The 2025 Grammy Awards, held on February 2 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, marked a historic evening with groundbreaking achievements by Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Doechii.
Beyoncé’s Landmark Victory
Beyoncé secured the coveted Album of the Year award for her country-inspired album, Cowboy Carter, making her the first Black woman to win this category in the 21st century and only the fourth overall.
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, stating, “It’s been many, many years. I want to dedicate this to Ms. Martell.
“I was not expecting this,” Beyoncé said per Variety. She continued, “I want to thank God that I’m able to still do what I love after so many years, oh, my God! I’d like to thank all of the incredible country artists that accepted this, this album we worked so hard on… I think sometimes genre is a cold word to keep us in our place as artists, and just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about. And to stay persistent.”
Beyoncé further cemented her legacy, adding three more wins to her already historic collection. Having set the record in 2023 as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history with Renaissance, she extended her dominance on Sunday night, bringing her total Grammy count to an unprecedented 35. She is both the most nominated and awarded Grammy winner in history.
She also became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for a country music song since the Pointer Sisters won in a similar category in 1975. The “16 Carriages” singer then won best country album for Cowboy Carter.
Kendrick Lamar’s Sweep
Kendrick Lamar dominated the night by winning both Record and Song of the Year for his track “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake noted for its impactful lyrics and cultural commentary. It becomes the first diss record in the history of rap to win Song of the Year.
He dedicated the win to his hometown of LA. “Compton, Watts, Long Beach, Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the Valley, Pacoima, IE, San Bernardino, all that,” he says. “You know, this is my neck of the woods that held me down … since I was in the studio scrapping to write the best raps and all that in order to do records like these.”
Lamar continues, “So I can’t give enough thanks, you know, to these places that I rolled around since high school. And most importantly, the people and the families out in the Palisades and Altadena. This is a true testament that we can continue to restore this city. And yeah, we gonna keep rocking.”
The Compton rapper became a 20-time Grammy winner, also taking home awards for Best Video of the Year, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song for “Not Like Us.”
Doechii’s Historic Win
Rising star Doechii made history by winning Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal, becoming only the third woman to ever receive this honor after Cardi B, who presented her with the award, and Lauryn Hill.
The Florida native has also remarked that her project is a mixtape and she is humbled to receive such a high honor.
In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to Black girls everywhere:
“I wanna tell you, you can do it. Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud. You are exactly who you need to be, to be right where you are and I’m a testimony.”
A Night of Memorable Performances and Tributes
The ceremony featured powerful performances from artists like Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX. A notable tribute honored the late Quincy Jones, with Stevie Wonder and Will Smith delivering a memorable performance. The event also acknowledged the recent Los Angeles wildfires, with tributes and fundraising efforts integrated into the program.
