The Grammys was full of satisfying to shocking surprises, and we’re analyzing this year’s dispersal of golden gramophones
From stunning red carpet looks to dazzling stage performances, this year’s Grammy Awards were a whirlwind of glamour and excitement. However, the distribution of the golden gramophones has faced some degree of controversy. Here, we present our shared victories and hot takes from one of the most iconic nights in the music industry.
There’s no denying Doechii made history
Introducing the third woman to ever win best rap album , Doechii has rightfully taken the stage with her mixtape “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” Known for effortlessly mixing genres such as rap, R&B and hip-hop with punchy lyricism, Doechii deserved to win this category, there is no doubt.
When she received her award, Doechii took the opportunity in front of the microphone to deliver a speech that felt full of gratitude and empowerment. She mentioned some of the challenges she has overcome throughout her career, as well as encouraged the audience to believe that anything is possible and not to “let anyone project stereotypes” onto them.
A “Short n’ Sweet” treat
Sabrina Carpenter made her Grammys debut this year, adding two awards to her collection, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album. With 5.5 billion streams on Spotify, “Short n’ Sweet” was an album that made history for Carpenter. Fans who have supported Carpenter since her first album release of “Eyes Wide Open” nearly a decade ago have watched her persevere and make a name for herself in the music industry.
“Short n’ Sweet” gave Carpenter the opportunity to make her voice and style unmistakable in the industry. Carpenter brings a dazzlingly unique brand filled with glitter, flirty lyrics and catchy songs–all with a vintage twist.
In true “Short n’ Sweet” fashion, Carpenter wowed the audience with a vibrant performance of “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” at the award show before taking home her trophies. We saw no problems with Carpenter’s two wins at the Grammys — only a hardworking and talented young artist getting the recognition she deserves.
Album of the year goes to. . . Cowboy Carter?
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or at least one of them. Beyoncé shocked us with not only winning best country album, but also album of the year. Beyoncé has been one of the biggest names in the music industry for nearly 20 years, and “Cowboy Carter” was the album that won her her first album of the year Grammy.
Don’t get it twisted, we believe that Beyoncé deserves recognition for her incredible songs and unforgettable impact, but was “Cowboy Carter” really the way to give her this recognition? Up against remarkable albums like “Hit Me Hard and Soft” and “The Tortured Poets Department,” we would not have picked this album as our first choice for winner. The same confusion arose when “Cowboy Carter” beat Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton for best country album. Beyoncé has made history as a musical artist, but “Cowboy Carter” was not the way to recognize her impact, especially when so many other deserving artists were nominated.
Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift leave empty handed — it was torture
There is a large controversy over Swift and award shows; many believe that while she is talented, she doesn’t deserve to win as many awards as she does due to other artists having better singing abilities.
Whether this belief is true or not, Taylor Swift’s lyricism in “The Tortured Poets Department” was too beautifully written to go unnoticed. It was also surprising that the degree of popularity with the addition of the “Tortured Poets” performance to the Eras Tour wasn’t a significant impact upon Swift’s chances for album of the year.
The same concept applies for “Hit Me Hard And Soft” by Eilish, as she had more than half of the songs on her album go viral on TikTok and Instagram, with the most popular being “Birds of a Feather,” “The Greatest” and “Wildflower.”
Eilish has also created a large, unique community with her music. Her fans claim that their lives have been changed by the way Eilish provides a safe space within her lyrics to feel deeply and be emotionally vulnerable. Many users on these platforms have been sharing their anguish over Eilish losing by posting about how she “was robbed” of the album of the year award. We strongly agree.
The Midwest Princess added more jewels to her crown
None of us were surprised when the “Midwest Princess,” aka Chappell Roan, went home with the best new artist Grammy. Roan’s vast impact with her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” will be talked about for decades to come. Roan has always been unapologetically herself, using her platform to create a safe space for fans to celebrate their unique identities and look up to her as an LGBTQ+ pop sensation.
Roan proved to be deserving of her platform during her acceptance speech, where she used her time to speak out for liveable wages and healthcare for developing artists in the music industry. We hope to see Roan’s music career continue to grow and thrive, and we are unwavering in knowing that she will continue to make a secure space for her fans while using her platform to advocate for what she believes in.
Someone should probably check in on Drake
Drake might have to continue “hiding” after “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar won song of the year. Released on May 4, 2024 in the midst of ongoing beef between artists Drake and Lamar, “Not Like Us” could be considered one of the top diss tracks of all time.
In the song, Lamar accuses Drake for a multitude of allegations, including grooming accusations. Despite this, “Not Like Us” remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs Chart for 21 consecutive weeks. One could argue that truly, no one is like Lamar.
“Brat summer” lives on
Charli XCX reminded us that “brat summer” never really ended when her album, “Brat,” won best dance/electronic album. We had no doubt that this viral album was going to take home a Grammy after it rebranded an entire season.
This particular award category was only added to the Grammys list in 2005, and it’s still working its way up to be a widely recognized category. “Brat” was a huge step toward drawing more recognition into the best dance/electronic album category, and we believe its achievement of this award will act as a stepping stone for smaller artists in the future to be recognized in this category.
Whether you loved or hated the results, the 2025 Grammys got everyone talking. The show was a major milestone in celebrating a diverse array of genres and artists, from Doechii to Carpenter and many more in between. We believe the music industry has evolved so much this past year, and we eagerly anticipate what the 2026 Grammys will bring.
Edited by Alyssa Royston | aroyston@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com
Edited by Emilia Hansen | ehansen@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com