The 66th Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles is expected to blend high-profile performances, bold fashion statements, emotional highlights and the possibility of historic wins when music’s biggest night holds on Sunday.
Here are five major storylines to watch:
Historic race for Album of the Year
The most anticipated prize of the night, Album of the Year, could deliver a groundbreaking outcome. None of the eight nominees — Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, R&B singer Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator, hip-hop duo Clipse (Pusha T and Malice), and pop star Justin Bieber — has previously won the category.
A victory for Lamar’s GNX would see him become the first male solo rapper to win Album of the Year, following past rap winners Lauryn Hill and OutKast. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny could make history if Debi Tirar Mas Fotos triumphs, as it would be the first Spanish-language album to claim the top prize.
Song of the Year goes multilingual
The Song of the Year category reflects the industry’s growing global influence, with three of the eight nominees featuring lyrics not entirely in English.
“Golden,” from the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, and “APT,” by Blackpink’s Rose and Bruno Mars, blend English and Korean lyrics. A win for either track would mark the first bilingual song to earn the songwriting award. Bad Bunny’s Caribbean-inspired “DTMF” is also in contention and could become the first Spanish-language song to win in the category.
Trevor Noah’s final turn as host
South African comedian Trevor Noah returns to host the Grammys for the sixth — and final — time. Now 41, Noah first took on hosting duties in 2021 during a scaled-down ceremony held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ ALSO: “Has he been to prison before?” — Portable dismisses ‘New Fela’ claims linked to Wizkid
Known for combining political satire with light-hearted entertainment, Noah has generally received positive reviews for his performances as host. Reflecting on his departure, executive producer Ben Winston said, “His impact on the show has been truly spectacular, and we can’t wait to do it together one last time.”
Justin Bieber’s return to the Grammy stage
Justin Bieber is among the confirmed performers at the ceremony, which will take place at the Crypto.com Arena. The pop star has earned four nominations, including Album of the Year for Swag, his first studio album in four years, released unexpectedly last July.
The 31-year-old has faced health challenges after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a rare neurological condition that partially paralyzed his face and forced him to cancel the final leg of a world tour. Bieber, who rose to fame in 2009, is also set to headline the Coachella music festival in April. Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter and Clipse are also scheduled to perform.
New and reshaped Grammy categories
This year’s Grammys will feature 95 award categories following the introduction of two new honors and the consolidation of others. A best traditional country album category has been added in response to concerns that pop-country styles were overshadowing more classic country sounds. The former best country album category has been renamed best contemporary country album.
The Recording Academy has also introduced a new award for best album cover. Explaining the changes, the academy said, “These additions further the Recording Academy’s commitment to recognizing a broader spectrum of artistic craft and honoring the evolving ways music is created and experienced.”
Additionally, the categories for best recording package and best boxed or special limited edition package have been merged into a single category, best recording package.
