Beyoncé wins Grammy for Album of the Year as Chappell Roan roasts music industry

Criticism of the Grammy Awards is almost a yearly tradition for many music fans every February. Whether it's pop fans lamenting the academy for giving awards to artists they've never heard of, or the "Beyhive" not understanding what Beyoncé needs to do to win Album of the Year, the awards are always steeped in controversy. This is partly due to long-standing structural issues, and partly because you simply can't please everyone.

Perhaps the most outspoken critic of the awards recently has been Canadian R&B megastar The Weeknd, whose streaming numbers are in the billions. After his single "Blinding Lights" or album "After Hours" received no nominations in 2021, he publicly accused the awards of a lack of transparency. "Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys," he stated in 2021. Therefore, when Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. announced a surprise performance by The Weeknd at Sunday's ceremony, it was a significant moment for an organization eager to show that it has changed.

Similarly, when Beyoncé’s name was announced as the winner of Album of the Year, it felt like a long-overdue end to a meaningless chapter in Grammy history. Her modern classics, such as 2013's "Beyoncé," 2016's "Lemonade," and 2022's "Renaissance," should not have been overlooked, but this year's win felt like a culmination of years of injustice to fans and critics alike. Whether a win for Beyoncé's 2024 country album "Cowboy Carter" will be enough to placate fans remains to be seen.

In 2025, the Grammy Awards faced unprecedented challenges. With the recent fires in Eaton and Palisades only just brought under control, how could organizers put on a celebration in the wake of one of the worst disasters to ever hit the award’s home city of Los Angeles? Pressure creates diamonds, and by turning the focus to supporting fire recovery and celebrating the joy of music, the ceremony often felt like a beacon of light amid tragedy, rather than a meaningless distraction. Host Trevor Noah was as funny as ever in his opening, but his revelation that there were no time limits on speeches this year, but rather a mandatory $1,000 donation for every 90 seconds a winner went over, signaled that amidst the lightheartedness of the evening, there would be a serious push to help Los Angeles recover.

While Grammy veterans like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar were all in attendance and received multiple nominations, the night undoubtedly belonged to the up-and-coming artists. The Best New Artist competition is always fierce, and this year’s nominees proved it with their performances at the ceremony. Sabrina Carpenter charmed early on, performing a big-band swing version of her mid-year hit “Espresso.” She then returned to the normal arrangement and incorporated snippets of another hit, “Please Please Please.” After a hilarious introduction by Trevor Noah, Benson Boone shyly pulled a wireless mic from his suit jacket to perform his 2024 hit, “Beautiful Things.” As if that wasn’t cheesy enough, he then took off his jacket to reveal a sparkly blue jumpsuit before running onto the stage to perform some impressive gymnastics. Incredible 26-year-old Tampa newcomer Doechii showed why she was nominated for Best Rap Album with her unparalleled artistry, and RAYE’s stunning vocals would have given even the most seasoned singers in attendance goosebumps. We had expected Chappell Roan’s performance to be a spectacle, and she didn’t disappoint, paying homage to the community and solace she found in the LGBTQI+ clubs of Los Angeles with an impressive version of “Pink Pony Club.” Backed by a group of dancers in western attire, Chappell straddled a giant pink pony as she sang the uplifting tune. She got plenty of help as the entire venue joined in on those unforgettable choruses.

In her Best New Artist acceptance speech, Chappell Roan spoke of being "betrayed by the system" when she was dropped by her record label as a minor. “I told myself that if I ever won a Grammy and had the opportunity to stand in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that record labels and the industry that make millions off of artists provide livable wages and healthcare for artists, especially developing artists,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Because I signed so young, I signed as a minor, and when I was dropped, I had no work experience, and like most people, I struggled to find work during the pandemic and couldn’t afford health insurance.” She also added, “It is so disheartening to feel so invested in your art and feel betrayed by the system and feel so dehumanized by not having healthcare. I could have had healthcare from the company I gave my all to if my record label prioritized the well-being of artists.”

It was a rare example of using power to hold those in power accountable, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Roan had hinted that she would be outspoken if given the opportunity, telling Apple’s Zane Lowe that she was not one to shy away from expressing how she felt. “I’m about to say something controversial,” she said. “Why not? Girl, what do I have to lose? This fearlessness comes from knowing in my heart that I’m always going to be okay.”

Chappell Roan’s speech wasn’t the only sincere moment of the night. A moving tribute to the late Quincy Jones featured stunning performances from Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Cynthia Erivo, as well as a heartwarming retrospective by Will Smith. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars covered The Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” as a tribute to California, which has been ravaged by fires in recent weeks. With a new Trump administration beginning to take effect, the current political and social climate in the US was also a point of focus for some. Shakira dedicated her Best Latin Pop Album award to immigrants living in the United States. “You are loved, you are worthy, and I will always stand by your side,” she said. Dr Dre Global Impact Award winner Alicia Keys took aim at recent comments made by US President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift,” she said. Lady Gaga delivered a message to her trans fans. “Trans people are not invisible,” she said.

One of the last people to speak on the night was the great Diana Ross, a figure so legendary that even Kendrick Lamar admitted to being in awe in her presence. Her short speech addressed how we can both celebrate and mourn at the same time. “For those who are hurting tonight, you are not alone. We are with you, my heart is with you,” she said. “May this moment remind us all that we have the power to rebuild, to uplift, and to unite with compassion, and by reminding our posterity that even in the darkness, we can rise again and keep the light of hope and love shining.” The Grammy Awards succeeded in putting on one of its greatest ceremonies ever by not taking itself too seriously, and providing a moment of levity amidst a terrible disaster. Now that Beyoncé has won Album of the Year, we’ll have to find another injustice to argue about. Something tells me that won’t be too difficult.