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    “ICE Out”: Key moments from the 2026 Grammys

    10 Mins Read

    «Fuck ICE»

    «Before I even say “I thank God”, let me say “ICE out”». For obvious reasons, Bad Bunny's speech, expected at the next Super Bowl halftime show amidst a thousand controversies and Trump's disdain, is among the most cited of the 68th edition of the Grammys (see this link for the list of all the winners). «We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not foreigners, we are human and we are Americans. Hate becomes more powerful with hate. The only thing more powerful than hate is love. So we have to be different. If we fight, we must do it with love. We love our people. We love our family. Don't forget it, please.”

    Billie Eilish's statement was even stronger, as she went on stage with her brother Finneas to collect the award for Wildflower: “No one is illegal on stolen land. It's very difficult to know what to say and what to do right now, but I feel like there's a lot of hope in this room. We continue to fight, to raise our voices, to protest: our voices are important, people are important. Fuck ICE.”

    The British Olivia Dean also spoke about it more or less explicitly, recalling that she is the granddaughter of an immigrant, and SZA: “It's truly dystopian to be here in our elegant clothes celebrating successes in the material world while there are people being kidnapped and killed on the street.” Joni Mitchell (who won an award for Archives Volume 4), Justin Bieber, Brandi Carlile, Jack Antonoff have pinned on themselves pins with the words “Ice Out”.

    Bad Bunny makes history

    While Bad Bunny is now being discussed daily outside the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trump and his administration annoyed by the choice of the pop star as main event music of the Superbowl, the Grammys gave an important signal. Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for You need to take more photosthe first time for a record sung entirely in Spanish. A historic victory and the artist himself, hearing Harry Styles' voice pronounce his name, didn't immediately believe it. In his speech, half in Spanish and half in English, he thanked his homeland, his family and the Latin community, dedicating the award to all those who “had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.” A nice message for Trump who said “I don't know who he is”.

    The first bitter Grammys for the Cure

    Strange, but true. Or perhaps not even so strange, given that the Grammys are an American award: in almost 50 years of their recording career, the Cure had never won a “gramophone”. Last night they received two, one in the Best Alternative Music Album category for Songs of a Lost World and one for the song Halo as Best Alternative Music Performance. It was a bitter double victory. They were not present, the funeral of Perry Bamonte, who died in December, was celebrated two days earlier. They sent a rather formal thank you message.

    Another record for Kendrick Lamar

    Records are made to be broken. A phrase that Kendrick Lamar took quite seriously. This year too, the Grammy ceremony represented a historic moment for the Compton rapper who, taking home five awards (out of nine nominations), became the most awarded rapper in the history of the Grammys, surpassing Jay-Z by two points. The ranking now sees him in the lead with 27 victories. Rap Album of the Year for GNXrap song of the year for TV Off with Lefty Gunplay, Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance for Luther (with SZA) and Best Rap Performance for Chains & Whipshis featuring with Clipse and Pharrell Williams. He said into the microphone: «Hip hop will remain forever. And we will wear these clothes. We'll look good. We will have our friends with us. And our culture.” 100% Kendrick.

    Yungblud is everywhere

    Could Yungblud have been missing? No he couldn't. It was beaten by Turnstile in the rock album category and by Nine Inch Nails in the rock song category, but took home the award for Best Rock Performance with the live version of Changes taken at Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert in Birmingham, with Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II. Also on stage with him was Sharon Osbourne, moved. Yungblud thanked Ozzy and said that «rock music is fucking coming back. Watch out, pop music, we're coming.”

    Lady Gaga in a cage

    Whatever that sort of cage hat she wore during the performance was, Lady Gaga stood out, as always. No big choreography, but a very funk-rock version of Abracadabra with the singer on keyboards. Accompanying her among others are Josh Freese on drums and Andrew Watt on guitar. Gaga has won three Grammys, one for Mayhem Best Pop Local Album, one for the remix of Abracadabraone per Abracadabra Best Dance Pop Recording

    The evening of emerging Brits

    The emerging music this year has been very British. On the one hand Olivia Dean, Best New Artist, the award which with Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year is part of the so-called Big Four, the most important of the year. On the other Lola Young, whose Messy beat out Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan in the Best Pop Solo Performance category.

    A memorable In Memoriam

    In 2025 we have lost many artists. The In Memoriam section of this edition was therefore quite intense, with celebratory performances that will rightfully enter the history of the Grammys. Lauryn Hill captained an ever-changing band for the 11-minute tribute to D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. For D'Angelo, Leon Thomas accompanied her on stage (per Devils Pie), Lucky Daye (Brown Sugar), Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton (Untitled) and Jon Batiste (Africa). In the segment for Roberta Flack always Jon Batiste (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face), Leon Bridges and Alexia Jayy (Compared to What), Lalah Hathaway and October London (Closer I Get to You), John Legend and Chaka Khan (Where Is The Love) and Wyclef Jean (Killing Me Softly With His Song).

    For Ozzy Osbourne we saw a super band formed by Post Malone, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns N' Roses, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Andrew Watt. They played War Pigs of Black Sabbath in front of Ozzy's family. Also remembered were Ace Frehley of Kiss, Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople, Rick Derringer, Chris Jasper, Roy Thomas Baker, Brian James of the Damned, Irv Gotti, Clem Burke of Blondie, Anthony Jackson, Michael “5000” Watts, Jack DeJohnette, Jellybean Johnson of Time and David Johansen of the New York Dolls.

    The year of Turnstile (who are not metal)

    For the Grammys it is Never Enough by Turnstile the rock album of the year. Not only that: Birds won the award for Best Metal Performance- And yes, the definition of metal in their case is definitely questionable. In any case, it is mainstream confirmation of the impact of the band who managed to bring hardcore into pop (and vice versa).

    Justin Bieber in his underwear

    It had been four years since Bieber had been present at the Grammys, years in which a bit of everything happened in his career and life. For this return he decided to show up… in his underwear. Or rather, in silk boxers and socks. So, as if he had just gotten out of bed, he arrived on stage holding a guitar, with loop stations and drum machines waiting for him. Taking everyone a bit by surprise, he began to build the guitar and drum line Yukonhis single nominated for Best R&B Performance. Silence fell in the room, with the intimacy of the performance slowly growing in the room until the moment Bieber left the stage with the guitar and drum loop still active. A performative moment that stunned those present, until Bieber returned to turn off the loop and thus end his live, honored by a standing ovation from Chad Smith.

    Nobody does performances like Tyler, The Creator

    Tyler, The Creator's TV performances are always fiery. This time Tyler doubled down. First he presented himself – in a pre-recorded performance – in the guise of Saint Chroma, the character developed for Chromakopiafor a very intense version of Thought I Was Dead complete with “dynamite” in hand. In the second part, however, it was time to Sugar On My Tongue from his latest Don't Tap the Glass. A bit of everything happened here too: Tyler drove a Ferrari on stage, then danced on its roof, chatted in a sketch with Regina King, danced like a madman and, finally, got himself shot and died off-stage in the audience. The usual incredible Tyler.

    Chappell Roan and Gesaffelstein, crazy outfits and where to find them

    American red carpets, especially those of awards, are often opportunities to exaggerate. So it was for Chappell Roan who this year showed up in a custom Mugler dress the color of her hair held up by two nipple piercings. All enriched with fake tattoos, including one all over the back. «I want to break the mold», the declaration from the red carpet. Has Gesaffelstein also broken the mold? The DJ took home an award for Best Remixed Recording for Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, but it was her look that did the talking. The French producer really got into his character, slipping from head to toe into an all-black human-like mask. Part mannequin, part robot (is this becoming a custom in France?), certainly impressive: he could be cast as a villain in some superhero film.

    Cher's speech and gaffe

    She went on stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, she said she had “good genes” (hello, Sydney), she told a part of her career including the bad moments, like when in the 80s “the situation was so serious that I went to Las Vegas, which at the time was considered the elephant cemetery. Then I got dropped by my record label. Another record company signed me and I recorded a song called Believe. I was the first artist to use Auto-Tune. We didn't call him that. There was no Auto-Tune, it was a tuning machine. You know what I'm talking about, right?”.

    After urging them not to give up on their dreams, she turned and started to leave. She was stopped by host Trevor Noah because he had to present the award for Record of the Year won by Kendrick Lamar and SZA with the song Luther. Cher exchanged the title of the piece with the singer of Dance with My Father died 20 years ago and announced: «The Grammy goes to Luther Vandross!».

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