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By Danielle Broadway and Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Bad Bunny, the Latino rap star whose forthcoming Super Bowl gig has ignited a culture wars controversy, won the top Grammy prize on Sunday, a first for a Spanish-language album, with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," a celebration of his Puerto Rican roots. The 31-year-old performer-producer edged out fellow megastars Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga in what amounted to a three-way race to clinch his first album-of-the-year Grammy, considered the pinnacle of the music industry's highest honors. "I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country to follow their dreams," the Puerto Rican artist said in his acceptance speech, tapping into expressions of solidarity for immigrants evident throughout the show. "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," a musical tribute to Bad Bunny's Caribbean island homeland, marked his sixth studio set and was heavily favored after winning the Latin Grammys' album of the year award in November. RECOGNITION OF BAD BUNNY CARRIES POLITICAL OVERTONES Grammy recognition of Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, carried strong political overtones given his outspoken criticism of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump in cities across the country.The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal immigration agents would show up to arrest his fans. The Grammy accolades also burnished his reputation ahead of a wider introduction to a mainstream English-speaking U.S. audience next Sunday when he is due to headline the National Football League's Super Bowl halftime show. His selection for one of the marquee live sports and entertainment events on U.S. television has rankled some traditionalists, including Trump, who called it "absolutely ridiculous" and said he had never heard of Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny openly supported Trump's Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. "ICE out," he declared from the stage as he accepted the award for best Latin urban music album for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," one of five awards he received. Opposition to Trump's deportation drive emerged as a recurring theme throughout the three-hour-plus live Grammy telecast, in which many attendees, including Justin Bieber, were seen sporting "ICE Out" buttons. BEST NEW ARTIST OLIVIA DEAN Accepting her award as best new artist, British soul-pop singer Olivia Deanpaid tribute to a grandmother who immigrated to Britain from Guyana as a teenager seeking a new life. "I must say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she said, evoking cheers from the star-studded audience. "I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other." Lamar, the chart-topping hip-hop sensation who led the field of Grammy contenders going into Sunday's show with nine nominations, came away with five awards, including best rap album for his latest studio set "GNX" and a shared award for record of the year for "luther," his wistful duet with R&B singer-songwriter SZA. The award for song of the year, honoring composers, went to Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, for her hit single "Wildflower." "Golden," the smash hit from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," made history during the non-televised portion of the awards when it was named best song written for visual media, marking the first time the KPop music genre has ever earned Grammy glory. The song was performed in the film by a fictional band called HUNTR/X, voiced by real-life vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rein Ami. Lady Gaga won Grammys for best pop vocal album with "Mayhem," and best dance-pop recording for "Abracadabra." Trevor Noah returned to host the festivities for a sixth time, which he had said would be his last Grammys gig. The show aired live on the CBS network from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Grammy winners are chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy — industry peers including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers — whose ranks have been revamped over the past seven years to increase diversity. About 1,000 Latin Grammys voters became eligible to vote this year, and 73% of members have joined since 2019. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 1 (Reuters) – The 68th Grammy Awards, the highest honors in the music industry, were handed out at a ceremony on Sunday, broadcast on CBS and hosted by Trevor Noah. Here are the winners of the biggest awards: ALBUM OF THE YEAR "DeBi TiRAR MaS FOtoS," Bad Bunny RECORD OF THE YEAR "luther," Kendrick Lamar with SZA SONG OF THE YEAR "Wildflower," Billie Eilish BEST NEW ARTIST Olivia Dean BEST RAP ALBUM "GNX," Kendrick Lamar BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM "MAYHEM," Lady Gaga (Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

Feb 1 (Reuters) – The 68th Grammy Awards, the highest honors in the music industry, were handed out at a ceremony on Sunday, broadcast on CBS and hosted by Trevor Noah. Here are the winners of the biggest awards: ALBUM OF THE YEAR "DeBi TiRAR MaS FOtoS," Bad Bunny RECORD OF THE YEAR "luther," Kendrick Lamar with SZA SONG OF THE YEAR "Wildflower," Billie Eilish BEST NEW ARTIST Olivia Dean BEST RAP ALBUM "GNX," Kendrick Lamar BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM "MAYHEM," Lady Gaga (Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny used his first televised acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammy awards on Sunday to sharply criticize U.S. immigration authorities, declaring “ICE out” to denounce federal agents’ actions. "We're not aliens," he said on stage, after being honored for his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos" with the best music urbana award. "We are humans and we are Americans," he added.  Often referred to as the “King of Trap,” Bad Bunny said that love is the only thing more powerful than hate and urged people to confront cruelty with compassion. “We love our people. We love our family,” he added. Bad Bunny has openly criticized President Donald Trump's administration for its immigration policies and has drawn backlash from right-wing conservative groups for being the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer, including from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Bad Bunny skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal agents would show up to arrest his fans. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the United States staged walkouts on Friday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. Other attendees at the 2026 Grammy awards made similar remarks.  Billie Eilish, who wore an "ICE out" pin, also used her time on stage accepting the award for best song of the year to call out ICE, which stands for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  "No one is illegal on stolen land," she said on stage after having her song "Wildflower" recognized.   "Fuck ICE," the "bad guy" singer added. "Right now, feeling any sense of joy and lightness feels a little bit irresponsible," lead vocalist of the band OK Go, Damian Kulash, told Reuters on the red carpet. "Our own government has raised an army of, like, masked anonymous men to attack its own people and that feels utterly irresponsible for us to be celebrating anything right now," he added. Songwriter Amy Allen, who has written songs for top singers like Sabrina Carpenter and Harry Styles, walked the carpet wearing an "ICE out" pin.  She said the pin has a message that should be important to everybody because there is so much going on in this country that is "horrific to see." "I think is really important for all of us in the music industry, in any industry. So I'm very happy to be wearing it today and hopefully see a lot of other pins out there, too," she added. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny used his first televised acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammy awards on Sunday to sharply criticize U.S. immigration authorities, declaring “ICE out” to denounce federal agents’ actions. "We're not aliens," he said on stage, after being honored for his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos" with the best music urbana award. "We are humans and we are Americans," he added.  Often referred to as the “King of Trap,” Bad Bunny said that love is the only thing more powerful than hate and urged people to confront cruelty with compassion. “We love our people. We love our family,” he added. Bad Bunny has openly criticized President Donald Trump's administration for its immigration policies and has drawn backlash from right-wing conservative groups for being the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show performer, including from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Bad Bunny skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal agents would show up to arrest his fans. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Minneapolis and students across the United States staged walkouts on Friday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from Minnesota following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. Other attendees at the 2026 Grammy awards made similar remarks.  Billie Eilish, who wore an "ICE out" pin, also used her time on stage accepting the award for best song of the year to call out ICE, which stands for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  "No one is illegal on stolen land," she said on stage after having her song "Wildflower" recognized.   "Fuck ICE," the "bad guy" singer added. "Right now, feeling any sense of joy and lightness feels a little bit irresponsible," lead vocalist of the band OK Go, Damian Kulash, told Reuters on the red carpet. "Our own government has raised an army of, like, masked anonymous men to attack its own people and that feels utterly irresponsible for us to be celebrating anything right now," he added. Songwriter Amy Allen, who has written songs for top singers like Sabrina Carpenter and Harry Styles, walked the carpet wearing an "ICE out" pin.  She said the pin has a message that should be important to everybody because there is so much going on in this country that is "horrific to see." "I think is really important for all of us in the music industry, in any industry. So I'm very happy to be wearing it today and hopefully see a lot of other pins out there, too," she added. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Olivia Dean capped her rapid ascent from London busker to breakout global star on Sunday by winning the 2026 Grammy for best new artist, a career‑defining honor that has historically signaled the industry’s next major voices. The British singer‑songwriter beat a field that included viral phenom Lola Young, becoming the latest in a line of rising talents — from Adele to Dua Lipa — whose early acclaim foreshadowed long‑lasting impact. Dean, who was emotional after receiving her first Grammy, took the stage wearing a dress that was glittering black on the top and white on the bottom.  "I never really imagined I would be up here," the 26-year-old said after the 2025 best new artist winner, Chappell Roan, handed her the award. "I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I'm a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated," she added.  Dean is a singer‑songwriter known for her soulful voice and songwriting that blends neo‑soul, pop, and R&B. Dean's mother is of Jamaican-Guyanese heritage while her dad is English. She grew up singing in a gospel church and took a non-traditional career route from busking and performing informally around London to releasing her 2025 album, “The Art of Loving,” which topped UK charts. The viral success of “Man I Need” helped propel Dean into the history books in late 2025, when she became the first female solo artist to place four songs in the UK Top 10 at the same time. She uses her platform to explore her identity as a biracial artist. Dean's win follows in the footsteps of "Pink Pony Club" singer Chappell Roan, who won in 2025. NEW ARTISTS PERFORM A MEDLEY To celebrate each up-and-coming artist, all eight best new artist nominees performed in a medley before the winner was announced, including Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR and The Marias.  The Marias kicked off the group performance with their ethereal English and Spanish song "No One Noticed," followed by Addison Rae in a sparkly purple robe singing her high-energy pop song "Fame is a Gun." Rae later disrobed to dance in shimmery lingerie. The group KATSEYE was up next, strutting in with black, olive green and yellow outfits, performing their high energy anthem "Gnarly" with a team of dancers. Leon Thomas then slowed things down, arriving on stage with his R&B song "MUTT" with a combination of guitar and drums.  Next, Alex Warren walked amongst the audience as he sang his empowering love anthem "Ordinary" with a choir ensemble behind him. He was later lifted up on a platform and floated above the stage. Lola Young took to the stage next playing the piano and singing her trending TikTok song "Messy" with her deep sultry vocals.  Olivia Dean came in with a glittery red dress and a group of instrumentalists for her playful song "Man I Need" and SOMBR followed suit by rocking a sparkling disco-style outfit and performing his rock song "12 to 12." (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – – British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist, and hip-hop megastar Kendrick Lamar claimed the prize for best rap album with "GNX," his chart-topping sixth studio set, as the 68th Grammy Awards got under way on Sunday. The London-born Dean, 26, edged out fellow newcomers Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young in the Grammy race to crown the greatest performer among a field of rising new talents. Accepting her award from the stage of the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, Dean paid tribute to her grandmother, who immigrated to Britain from Guyana as a teenager seeking a new life. "I must say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she said, evoking cheers from the star-studded audience. "I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other." Lamar, 38, the West Coast hip-hop sensation regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time, entered Sunday's Grammy Awards with nominations in nine categories and immediately clinched the award for best rap album with "GNX." Lamar's "GNX" was also vying for the top award of the night, album of the year, facing stiff competition from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and pop chameleon Lady Gaga. Bad Bunny was competing for best album with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which could make history as the first Spanish‑language winner in that category. The award went last year to Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter." If Lamar wins for "GNX," he would be the first solo male rapper to win the top award. Only two hip-hop musicians have been honored in the category – female artist Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. For Gaga, the best album prize would be the first of her celebrated career. She has never won any of the top four Grammy trophies despite more than two decades in the music business. This year, she is competing with the album "Mayhem," described by critics as a return to her dark dance-pop roots. Trevor Noah returned to host the festivities for a sixth time, which he has said would be his last Grammys gig. The show aired live on the CBS network from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. IMMIGRATION FEARS SHADOW SINGER’S PICK FOR SUPER BOWL Bad Bunny's Grammy night recognition carried strong political overtones. The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation drive would show up to arrest his fans. "ICE out," he said from the stage, accepting the award for best album of Latin urban music for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos." His selection to perform at the coming Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday drew objections from Trump and other critics who argued the National Football League championship game's entertainment should be performed in English. The world of KPop also earned a Grammy for the first time. "Golden," the smash hit from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," won an early award for best song written for visual media. It also was competing for two of the top awards of the night – best record and best song. The song is performed by a fictional band named HUNTR/X. Its real-life members are EJAE, Audrey Nun and Rein Ami.  The best record and best song contests also include "APT.," a duet between Bruno Mars and KPop singer Rosé. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Grammy winners are chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy — industry peers including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers — whose ranks have been revamped over the past seven years to increase diversity. About 1,000 Latin Grammys voters became eligible to vote this year, and 73% of members have joined since 2019. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – – British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist, and hip-hop megastar Kendrick Lamar claimed the prize for best rap album with "GNX," his chart-topping sixth studio set, as the 68th Grammy Awards got under way on Sunday. The London-born Dean, 26, edged out fellow newcomers Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young in the Grammy race to crown the greatest performer among a field of rising new talents. Accepting her award from the stage of the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, Dean paid tribute to her grandmother, who immigrated to Britain from Guyana as a teenager seeking a new life. "I must say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she said, evoking cheers from the star-studded audience. "I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other." Lamar, 38, the West Coast hip-hop sensation regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time, entered Sunday's Grammy Awards with nominations in nine categories and immediately clinched the award for best rap album with "GNX." Lamar's "GNX" was also vying for the top award of the night, album of the year, facing stiff competition from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and pop chameleon Lady Gaga. Bad Bunny was competing for best album with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which could make history as the first Spanish‑language winner in that category. The award went last year to Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter." If Lamar wins for "GNX," he would be the first solo male rapper to win the top award. Only two hip-hop musicians have been honored in the category – female artist Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. For Gaga, the best album prize would be the first of her celebrated career. She has never won any of the top four Grammy trophies despite more than two decades in the music business. This year, she is competing with the album "Mayhem," described by critics as a return to her dark dance-pop roots. Trevor Noah returned to host the festivities for a sixth time, which he has said would be his last Grammys gig. The show aired live on the CBS network from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. IMMIGRATION FEARS SHADOW SINGER’S PICK FOR SUPER BOWL Bad Bunny's Grammy night recognition carried strong political overtones. The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation drive would show up to arrest his fans. "ICE out," he said from the stage, accepting the award for best album of Latin urban music for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos." His selection to perform at the coming Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday drew objections from Trump and other critics who argued the National Football League championship game's entertainment should be performed in English. The world of KPop also earned a Grammy for the first time. "Golden," the smash hit from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," won an early award for best song written for visual media. It also was competing for two of the top awards of the night – best record and best song. The song is performed by a fictional band named HUNTR/X. Its real-life members are EJAE, Audrey Nun and Rein Ami.  The best record and best song contests also include "APT.," a duet between Bruno Mars and KPop singer Rosé. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Grammy winners are chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy — industry peers including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers — whose ranks have been revamped over the past seven years to increase diversity. About 1,000 Latin Grammys voters became eligible to vote this year, and 73% of members have joined since 2019. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – – British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist, and hip-hop megastar Kendrick Lamar claimed the prize for best rap album with "GNX," his chart-topping sixth studio set, as the 68th Grammy Awards got under way on Sunday. The London-born Dean, 26, edged out fellow newcomers Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young in the Grammy race to crown the greatest performer among a field of rising new talents. Accepting her award from the stage of the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, Dean paid tribute to her grandmother, who immigrated to Britain from Guyana as a teenager seeking a new life. "I must say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she said, evoking cheers from the star-studded audience. "I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other." Lamar, 38, the West Coast hip-hop sensation regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time, entered Sunday's Grammy Awards with nominations in nine categories and immediately clinched the award for best rap album with "GNX." Lamar's "GNX" was also vying for the top award of the night, album of the year, facing stiff competition from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and pop chameleon Lady Gaga. Bad Bunny was competing for best album with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which could make history as the first Spanish‑language winner in that category. The award went last year to Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter." If Lamar wins for "GNX," he would be the first solo male rapper to win the top award. Only two hip-hop musicians have been honored in the category – female artist Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. For Gaga, the best album prize would be the first of her celebrated career. She has never won any of the top four Grammy trophies despite more than two decades in the music business. This year, she is competing with the album "Mayhem," described by critics as a return to her dark dance-pop roots. Trevor Noah returned to host the festivities for a sixth time, which he has said would be his last Grammys gig. The show aired live on the CBS network from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. IMMIGRATION FEARS SHADOW SINGER’S PICK FOR SUPER BOWL Bad Bunny's Grammy night recognition carried strong political overtones. The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation drive would show up to arrest his fans. "ICE out," he said from the stage, accepting the award for best album of Latin urban music for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos." His selection to perform at the coming Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday drew objections from Trump and other critics who argued the National Football League championship game's entertainment should be performed in English. The world of KPop also earned a Grammy for the first time. "Golden," the smash hit from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," won an early award for best song written for visual media. It also was competing for two of the top awards of the night – best record and best song. The song is performed by a fictional band named HUNTR/X. Its real-life members are EJAE, Audrey Nun and Rein Ami.  The best record and best song contests also include "APT.," a duet between Bruno Mars and KPop singer Rosé. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Grammy winners are chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy — industry peers including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers — whose ranks have been revamped over the past seven years to increase diversity. About 1,000 Latin Grammys voters became eligible to vote this year, and 73% of members have joined since 2019. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES, Feb 1 (Reuters) – – British soul-pop singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist, and hip-hop megastar Kendrick Lamar claimed the prize for best rap album with "GNX," his chart-topping sixth studio set, as the 68th Grammy Awards got under way on Sunday. The London-born Dean, 26, edged out fellow newcomers Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young in the Grammy race to crown the greatest performer among a field of rising new talents. Accepting her award from the stage of the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, Dean paid tribute to her grandmother, who immigrated to Britain from Guyana as a teenager seeking a new life. "I must say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she said, evoking cheers from the star-studded audience. "I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We're nothing without each other." Lamar, 38, the West Coast hip-hop sensation regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time, entered Sunday's Grammy Awards with nominations in nine categories and immediately clinched the award for best rap album with "GNX." Lamar's "GNX" was also vying for the top award of the night, album of the year, facing stiff competition from Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and pop chameleon Lady Gaga. Bad Bunny was competing for best album with "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," which could make history as the first Spanish‑language winner in that category. The award went last year to Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter." If Lamar wins for "GNX," he would be the first solo male rapper to win the top award. Only two hip-hop musicians have been honored in the category – female artist Lauryn Hill and the duo Outkast. For Gaga, the best album prize would be the first of her celebrated career. She has never won any of the top four Grammy trophies despite more than two decades in the music business. This year, she is competing with the album "Mayhem," described by critics as a return to her dark dance-pop roots. Trevor Noah returned to host the festivities for a sixth time, which he has said would be his last Grammys gig. The show aired live on the CBS network from the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. IMMIGRATION FEARS SHADOW SINGER’S PICK FOR SUPER BOWL Bad Bunny's Grammy night recognition carried strong political overtones. The singer-producer skipped the continental United States on his recent concert tour, saying he feared federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out U.S. President Donald Trump's deportation drive would show up to arrest his fans. "ICE out," he said from the stage, accepting the award for best album of Latin urban music for "Debí Tirar Más Fotos." His selection to perform at the coming Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday drew objections from Trump and other critics who argued the National Football League championship game's entertainment should be performed in English. The world of KPop also earned a Grammy for the first time. "Golden," the smash hit from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters," won an early award for best song written for visual media. It also was competing for two of the top awards of the night – best record and best song. The song is performed by a fictional band named HUNTR/X. Its real-life members are EJAE, Audrey Nun and Rein Ami.  The best record and best song contests also include "APT.," a duet between Bruno Mars and KPop singer Rosé. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 79, achieved EGOT status — one of the rarest honors in the entertainment industry — after winning his first Grammy award for best music film for "Music by John Williams," which he produced. EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Grammy winners are chosen by the roughly 15,000 voting members of the Recording Academy — industry peers including artists, songwriters, producers and engineers — whose ranks have been revamped over the past seven years to increase diversity. About 1,000 Latin Grammys voters became eligible to vote this year, and 73% of members have joined since 2019. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Howard Goller)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)