Lights, Camera, Red Carpet
By: Carrigan Hamilton, Senior Staff Writer
On February 1st, the 2026 Grammy Awards, hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, brought a night consisting of glam, fun, and excitement in Los Angeles. The awards honored a variety of music styles, including pop, country, folk, hip-hop, and much more. Awards were handed out, artists performed on stage, and the red carpet featured fan favorite artists. But what really makes this night so special?
One main event of the Grammys is the awards ceremony, where awards are presented in specific categories. This includes big awards such as Album of the Year or Song of the Year, along with some lesser-known categories such as Best Historical Album, which are not typically televised. Big names featured in the Album of the Year category included albums like MAYHEM by Lady Gaga and Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter.
However, the prestigious award was won by Bad Bunny for his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, who also happened to be the performer for the past Super Bowl. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bad Bunny made history as he was “the first artist to win Album of the Year for an all-Spanish-language album.”
Throughout the night, performers make their way to the stage and showcase their musical talent to the audience. A memorable and exciting performance at this year’s Grammys was the traditional New Artist showcase, where nominees in the New Artist category sang their hit songs that had made the charts. According to Billboard, the performance was kicked off by Addison Rae with her song “Fame is a Gun,” which smoothly transitioned into the energetic song “Gnarly” by KATSEYE, a girl group.
The medley carried on with emotional performances such as Lola Young singing her hit song “Messy” and the jazzy performance of the New Artist nominee winner, Olivia Dean. The setting of the performances varied from being backstage to on stage, taking the audience on a ride of popular hit songs from new voices.
The host kept the show engaging with his humorous comedy, ensuring a more enjoyable night for the audience. Although, one concern was the length of the show, which seemed to run at a slower pace due to the numerous performances. While the performances provided entertainment, they overshadowed the actual awards ceremony. Junior Katelyn Boresi voiced her opinion on the number of performances.
“There were a lot of performances and not a lot of awards given out. It would have been nice to see awards that aren’t typically shown on TV, like when Laufey won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album,” said Boresi.
This may have caused a loss of anticipation leading up to the awards with the abundance of performers.
Overall, the 2026 Grammy Awards will serve as a night to remember, filled with grand performances and surprising and exciting award winners celebrated by the fans and the artists. So, what makes this night truly special? It commemorates the emotional impact music has on society, connecting fans with diverse tastes in music.
