LOS ANGELES — Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and the late Jimmy Carter were among the winners as dozens of early Grammy Awards were presented Sunday afternoon ahead of the evening’s prime-time broadcast.
Leading nominee Beyoncé won her first award of the night for her song featuring Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted.” It took home the country duo/group performance during the Grammy’s Premiere Ceremony, where a whopping 85 awards will be handed out. It marks Beyoncé’s first win in a country category.
Kenrick Lamar’s ubiquitous “Not Like Us” was an early winner, receiving trophies for music video, rap song and rap performance. It marks his seventh time winning in the latter category.
Former President Jimmy Carter won a posthumous Grammy Award for narrating “Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration,” recordings from his final Sunday School lessons delivered at Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia.
The pre-telecast show at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles began with host/songwriter Justin Tranter giving out the first award of the day, best pop solo performance to Sabrina Carpenter for “Espresso.” It is her first Grammy win.
First-time winners were abundant. Soon afterward, Charli xcx also won her first two Grammys, in the best pop dance recording category for “Von Dutch” and best dance/electronic album for “BRAT.” Carin León won his first Grammy for his first nomination: Música Mexicana album (including Tejano) for his blockbuster “Boca Chueca, Vol. 1.”
Ten of the first 15 winners were not there to pick up the award, including Beyoncé, Charli XCX and Carpenter.
Amy Allen won the songwriter of the year, non-classical, a Grammy category that has only existed for three years. She is the first woman to ever win. Tobias Jesso Jr. won in 2023 and Theron Thomas won in 2024.
“The child in me … is screaming and crying and laughing at the absurdity of this moment. We are the engine that fuels the entire music industry,” Allen said of songwriters past and present.
Sierra Ferrell won her first Grammys for Americana performance, Americana roots song, Americana album, and American roots performance. She pulled an acceptance speech out of a scepter. “Honestly this is kind of hilarious,” she joked after returning to the stage for a third time. “Yikes!” she started her fourth acceptance speech.
The energy was high from minute one: Yolanda Adams, Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying, Angelique Kidjo and Taj Mahal opened the premiere ceremony with a soulful rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
As Los Angeles continues to recover from fires that destroyed more than 14,000 structures and displaced tens of thousands, the Recording Academy has reformatted its award show as a benefit to help wildfire victims.
“We’re also going to recognize the resilience of our community and celebrate our first responders and do our very best to lift up this city that we love,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said in his opening remarks.
Saturday night, at the annual pre-Grammy benefit gala hosted by Clive Davis, Mason jr. revealed the Grammys and its affiliated MusiCares charity has raised “almost $5 million in aid” to those in the music industry impacted by the wildfires.
The Grammys will seek to add to those donations.
Viewers and attendees will still see trophies handed out and a bespoke concert experience — but they will also watch the show raise awareness, drive donations and resources to funds that benefit people in need.
Comedian Trevor Noah will host for a fifth year in a row. The Grammys will air live on CBS and Paramount+ beginning at 7 p.m. Chicago time.
The award show can also be watched through live TV streaming services that include CBS in their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.
Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Charli xcx, Doechii, RAYE, Benson Boone, Shakira, Teddy Swims, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars will perform at the 2025 Grammys.
Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe and Will Smith will pay tribute to the late, legendary producer Quincy Jones.
Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Cynthia Erivo, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Collier, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent will also appear. Taylor Swift, who last month wrapped her massive Eras tour, will be a presenter.
Other presenters will include Smith, Cardi B, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Rodrigo, Queen Latifah, SZA, Victoria Monét and the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith.
