SPECIAL REPORT: The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Had It All, From Stellar Performances To Jaw-Dropping Moments
Let's get into this year's show hosted by comedian and writer Trevor Noah
Hello,
Welcome to The Diamond Report. Today's bonus edition is all about this year’s Grammy Awards. From Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori walking the carpet naked to Beyoncé’s long-awaited Album of the Year win, here’s everything you missed during the show.
But, before you dive any deeper, I would like to welcome you to The Diamond Club. If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe and come back next month (or maybe sooner) for more!
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards stood as a testament to what award’s ceremonies should be. Similar to any award’s show, there were some points when I wanted to fast forward (yes, I’m looking at you Janelle Monáe), but overall, it was an amazing show.
Five-time host Trevor Noah was entertaining throughout the entire show without being too long-winded or corny. Honestly, I barely remember anything that he said because the show was packed with great performances, which is exactly how it should be. The program seemed to move by fast, despite it being a long show. And, by the grace of God, the recipients for the awards deserved to win and country-pop star Taylor Swift walked away with nothing (sorry not sorry Taylor).
Here’s some of the moments you missed from last night’s Grammy Awards.
Note: This newsletter was finished and ready to send out the morning after the show, but I was holding it, in hope that the Recording Academy would release the footage from two key performances. They haven’t yet, so the show must go on. But, make no mistake, I am campaigning for the release of the Best New Artist performances and The Weeknd’s return to the Grammy stage! #FreeTheFootage
Top Moments From The 67th Annual Grammy Awards
Kanye West and His Wife Bianca Censori Get Escorted Out
Before the award show even started, Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori arrived on the red carpet, marking West’s first return to the carpet since 2015. His wife originally sported a black fur coat before turning around and slowly (and potentially forcibly) dropping it to reveal a mini dress made of sheer illusion netting.
The two left shortly after that. There has been online debate saying that the stunt got them kicked out of the Grammys; however, that is not true. Here’s a clip of them walking the carpet, and for obvious reasons, the video posted by E! News has been censored.
AP Journalist Krysta Fauria Rudely Cuts Off Babyface
This moment also happened before the award ceremony, and it angered both Black Twitter (or I guess, Black X now?) and the journo-girls. While AP Reporters Krysta Fauria and Leslie Ambriz were on the red carpet interviewing legendary singer-songwriter and producer Babyface, Fauria spotted the night’s Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan. She proceeded to move awkwardly behind Ambriz, who had just finished her (really good) question to Babyface, and called out for Roan in the middle of Babyface’s response.
“You guys want to take that,” he said, stopping in the middle of his sentence and looking behind him. “Go do that.”
Ambriz instantly apologized taking the microphone back from him, as he walked away. Later that evening, after the clip had already gone viral and the moment passed, Fauria apologized to Babyface on-camera. Click here to view the incident and here to view her apology.
Note: Within 24 hours, Krysta Fauria has deactivated her social media pages. I can only image the hate messages that she was receiving. I have a lot of thoughts on this moment. As a journalist, I get the need to secure an interview on the carpet; however, the way she handled it was completely wrong and unprofessional. All she had to do was step aside and grab Roan quietly or even pull her into the interview with Babyface. It sucks that this one viral moment has seemingly tainted her many years in journalism and to a certain extent, I do feel bad for her.
Do I think that this moment will cause her to lose her job? No, I do not. I think she will be fine as the moment calms down. She may even be off red carpets for a while, but she’ll be back.
Do I think that if I were in her position and made that major “mistake” live that I still would have a job at the very publication that sets the journalism standard? No, I do not.
And, that is where I am going to leave this because I think everyone can read between the lines there.
Best New Artist Nominee’s Joint Performance
This is my absolute favorite part of the award ceremony. Best New Artist nominees Benson Boone (“Beautiful Things”), Doechii (“Denial is a River”), Shaboozey (“A Bar Song”), Raye (“Worth It”) and Teddy Swims (“Lose Control”) performed their hit songs one after another, beginning with Boone tearing away his suit to reveal a sparkly blue outfit and ending with powerhouse singer Raye’s insane vocal abilities.
It was one electric performance after another, with each artist shining in their own lane and owning their moment. In my opinion, it was a great way to introduce the Best New Artist nominees to those who haven’t heard of them.
The winner for this year could have gone either way because each individual was insanely talented, and this performance showed the world exactly who they were.
The Weeknd’s Returns to the Grammy Stage
When Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive officer of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, walked onto the stage, I thought it was going to be another 10- to 15-minute speech about how the Grammys is working on efforts to diversify and how they hear people’s cries about the lack of inclusion.
But, he caught my attention when he said, “I remember waking up to the headlines that the Weeknd called out the Academy for lack of transparency in our awards. He went so far as to announce he was boycotting the Grammys.” On the screen, screenshots of different article headlines surrounding The Weeknd’s boycott of the Grammys came up, and I started wondering why he was only calling him out.
Then, he said these glorious words that even I never thought I’d hear again.
“As we’ve seen tonight, music is a powerful force for good. It heals us. It unites us, and we need that in this city right now. With that in mind, on a truly special night, what better way to bring us together than this next artist?” he said. “I’m so honored to leave you with a sentence that I wasn’t sure would ever be said on the Grammy stage again. My friends, my fellow music makers, please join me in welcoming back none other than four-time Grammy winning artist and global superstar, The Weeknd.”
To know me is to know that I am a huge fan of The Weeknd. Seeing him return to the Grammy stage was a moment that I wasn’t expecting, and I loved every second of it.
Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year (Finally)
This one needs no introduction. Ladies and Gentlemen, please enjoy Beyoncé’s acceptance speech for Album of the Year.
Who Won?
As I said above, I feel like the Grammys was amazing in all avenues this year. While not everyone can be a winner, I feel like the artists who won the awards deserved it.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” to no one’s surprise, took home an award in every category that it had a nomination for. Beyoncé finally got the recognition she deserved, taking home Album of the Year, making her a 35-time Grammy award-winning artist with 99 nominations under her belt. Doechii, who is getting the superstar treatment for her song “Denial is a River,” made history, becoming the third female rapper to take home the award for Best Rap Album for her album Alligator Bites Never Heal. Bronx native and jazz singer Samara Joy snagged two awards in her categories for her latest album, and Broadway hit Hell’s Kitchen took home the win for Best Musical Theater album.
Check out some of winners from the 2025 Grammy Awards below:
Record of the Year: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Album of the Year: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé
Song of the Year: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Best New Artist: Chappell Roan
Rap
Best Rap Performance: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap Song: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Music Video: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap Album: Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
Best Melodic Rap Performance: “3” by Rapsody featuring Erykah Badu
R&B
Best R&B Performance: “Made For Me (Live On BET)” by Muni Long
Best Traditional R&B Performance: “That’s You” by Lucky Daye
Best R&B Song: “Saturn” written by Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon & Scott Zhang (song by: SZA)
Best Progressive R&B Album: So Glad to Know You by Avery*Sunshine; Why Lawd? by NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge)
Best R&B Album: 11:11 Deluxe by Chris Brown
Pop
Best Pop Solo Performance: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Best Pop Vocal Album: Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Best Dance Pop Recording: “Von dutch” by Charli xcx
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Visions by Norah Jones
Country
Best Country Album: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé
Best Country Solo Performance: “It Takes A Woman” by Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “II MOST WANTED” by Beyoncé featuring Miley Cyrus
Best Country Song: “The Architect” written by Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne (song by: Kacey Musgraves)
Gospel
Best Gospel Performance/Song: “One Hallelujah” by Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton featuring Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: “That’s My King” by CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Album: “More Than This” by CeCe Winans
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Heart Of A Human by DOE
Best Roots Gospel Album: Church by Cory Henry
Other Awards
Best Comedy Album: The Dreamer by Dave Chappelle
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording: Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration by Jimmy Carter
Best Musical Theater Album: Hell’s Kitchen by Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis & Maleah Joi Moon, principal vocalists; Adam Blackstone, Alicia Keys & Tom Kitt, producers (Alicia Keys, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
Best African Music Performance: “Love Me JeJe” by Tems
Best Jazz Performance: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” by Samara Joy featuring Sullivan Fortner
Best Jazz Vocal Album: A Joyful Holiday by Samara Joy
View the full list of winners by clicking here.
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