including Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Sabrina Carpenter for the ceremony's top honor.

The 31-year-old artist, who is set to headline next week's Super Bowl halftime show, dedicated his award to immigrants, concluding a ceremony where numerous performers spoke out against the current US administration's immigration policies.

Immigration Advocacy at the Ceremony

Among those addressing immigration was British singer Olivia Dean, who was named Best New Artist.

"I'm up here as the grand-daughter of an immigrant," said Dean, whose grandmother Carmen was part of the Windrush generation. "I'm a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other."

Other stars such as Kehlani, Gloria Estefan, and Billie Eilish also voiced support for immigrants, with several celebrities wearing "Ice out" badges on the red carpet.

Bad Bunny’s Emotional Acceptance

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, appeared stunned when Harry Styles announced his name for Album of the Year. He paused to compose himself before approaching the stage.

With tears visible, he dedicated the award

"to all the people that had to leave their home, land, their country, to follow their dreams."

Earlier, after winning Best Música Urbana Album, he spoke more directly:

"Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say ICE out,"

referring to US immigration enforcement agents amid weeks of tension in Minneapolis, including the deaths of two civilians.

"We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans."

Billie Eilish Addresses Social Turmoil

Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for "Wildflower," also commented on the current social unrest in the United States.

"It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now," she said. "And I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter."

"Wildflower," a sleeper hit from Eilish's third album Hit Me Hard And Soft, marked her third Song of the Year win this decade. She previously won in 2020 for "Bad Guy" and in 2021 for the ballad "Everything I Wanted."

Kendrick Lamar’s Record-Breaking Wins

Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Album for GNX, surpassing Jay-Z as the rapper with the most Grammy Awards, now totaling 26.

He later added a 27th trophy by winning Record of the Year for "Luther," a soulful duet with R&B singer SZA.

The award presentation included a brief moment of confusion at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Cher, who had just received a Lifetime Achievement Award, left the stage without announcing the nominees and was uncertain about the winner.

"They told me it would be on the teleprompter," she said, before opening the envelope and misreading the card. For a moment, it appeared the award had gone to the late soul singer Luther Vandross, whose vocals were sampled on Lamar's track.

Lamar handled the situation gracefully, paying tribute to Vandross on stage.

"I gotta take my time, because [he's] one of my favourite artists of all time," said Lamar, revealing he had shed "a tear" when granted permission to sample Vandross's vocals. "They said 'no cursing, though'. That was the only thing. We couldn't curse on it."

Joining him onstage, SZA also addressed the political climate.

"Please don't fall into despair. I know now is a scary time [but] we need to trust each other and trust ourselves. We're not governed by the government, we are governed by god."

Other Notable Winners and Performances

Londoner Lola Young won Best Pop Performance for her breakout single "Messy," while Lady Gaga's Mayhem was named Best Pop Album.

Gaga rushed to the stage to accept her 16th Grammy trophy.

"Every time I'm here, I still feel like I need to pinch myself," she said.

She also urged women in music to assert their creative vision.

"I know sometimes when you're in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard. I urge you to... fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer [and] make sure that you are heard loudly."

Bad Bunny took home three awards in total, marking a significant milestone for Latin music, which for many years was marginalized by the Angl...