Taylor Swift presents Beyoncé with finest nation album

A surprised expression shot throughout Beyoncé’s face as her newest report, Cowboy Carter, was named finest nation album on the 67th Grammy Awards.

In a second laced with symbolism, the award was introduced by Taylor Swift – one other artist who has efficiently switched genres – and who’s Beyoncé’s competitors for the night time’s foremost prize, album of the yr.

“Wow, I actually was not anticipating this,” mentioned the star, thanking “all the unimaginable nation artists” who had voted for the prize.

The popularity got here 5 months after Beyoncé was snubbed on the Nation Music Awards – even after she grew to become the primary black girl to have a primary hit on the Sizzling Nation Songs chart, with Texas Maintain ‘Em.

That tune was additionally nominated for report of the yr, however misplaced to Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.

The rap hit, which was the knock-out blow in Lamar’s long-running rap battle with Drake, scooped all 5 of the awards it was nominated for, together with tune of the yr, finest rap tune and finest music video.

It was solely the second hip-hop tune win report of the yr (following Infantile Gambino’s This Is America in 2019) however Lamar performed the achievement down, focusing as a substitute on his hometown of Los Angeles, which was lately ravaged by wildfires.

“We’re gonna dedicate this one to town,” he mentioned. “Compton, Lengthy Seaside Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the valley… That is my neck of the woods that held me down since a younger pup.”

The ceremony, on the Crypto.com area in Los Angeles, doubled up as a fund-raiser for individuals affected by the fires, elevating greater than $7 million (£5.7 million) by the tip of the night time.

The present opened with a particular efficiency by the native band Dawes, whose properties have been destroyed within the inferno, enjoying Randy Newman’s basic tune I Love LA.

Later, Woman Gaga and Bruno Mars delivered a rousing model of California Dreamin’, initially by The Mamas & Papas, devoted to the primary responders who helped deal with the fires.

Comic Trevor Noah, who hosted the ceremony, admitted that “just some weeks in the past, we weren’t positive that this present would even occur”.

“Fortunately, because of the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and regardless of all of the devastation, the spirit of town has emerged,” he added, to beneficiant applause.

Squads of firefighters have been invited to the awards to honour their efforts; they usually walked the crimson carpet taking selfies with the largest stars in music.

Los Angeles native Billie Eilsh was the second artist on stage, and performed her award-nominated tune Birds Of A Feather in opposition to a backdrop impressed by California’s pure magnificence.

“I really like you LA,” she mentioned because the music ended.

Noah later joked that winners whose speeches ran longer than one-and-a-half minutes could be pressured to donate $1,000 for each additional second they spoke.

As for the awards, Beyoncé arrived on the ceremony with probably the most nominations – 11 in whole.

She already has extra Grammys than another artist in historical past, a haul of 32 trophies, however has by no means gained the largest prize, album of the yr.

Successful finest nation album signalled that she’s within the working for the highest trophy on the fifth time of asking – however the class is stacked with equally-deserving data by Billie Eilish and four-time winner Taylor Swift.

British pop star Charli XCX can be within the working for Brat – which has already gained three trophies, together with finest dance/pop album.

Sabrina Carpenter is one other sturdy contender, having already gained finest pop vocal album for Brief ‘n’ Candy, and finest pop solo efficiency for her flirtatious summer time anthem, Espresso.

Chappell Roan gained finest new artist, and used her speech to name for equitable pay and situations within the music business.

“I informed myself, if I ever gained a Grammy and I obtained to face up right here in entrance of probably the most highly effective individuals in music, I’d demand that labels and the business profiting hundreds of thousands of {dollars} off of artists, would supply a habitable wage and well being care, particularly to creating artists,” she mentioned.

“Labels, we obtained you, however do you bought us?”

In the meantime, Woman Gaga was certainly one of many artists to face up for the LGBTQ+ group, after President Trump issued govt orders that banned range, fairness and inclusion within the authorities, in addition to one which recognised two sexes, female and male.

“I simply need to say tonight that trans persons are not invisible,” she mentioned, accepting the award for finest pop duo/group efficiency with Bruno Mars, for his or her duet Die With A Smile.

“Trans individuals deserve love, the queer group deserves to be lifted up. Music is love. Thanks.”

The primary prize of the principle ceremony was finest rap album, which went to Florida-born rapper Doechii, for her mixtape Alligator Bites By no means Heal.

She famous it was solely the third time a lady had gained the class because it was launched in 1989, with a shout-out to her predecessors Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.

“There are such a lot of black girls on the market which might be watching me proper now, and I need to let you know, you are able to do it,” she added.

“Something is feasible. Do not enable anyone to venture any stereotypes on you [or] let you know that you would be able to’t be right here, that you just’re too darkish, or that you just’re not good sufficient, or that you just’re too dramatic otherwise you’re too loud.

“You’re precisely who that you must be to be proper the place you might be and I’m an affidavit. Reward God.”

The present additionally featured a prolonged tribute to Quincy Jones, who died final yr on the age of 91, after producing among the most iconic tunes in pop historical past for artists together with Frank Sinatra, Dizzie Gillespie, Michael Jackson and Chaka Khan.

The section was launched by Will Smith, making his first look at a televised awards ceremony since since he slapped Chris Rock onstage on the Oscars in 2022.

The musician mentioned he owed his profession to Jones, who solid him within the Nineties sitcom Contemporary Prince of Bel Air, and known as him “probably the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our occasions”.

He then launched Depraved star Cynthia Erivo and pianist Herbie Hancock, who carried out Jones’s association of Fly Me To The Moon.

The tribute continued with Stevie Marvel performing We Are The World, and Janelle Monaé delivering a pitch-perfect model of Michael Jackson’s Do not Cease ‘Til You Get Sufficient, in a reproduction of the star’s glittery tuxedo and silver crystal ankle socks.