A Night to Remember: TBB’s Take on the 2026 Grammys

The 68th annual Grammy Awards opened with pop sensation Bruno Mars performing “APT.” with Blackpink’s breakout star Rosé. This performance hyped up the crowd and CBS viewers for a music-filled, enthusiastic night! 

6-time consecutive host, the loveable and funny Trevor Noah, brought laughs to the A-list guests and seemingly sparked conversations among viewers at home. Notable jokes included Noah asking for discount codes for Pharrell’s clothing brand and Hailey Bieber’s lip kits. When announcing that legend, Lauryn Hill, was set to perform on the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999, Noah joked about how short the years have felt while naming moments of today happening, as if they were in 1999. Trevor Noah continued shouting out artists with enthusiasm, including Billie Eilish and Finneas: “parents are thinking ‘what are my kids doing with their lives, NOTHING, ‘” when highlighting their accomplishments. When walking past Doechii’s table, Noah joked, “Tonight there is no ‘anxiety,” a nod to her 2025 hit. The last joke that captivated viewers highlighted music fans: “Without concerts, how will we find out which CEOs are having affairs? Displayed for the world on jumbo trons,” the crowd laughs. 

Standout Performances:

Sabrina Carpenter’s clever “man-child” performance had an outstanding airport set. The performance featured multiple men dressed in working attire, dancing and following Carpenter as she graced the stage as a “preppy” flight captain.

Leon Thomas proved that simple is classy. No dancing, no theatrics. Just him and his electric guitar with a small supporting band. Thomas displayed vocal talent with a powerful instrumental twist on his song “MUTT.”

The “Best New Artist” nominees were outstanding. Breakout group KATSEYE had the moves and pipes for the Grammys stage. TikTok star, Addison Rae, who has branched into the pop world, proved her place in the music scene. “Ordinary,” it was; Alex Warren lit up the stage with an emotional performance of his 2025 hit. The Marias soothingly sang their song “No One Noticed” in an intimate, cinematic setting. Lola Young captured hearts with a low-tempo ballad of her song “Messy.” Crowd favorite, Olivia Dean, brought a fresh twist of “coffee-table” music to the stage, gracefully with her song “Man I Need.” To close, the young star, Sombr, shimmered into the spotlight with his song “12 to 12.” The back-to-back performances were the perfect way to display these new artists to the world. 

Justin Bieber was back on the Grammy’s stage. For the first time since 2022, he performed a loop pedal rendition of his song “YUKON” off his new album “SWAG”. Bieber chose to wear basketball shorts, with an electric guitar in hand. The set was simply a carpet. Homage to his musical roots that stemmed from the comfort of his own home.

Lady Gaga: the mythical powerhouse. Her performance of “Abracadabra” brought intensity to the stage. Furthering Gaga’s brand of unique artistry. 

Finally, music legend Lauryn Hill performed a compilation of songs to honor artists who have passed away in the last year. A powerful performance with strong generations of musicians on stage. Closing with a beautiful rendition of “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” 

Award Highlights:

Best Rap Album – Kendrick Lamar earned the prize, over loads of worthy nominations. Lamar’s album “GNX” was a smash hit, coming after his, at the time, un-topable “They Not Like Us” era. 

Best New Artist – Oliva Dean won the award this year. Her songs “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” became mainstream hits over the last few months. Her music is popular through generations, and Dean has proved she is here to stay. 

Best Música Urbana Album – Bad Bunny took home the award for his Album “Debi Tirrar Mas Photos.” To quote, “Ice Out,” Bad Bunny declared.  The acceptance speech was motivational; a Puerto Rican American, speaking on his beliefs and emphasis of life: “the only thing more powerful than hate is love,” the 2026 Super Bowl performer declared.

Song of the Year – Billie Eilish earned her 3rd song of the year title for “Wildflower,” a powerful ballad produced by her brother Finneas. Eilish took her chance to speak up when accepting the honor: “No one is illegal on stolen land.”A message she hopes encourages her peers with platforms to speak out. 

Dr. Dre Global Impact Award – Pharrell Williams earned the prestigious title. Over a decade of experience in the industry, from production to soundtracks, he has done it all. The award was presented by long-term friend Q-Tip. 

Record of the Year  – Presented by Cher, known as the “Goddess of Pop,” this highly acclaimed award was star-studded from the beginning. ROTY went to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther”. On stage, the music collaborators thanked Luther Vandross’s label for clearing the sample used in the song. SZA added, thanks to God, and messaged for the world to stick together through today’s moments of distress: “we need each other.” 

Album of the Year – “Debi Tirrar Mas Photos,” by Bad Bunny, earned AOTY. The crowd erupted as an emotional Bunny walked on stage. For the first time, this honor went to a Spanish-speaking album. The last award of the night was a full-circle moment and an array of feelings. 

The Blake Beat enjoyed covering the 2026 Grammys. An evening of dance, music, and entertainment is a key component of Blake’s signature arts program; hopefully, one day Bengals will be on the Grammy stage.