Bad Bunny makes history at the Grammys with album of the year win

Accepting album of the year, Bad Bunny delivered much of his speech in Spanish. Here’s a selection of what he said, with ENglish translations:

• “Puerto Rico, creeme cuando te digo que somos mucho más grandes que 100 por 35 y no existe nada que no podamos lograr, gracias a Dios, gracias a la Academia, gracias a todas las personas que han creído en mí durante toda mi carrera.” (“Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35 (a reference to the island’s square mileage) and there is nothing we can’t achieve, thank God, thank you to the Academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my career.”)
• “A todas las personas que trabajaron en este álbum, gracias mami por parirme en Puerto Rico, te amo.” (“To all the people who worked on this album, thank you mommy for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico, I love you.”)
• “Para todas las personas que han perdido a un ser querido y aún así han tenido que seguir hacia adelante y continuar con mucha fuerza, este premio es para ustedes.” (“To all the people who have lost a loved one and still had to keep going and continue strongly, this award is for you.”)
• “Gracias por tanto amor, los quiero.” (“Thank you for so much love, I love you.”)
• “A todos los latinos en el mundo entero y todos los artistas que estuvieron antes y que debieron estar en esta tarima recogiendo este premio, muchas gracias.” (“To all the Latinos around the world and all the artists who were there before and who should have been on this stage collecting this award, thank you very much.”)

As soon as the show ended, the audience began clogging the aisles and stairs and concourses to exit the arena. Many chatted about their favorite moments and performances as they poured outside.

We’re just at the very start of a huge week for Bad Bunny. At some point after the Grammys, the Puerto Rican superstar and album of the year winner will head north from Los Angeles to SantaClara, where he’ll perform at next Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show.

It’s not just Trevor Noah’s last year — it’s CBS’, too. A poignant montage of past Grammys highlights ran over the telecast’s credits as the networked acknowledged its decadeslong partnership with the show.

In 2024, the Recording Academy announced a 10-year partnership with ABC that goes into effect beginning with next year’s show.

CBS had aired the Grammys since 1973, taking over the show from ABC after a two-year stint. The first 12 ceremonies were aired on NBC.

A much quicker show than last year’s!

The entire arena is on its feet for Bad Bunny’s acceptance speech, which was delivered primarily in Spanish — a fitting way to honor the Spanish-language release.

Bad Bunny shook the hand of the trophy presenter after hugging Harry Styles.

Bad Bunny’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” is the first all-Spanish-language album to win album of the year. It is only the second time an all-Spanish-language album has been nominated for the top prize. The first was also a Bad Bunny release — in 2023, for “Un Verano Sin Ti.”Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House” won that year — and Styles gave a visibly emotional Bad Bunny a huge hug as he awarded him this year’s trophy.

The breaks have included additional tributes, including to Sly Dunbar and Jack DeJohnette.

HarryStyles is presenting the last award of the night, album of the year. And today is his birthday — his 32nd, in fact.

Backstage at the Grammys, Jelly Roll’s night of celebration took an unexpected turn after a question about immigration and the country’s political climate.

After a jovial Jelly Roll spoke about winning contemporary country album, a Rolling Stone reporter referenced artists like Shaboozey who had spoken about the issue earlier — and asked whether he would weigh in.

Jelly Roll paused, then offered a candid answer.

“So this is the truth, and I’m glad somebody asked,” he said. “I haven’t watched enough. I didn’t have a phone for 18 months. I’ve had one for four months… I’m so disconnected from what’s happening.”

Jelly Roll explained that he grew up in “insane pandemonium” and didn’t fully grasp politics until his mid-20s while incarcerated.

“We were just trying to find ways to survive,” he added, noting that he plans to speak more in the coming week: “Everybody’s going to hear exactly what I have to say about it.”

Moments later, Jelly Roll returned after exiting the stage and approached the writer. He expressed frustration over a previous Rolling Stone story that affiliated him with MAGA, a story that had the headline “How Nashville’s Music Row Went MAGA in 2025.”

“You could’ve just called me,” he told the writer, adding, “My affiliation is with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

He appeared visibly irritated as he was escorted away.

Pusha T and Malice, the brothers behind the rap duo Clipse, share a hometown with Pharrell Williams.

Clipse reunited with their longtime producer for their first album together in 16 years with “Let God Sort Em Out.” Now the three are performing at the Grammys.

Cher also appeared to announce the winner as “Luther Vandross” initially before clarifying “Kendrick Lamar.”

Cher ups the tally. She’s been in this business “for 60 (expletive) years.”

...before announcing the record of the year nominees but after delivering a sort of acceptance speech of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Trevor Noah asked her to come back.

She wasn’t at the Special Merit Awards yesterday, but Cher is at the Grammys tonight to present record of the year. Trevor Noah gave her her Lifetime Achievement Award onstage first.

Yet. Unlike most awards shows that say they’ll end at 11 p.m. Eastern and don’t quite hit the mark, the Grammys aren’t slated to end until 11:30 p.m. Eastern.

Last year, though they finished not long before midnight. With two awards — record of the year and album of the year — and at least one performance still ahead, we’ll see whether the next 27 minutes is enough to fit everything all in.

With so many performers jammed onstage, several were hugging after the music stopped.

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean doing “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in tribute to the late Roberta Flack is especially apt. They had their biggest hit with The Fugees with their version of her song in 1996.

The audience is singing, dancing and clapping as Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean transition into the Fugees version of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” for the Roberta Flack tribute.

Here’s the rundown for the tribute to Roberta Flack, who died last year at 88:

• “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” ft. Jon Batiste
• “Compared To What” ft. Leon Bridges and Alexia Jayy
• “Closer I Get To You” ft. Lalah Hathaway and October London
• “Where Is The Love” ft. John Legend and Chaka Khan
• “Feel Like Makin’ Love” / “Killing Me Softly with His Song” ft. Wyclef Jean

Ms. Lauryn Hill opened her tribute to D’Angelo, who died last year at just 51, with “Nothing Even Matters.” Also slated for the tribute:

• “Brown Sugar” ft. Lucky Daye
• “Lady” ft. Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton
• “Devils Pie” ft. Leon Thomas
• “Another Life” / “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” ft. Bilal
• “Africa” ft. Jon Batiste
  

The pyrotechnics-heavy performance of “War Pigs” features Post Malone, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Andrew Watt.

Reba McEntire’s tribute to people who died last year included her former stepson Brandon Blackstock.

Blackstock, a talent agent and former husband of Kelly Clarkson, died last year at age 48.

McEntire was previously married to his father Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015, and is the mother of Blackstock’s brother Shelby.

Reba McEntire opened the in memoriam with “Trailblazer” as the names of many musical luminaries — from Connie Francis to Malcolm-Jamal Warner to Cleto Escobedo III to Todd Snider and many more — flashed behind her, Lukas Nelson and Brandy Clark.

Up next: Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will take the stage for the in memoriam. Ms. Lauryn Hill will pay tribute to D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash will honor Ozzy Osbourne.

Bruce Springsteen, although better associated with New Jersey, acknowledges Brian Wilson’s synonymity with the great state of California.

“It’s always awkward for me to sit through these montages,” Pharrell Williams said, adding: “For me, it’s like listening to your voicemail over like a loud speaker.”

“To everyone in this room who believes in the power of Black music, thank you so much,” he said.

The 13-time Grammy winner’s extensive resume includes:

• Musician
• Producer
• Creative director, Louis Vuitton’s menswear
• Philanthropist
• Actor (often as a version of himself)

“His uniqueness and his daring creativity have kept the world intrigued,” he said of the artist from Virginia Beach.

He’s there to present the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to Pharrell Williams, but producer Q-Tip first shouted out another “son of Virginia": the late D’Angelo.

The answer is pretty granular. Best record “recognizes the artists, producers and engineers who contribute to that recording” whereas best song is about the writing and composition, according to the Grammy Awards. It goes to the songwriter(s), which may or may not include the performing artist.

Sometimes, works are nominated for both categories. This year, all but one of the songs nominated for record of the year are also nominated for best song — and vice versa. In 2017, Adele’s “Hello” won both awards.

The huge explosion that capped Tyler, the Creator’s performance made for a big cleanup job.

As the show went to commercial, over 10 stagehands used big brooms to sweep up the remnants.

His performance used the entire stage, and the workers moved quickly to clean up and move the two faux buildings and red car.

Even though the Billie Eilish song features on her 2024 album “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” it was considered at this year’s Grammys due to a Recording Academy rule. Since the track wasn’t previously submitted for consideration and the album didn’t win any Grammys, “Wildflower” is allowed to be nominated and in this case, win.

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Tyler, The Creator performs during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Tyler, The Creator performs during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Tyler, The Creator performs during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Tyler, The Creator performs during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Tyler, the Creator tapped Regina King as a guest star in his performance and used the entire stage for the performance that culminated in an explosion at a gas station.

He performed “Thought I Was Dead,” “Like Him” and “Sugar On My Tongue.”

In a dig at President Donald Trump, Trevor Noah said following Billie Eilish’s speech for song of the year: “That is a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense. I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone.”

Billie Eilish cursed out ICE in a speech that begin with “no one is illegal on stolen land.”