The 68th Grammy Awards: Everything You Need to Know
A Star-Studded Evening Celebrating Music’s Finest
The music industry’s most prestigious night has arrived once again, as the 68th annual Grammy Awards take center stage this Sunday evening. This year’s ceremony promises to be particularly memorable, with hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar leading the nominations with an impressive nine nods, showcasing his continued dominance in the music landscape. The event represents not just a celebration of artistic achievement but also a reflection of how the music industry has evolved over the past year. For music lovers and casual observers alike, the Grammys remain an essential cultural touchstone that brings together diverse genres, generations of artists, and millions of viewers worldwide. This year’s show will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, maintaining the tradition of hosting the ceremony in the entertainment capital of the world, and will feature exciting new categories, powerful performances, and heartfelt tributes to legends we’ve lost.
New Categories and Viewing Options for Music Fans
For the 68th edition, the Recording Academy has introduced two exciting new categories that reflect the changing landscape of music appreciation and production. The addition of Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover brings the total number of Grammy categories to 95, demonstrating the Academy’s commitment to honoring both musical artistry and visual creativity. The former Best Country Album category has been thoughtfully renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, creating a distinction that better serves the diverse spectrum of country music today. This reorganization acknowledges that country music, like many genres, has evolved into multiple sub-styles that deserve individual recognition. For those eager to watch the ceremony, multiple viewing options are available to accommodate different preferences and subscription services. The show will air live on CBS television stations beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific Time), making it accessible to traditional cable viewers across the country. For cord-cutters and streaming enthusiasts, Paramount+ will offer live streaming for Premium subscribers, while Essential subscribers can access the show on-demand starting Monday. The red carpet special, hosted by Kalyna Astrinos and entertainment journalist Grae Drake, will begin an hour earlier at 7 p.m. Eastern Time and will be available through CBS News Los Angeles and the KCAL channel for viewers in the Los Angeles market.
Record-Breaking Nominations and Historic Achievements
This year’s nomination list reads like a who’s who of contemporary music, with several artists achieving remarkable milestones. Kendrick Lamar’s nine nominations include a nod for Album of the Year for his latest work “GNX,” marking an unprecedented achievement in Grammy history. This nomination represents his fifth consecutive studio album to receive an Album of the Year nomination, a feat that no other artist has ever accomplished. This consistency speaks volumes about Lamar’s artistic vision, cultural impact, and ability to remain relevant while pushing creative boundaries. Following Lamar in the nomination count are Lady Gaga, legendary producer Jack Antonoff, and Canadian producer and songwriter Cirkut, each receiving seven nominations. The diverse group of artists with six nominations each includes Latin superstar Bad Bunny, pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter, R&B artist Leon Thomas, and Canadian audio engineer Serban Ghenea. Particularly noteworthy is Bad Bunny’s historic achievement as the first Spanish-language artist ever to receive nominations for song, record, and album of the year in the same year, according to Variety. This milestone represents a significant moment for Latinx representation in mainstream music recognition and demonstrates the Grammy’s evolving appreciation for non-English language artistry.
An Unforgettable Performance Lineup
The performance roster for this year’s Grammy Awards promises to deliver memorable moments that will have people talking long after the broadcast ends. In a unique and inclusive gesture, all eight artists nominated for Best New Artist will take the stage, giving viewers a comprehensive showcase of emerging talent. This group includes Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and The Marías, representing a wonderfully diverse array of musical styles and perspectives. These performances offer these rising stars an invaluable platform to introduce themselves to millions of potential new fans and demonstrate why they’ve earned their nominations. Beyond the newcomers, the show will feature performances from established stars including the ever-popular Sabrina Carpenter and the globally beloved Justin Bieber. Hip-hop fans will be treated to a performance from Clipse alongside producer extraordinaire Pharrell Williams, promising a masterclass in the genre’s artistry. The ceremony will also include deeply moving tribute performances honoring artists who left us too soon. The incomparable Lauryn Hill will perform a tribute to D’Angelo, who tragically passed away from cancer in October at just 51 years old, as well as honoring the legendary Roberta Flack, who died in February at age 88. Additionally, Post Malone will join rock royalty including Duff McKagan, Slash, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt to pay tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, ensuring that departed legends receive the recognition they deserve.
Presenters and the Return of a Beloved Host
The presentation duties for this year’s Grammy Awards will be handled by an impressive roster of A-list talent that adds extra star power to the proceedings. Three-time Grammy Award winner Harry Styles, one of the most popular artists of his generation, will be among those handing out the coveted golden gramophones throughout the evening. His presence guarantees excitement from his massive fanbase and adds prestige to whichever categories he presents. Also serving as a presenter is Doechii, an artist who already has a Grammy Award to her name and is nominated for five additional awards this Sunday. Her dual role as both presenter and multiple nominee reflects the unique position she occupies as both an established winner and an artist still ascending to new heights. Steering the entire ship for an impressive sixth consecutive year is comedian and former “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. His return to the hosting role has become a Grammy tradition, and his sharp wit, cultural intelligence, and genuine love for music make him the perfect master of ceremonies for such a diverse and unpredictable event. Last year, Noah expertly guided the broadcast through a ceremony that had to be thoughtfully refocused in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, demonstrating his ability to balance celebration with sensitivity. In a previous interview with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King, Noah revealed what keeps him coming back to host the Grammys year after year: the beautiful unpredictability of it all. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. So that’s what I love about the Grammys is it’s live; it’s happening; it’s on the fly,” he explained, capturing the electric energy that makes live television so captivating.
The Venue and What Makes This Year Special
The 68th annual Grammy Awards will unfold at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, a venue that has become synonymous with major entertainment events in the heart of the city. This location places the ceremony firmly in the entertainment capital of the world, where the music, film, and television industries converge. The arena provides the perfect backdrop for an event of this magnitude, with state-of-the-art production capabilities that ensure every performance looks and sounds spectacular for both the live audience and viewers watching at home. What makes this particular Grammy ceremony stand out is the combination of honoring tradition while embracing innovation. The new categories recognize evolving tastes and the importance of visual artistry in music, while the nomination of Spanish-language artists for the biggest awards signals a more inclusive future for the industry. The performance lineup balances emerging artists with established superstars, and the tribute performances ensure that we don’t forget the giants whose shoulders today’s artists stand upon. As music fans prepare to tune in on Sunday evening, whether through traditional cable, streaming services, or by watching the red carpet pre-show, they can expect an evening filled with surprises, emotional moments, spectacular performances, and the recognition of artistic excellence across every genre. The Grammys remain a cultural institution precisely because they evolve while maintaining their core mission: celebrating the transformative power of music in all its forms.
