3rd February 2025
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards delivered something rare in today’s award show landscape—a nearly four-hour broadcast that was actually worth the watch. From electrifying performances to long-awaited wins, this year’s show was a cultural touchstone that blended legacy, new artistry, and social consciousness in a way that felt fresh, relevant, and even urgent.
Doechii: A Star Solidified
For the uninitiated, this was an invitation to step into Doechii’s world. For those already tuned in, it was a confirmation: she’s next. The industry has been waiting for a voice that disrupts, reinvents, and reinvigorates. Doechii just made it clear—she is that voice. Blending hip-hop, R&B, and avant-garde visuals with a presence that commands attention, her Grammy performance wasn’t just a breakout moment—it was a warning shot to the industry. She’s not coming. She’s here.
The Beyoncé Moment: A Long Overdue Coronation
For years, the Grammys have faced scrutiny over their treatment of Black artists, with Beyoncé’s repeated Album of the Year snubs being a prime example. This year, history was made as she finally took home the prestigious award, resolving what had become one of music’s biggest ongoing narratives. The relief was palpable—not just for the Beyhive but for the industry at large, which could now move past the “Susan Lucci” comparisons and acknowledge her undeniable impact.
A Stage for the Next Generation
Unlike previous years, where nostalgia often overshadowed new talent, the 2025 Grammys successfully balanced both. Rising stars Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan weren’t just present—they were the night’s breakout stars. Carpenter, with her old-Hollywood-meets-modern-pop aesthetic, turned the stage into a spectacle worthy of Busby Berkeley, blending camp, comedy, and choreography in a way that felt both classic and completely of the moment. Roan, in contrast, embraced theatrical maximalism, performing atop a giant pony, backed by rodeo clowns in a sequence that paid homage to her LGBTQ+ fanbase without turning advocacy into tokenism.
The Best New Artist Renaissance
One of the biggest critiques of recent Grammys has been their failure to properly spotlight emerging talent. Not this year. All eight Best New Artist nominees were given performance slots, and the results were nothing short of exhilarating. From Doechii’s genre-blurring set to Benson Boone’s Freddie Mercury-esque theatrics (complete with acrobatics and an unexpected wardrobe adjustment), this segment reminded us why the Grammys still matter: they can transform careers overnight.
The Absence of Taylor and Beyoncé as Performers—And Why It Didn’t Matter
In an era where major stars often skip performing at award shows, both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé were largely spectators this time. And yet, their presence alone was enough to keep viewers engaged—Swift with her ever-memorable reaction shots, and Beyoncé with a speech that doubled as a victory lap. The night wasn’t reliant on their performances; instead, it thrived on the strength of the new wave of artists stepping up to claim their moment.
Cultural Relevance Restored
The Grammys are often accused of being out of touch, but this year, the show felt remarkably in sync with cultural conversations. It was an evening that celebrated artistry across genres, acknowledged the changing face of pop music, and delivered moments that will be dissected and discussed for years to come. If this is the future of the Grammys, then music’s biggest night might just be finding its way back to cultural prominence.