Over the last few weeks, California has been struck by one of the harshest and brutally devastating natural disasters in history. While more than 15,000 homes, businesses, and establishments were lost to the fires, Hollywood decided to show their resilience in the only way they know how: by putting on a show. On Sunday February 3rd, the heavily anticipated 2025 Grammys were held live in sunny Los Angeles.

Considering the ongoing efforts to rebuild the devastated city, Los Angeles seemed to rally all the celebrities they could in order to not only carry on the Grammy tradition but also to support all those affected by the fires. 

Throughout the show, several commercials were aired promoting local small businesses affected by the fires. They even included cameos by celebrities like Charlie Puth and Doja Cat to further emphasize celebrity solidarity and unity with the LA community. This effort not only demonstrated the strength and resilience of the California community but also it proved against the selfish stereotype of LA natives and Hollywood stars. 

The show was hosted by Trevor Noah and held performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Lady gaga and Bruno Mars, Benson Boone, Doechii, and more. 

The show producers also made a point of demonstrating just how diverse the Academy has become in hopes of finally defeating the rigged and elitist reputation the Grammys are known for having.

This newfound diversity still posed an important yet unanswered question: will The Weeknd ever arrive again? By The Weeknd I mean the four time Grammy winning superstar who has been openly boycotting the Grammys for the last few years due to a lack of representation in the academy. With the new changes, I can confidently attest to The Weeknd finally making his return to the Grammy stage with his phenomenal performance of his newest album Hurry Up Tomorrow. 

2025 was the year for new artists, more specifically the return of the Modern Popstar. This archetype is perfectly depicted in the enigma that is Chappell Roan. Her performance not only received a standing ovation, but also was the most animated and energetic performance seen since the early 2000’s. She included full costumes, makeup, backup dancers, and colorful, complex backgrounds that made her performance one to remember. 

Perhaps the most criticized award of the night was Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album winning for the best country album category. Viewers were not the only ones surprised by this revelation as Queen Bee herself was shown to be heavily shocked by her new win. This controversial decision may or may not prove the Beyoncé theories to be true, however, Beyoncé is a legend and this album demonstrated her full commitment to her craft and the utter versatility of her sound. 

Perhaps the most touching performance of the night was the beautiful tribute to Quincy Jones, the renowned producer, conductor, and artist. The performance included Cynthia Erivo’s rendition of Fly me to the moon while Lanie Wilson performed a cover of “Let the Good Times Roll” alongside Jacob Collier. The performance even included Stevie Wonder and his beloved harmonica followed by a breathtaking performance of “We are the World” sung by choirs from schools who have been affected by the fires. 

The show ended in a truly BRAT fashion by none other than Charli XCX performing her Diva anthem “Guess” with what seemed like 100s of equally iconic public personas. Models Gabriette and Alex Consani were spotted in the performance as well as Quen Blackwell and The Dare, who is a featured artist on the album. 

This performance was a showstopping way to end a legendary night. The energy, club-art fashion, and overall atmosphere of the performance left the audience and the viewers with a sense of appreciation for the art created in 2025 and the pop music renaissance of this new generation. 

The Grammys serves as a night of appreciation not just for the celebrities invited, but for the art itself. Art is the one thing that seems to unite all of humankind, even in the face of hopeless disaster. This year’s show demonstrated the power of community and the healing power of art for all.