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The 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony is fast approaching, promising to be another glittering night of music, glamour, and anticipation.
Held on Sunday night in Los Angeles, the ceremony runs for a marathon eight hours, attracting some of the biggest stars across genres, from pop and rock to country and hip-hop.
Grammy organisers will be handing out 94 awards, celebrating everything from Best Pop Album to Best Choral Performance. Here’s your guide to all things Grammy-related.
1. Who Will Win Album of the Year?
The highly anticipated Album of the Year category is the talk of the night. Beyoncé, a multi-Grammy winner, has been nominated again, hoping to finally win this prestigious award after four past losses. In fact, during the 2024 ceremony, Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, addressed the ongoing oversight, joking that despite her vast number of Grammy wins, she has never received Album of the Year. Could this be her moment?
Her latest album, Cowboy Carter, takes an ambitious dive into the Black roots of country music. Known for its bold approach, it aligns with the Grammy tradition of rewarding albums that celebrate American musical history. But the album’s excessive length and a few underwhelming tracks in the second half might hurt her chances.
However, one shouldn’t count out Billie Eilish. Her third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, is currently the bookmakers’ favourite. The album blends passionate power ballads, electronic shifts, and hip-hop influences, showcasing a fresh evolution in Billie’s songwriting with her brother Finneas.
Charli XCX’s Brat, a career-defining pop record, is one of the best-reviewed albums of 2024 but might be considered too abrasive for the more traditional Grammy voters. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift, with her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department, has become a major contender. As the biggest seller of 2024, her album could add a fifth Album of the Year win to her tally, making her the artist with the most wins in this category.
2. The Other Major Categories
The Record of the Year category—essentially, Best Single—features some stiff competition. Beyoncé’s Texas Hold ‘Em, Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso all compete with Charli XCX’s 360. But the frontrunner here is Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, a powerful diss track aimed at his rival Drake.
If Kendrick wins, it will mark only the second time a hip-hop single takes home this award.
The Song of the Year prize, which celebrates songwriting, has several worthy contenders. Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s Die With A Smile stand out with their emotive ballads, making them Grammy favourites. Other contenders include Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy) and Chappell Roan’s Good Luck Babe, known for its soaring vocals and poignant message.
In the Best New Artist category, it’s a two-way race between Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, both of whom have dominated the charts in 2024 after years of building their musical careers.
3. Potential Grammy Records
A few Grammy records could be broken this year. Beyoncé, who holds the record for the most nominations in the Album of the Year category without a win, could set another first if Cowboy Carter doesn’t win. Billie Eilish is on the cusp of becoming the first female artist to win Record of the Year three times with Birds of a Feather.
Rapper-turned-flautist André 3000 could make history by winning Best Instrumental Composition with the longest song title in Grammy history: I swear, I really wanted to make a ‘rap’ album, but this is literally the way the wind blew me this time.
4. The Voting Process
More than 13,000 members of the Recording Academy will vote for this year’s Grammy winners. Voters include musicians, producers, and lyricists, all of whom must be currently working in the music industry. Every member is allowed to vote for up to 10 categories in genres they are familiar with, while the six major categories—Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Songwriter of the Year, and Producer of the Year—are open for every voter to participate in.
5. The Beatles’ Surprise Nomination
It might be 55 years since the Beatles broke up, but they’ve earned nominations in two categories this year. Their song Now and Then, which John Lennon demoed in the 1970s and was completed by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr last year, is up for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance. Grammy voters have always had a soft spot for the Beatles, and a win for Now and Then would prove that Beatlemania is still very much alive.
However, the song’s use of machine learning to clean up Lennon’s old demos may raise questions, as the Grammy rules state that only human creators are eligible for awards.
6. The California Wildfires: Impact on the Ceremony
The California wildfires have cast a shadow over the Grammys this year, leading to the cancellation of all pre- and after-parties. All funds that would have been spent on celebration are instead being directed to relief efforts. The Recording Academy has set up a Fire Relief Fund, contributing more than $3.2 million (£2.6 million) in aid to music professionals affected by the fires.
The televised ceremony will also reflect the impact of the disaster, with segments honouring first responders and others involved in tackling the fires. Despite the challenges, the Recording Academy remains determined to celebrate music while using the event to help those in need.
7. A Stellar Lineup of Performers
The 2025 Grammys will feature performances from some of the biggest names in music. Among those scheduled to perform are:
- Benson Boone
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Jacob Collier
- Sheryl Crow
- Billie Eilish
- Cynthia Erivo
- Charli XCX
- Doechii
- Herbie Hancock
- Brittany Howard
- John Legend
- Chris Martin
- Janelle Monáe
- Brad Paisley
- Raye
- Shakira
- Teddy Swims
- Lainey Wilson
- Stevie Wonder
- St. Vincent
8. How to Watch in the UK
For those in the UK, the 2025 Grammy Awards will be broadcast in two parts. The first, the “Premiere Ceremony,” begins at 20:30 GMT on Sunday. The ceremony will include the first 80 awards, as well as some lively performances.
For those interested in the star-studded red carpet coverage, it begins at 23:00 GMT. The main event kicks off at 01:00 GMT on Monday, broadcast live on CBS in the US and available for international viewers on Paramount Plus. If you miss it, speeches and performances will be uploaded to YouTube the following day.
9. Does It All Really Matter?
Though the Grammys are often criticised for being arbitrary and out of touch, they still hold immense significance in the music industry. Winning a Grammy can propel an artist’s career, boost album sales, and elevate their status within the industry. While the awards themselves may seem flawed at times, the artists who take home trophies often receive widespread recognition that can change the course of their careers.
So, whether or not your favourite artist wins, the night will undoubtedly be filled with memorable moments. Don’t miss the chance to witness history in the making at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
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