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Bad Bunny breaks Grammy barrier with album of the year win
The Puerto Rican superstar became the first Latin artist to claim the top prize in the 68-year history of the Grammy Awards on Sunday, dedicating his victory to immigrants and Puerto Rico's musical legacy.
Historic win for Debí Tirar Mas Fotos
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, triumphed over heavyweights Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar for his sixth studio album, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos (translated: I Should Have Taken More Photos). The record, a deeply personal reflection on grief and Puerto Rican heritage, earned him the night's most coveted trophy.
Visibly emotional, the 31-year-old took the stage with tears in his eyes. "For all the people who have lost someone close to them and had to continue forward with lots of strength, this award is for you," he said in Spanish.
His win marks the first time a Spanish-language album has been named album of the year, a milestone for Latin music's growing influence in the global industry.
Stars rally against immigration crackdown
The ceremony in Los Angeles became a platform for artists to voice opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Dozens of performers, including Bad Bunny, Olivia Dean, and Billie Eilish, used their speeches to champion immigrant rights.
"We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens-we are humans and we are Americans."
Bad Bunny, accepting best música urbana album
Dean, who won best new artist, paid tribute to her Windrush-generation grandmother. "I'm a product of bravery," she said. "Those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other."
Eilish, accepting song of the year for Wildflower, urged fans to keep fighting. "Our voices really do matter, and the people matter," she said.
Kendrick Lamar surpasses Jay-Z with 27th Grammy
Lamar made history of his own, becoming the most awarded rapper in Grammy history after winning best rap album for GNX and record of the year for Luther, a duet with SZA. His 27th trophy surpassed Jay-Z's previous record of 25.
The win was nearly overshadowed by a chaotic moment when presenter Cher misread the envelope, briefly suggesting the award had gone to the late Luther Vandross. Lamar later paid tribute to the soul legend, revealing he had "shed a tear" securing permission to sample Vandross's vocals.
K-Pop and country milestones
The night also saw K-Pop's first Grammy win, with Golden from the film KPop Demon Hunters taking best song for visual media. Meanwhile, country icon Reba McEntire made her Grammy performance debut during the In Memoriam segment, honoring legends like Jimmy Cliff and Gwen McCrae.
Lady Gaga, who won best pop album for Mayhem, used her speech to encourage women in music to assert their creative vision. "Fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer," she urged.
Streaming's role in Latin music's rise
Bad Bunny's victory underscores the impact of streaming on breaking language barriers. Last year, he was Spotify's most-streamed artist globally, amassing 19.8 billion plays. His success reflects Latin music's expanding reach beyond traditional markets.
The ceremony also celebrated emerging talent, with all eight best new artist nominees-including Lola Young and Katseye-performing in a dedicated segment. Young, who won best pop performance for Messy, returned to the stage after a hiatus for mental health reasons.
Tributes and surprises close the night
The show featured emotional tributes to music legends, including a Beach Boys homage by Bruce Springsteen and a Chaka Khan-led medley honoring Roberta Flack. Lauryn Hill closed the night with a performance of Nothing Even Matters, a duet originally recorded with D'Angelo.
In a lighter moment, Justin Bieber performed Yukon in just boxer shorts, while Bruno Mars dazzled in a tailored red suit. The televised ceremony, now focused more on performances than awards, handed out only nine trophies during its three-hour runtime, with the remaining 86 presented earlier in the day.
