BEYONCE won the Grammy for Album of the Year on Sunday for Cowboy Carter, making her the most nominated and most awarded artist in the show’s history. The win also makes her the first Black woman to take the top prize this century.
Kendrick Lamar dominated the night with five wins, including Record and Song of the Year for Not Like Us. The event, held at Crypto.com Arena, was also a tribute to Los Angeles, which has faced severe wildfires.
Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii, and Sabrina Carpenter were among the night's big winners. Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish did not win any awards.
Beyonce, accepting her award, said, “I just feel very full and very honoured.” She dedicated the win to Linda Martell, a pioneering Black country musician featured on the album. “I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors,” she added.
She won three Grammys in total, including Best Country Album and a collaboration with Miley Cyrus. “I really was not expecting this,” she said, adding, “Sometimes genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists.”
‘Visions’ by Norah Jones won the Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Pakistani-American singer and composer Arooj Aftab's Night Reign missed out on the Grammy award for Best Alternative Jazz Album to No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin by Meshell Ndegeocello.
Lamar and Roan lead the night
Lamar won all five categories he was nominated in, including Record and Song of the Year. His diss track Not Like Us became a major hit and a West Coast rap anthem.
“Nothing more powerful than rap music,” Lamar said while accepting Song of the Year. “We are the culture.”
Chappell Roan won Best New Artist, capping a breakthrough year. In her speech, she spoke about the struggles of being dropped by a label and called for better support for artists. “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees,” she said.
Doechii won Best Rap Album, becoming only the third woman to do so. “Anything is possible,” she said in her speech, addressing Black women and girls. “Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you.”
Sabrina Carpenter won Best Pop Vocal Album and performed her hits Espresso and Please Please Please. Shakira won Best Latin Pop Album before delivering a performance, and Charli XCX took home three awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Tribute to Los Angeles
The ceremony included tributes to Los Angeles, with host Trevor Noah announcing that at least $7 million was raised for wildfire relief.
Firefighters presented Beyonce with her award, while students affected by the fires performed We Are The World with Stevie Wonder in tribute to Quincy Jones.
The show opened with a performance of I Love LA by a group including Sheryl Crow and John Legend, while Billie Eilish performed Birds of a Feather wearing an LA Dodgers cap.
“I love you, LA,” Eilish said to cheers.
Key winners:
- Album of the Year: Cowboy Carter - Beyonce
- Record of the Year: Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Song of the Year: Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
- Best New Artist: Chappell Roan
- Best Rap Album: Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii
- Best Country Album: Cowboy Carter - Beyonce
- Best Pop Vocal Album: Short n' Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.