Youngsters Honor Grownups at the 2025 Grammys

The 2025 Grammy Awards on Feb. 2 had a more serious vibe than usual, because the catastrophic Los Angeles fires forced organizers to rethink the show’s format. The makeover generated a three-hour-plus marathon that was by turns exciting and somber. This year’s show centered on the crisis, with host Trevor Noah toggling between gentle humor, celebrity praise and pleas for donations to aid victims of the widespread destruction — the show raised over $7 million before the night was done. Along with the biggest names in pop, rap and country, first responders who fought the wildfires were in the audience at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. 

Grownups over 50 were less prominent than last year, when Joni Mitchell, 81, Billy Joel, 75, Annie Lennox, 75, and Celine Dion, 56, performed. But though the winners and singers were mostly youngsters, they often honored their elders in word and song, and a few grownups were terrific. The Beatles won rock performance of the year for their last tune, “Now and Then,” and the Stones won best rock album for Hackney Diamonds, but didn’t show up to collect them. Taylor Swift showed up but got snubbed. Several grownup legends did make an impressive appearance, classic tunes AARP members remember were sung, and a tribute to the late Quincy Jones inspired some of the night’s finest moments.

Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, St. Vincent, Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes, Brad Paisley, and John Legend perform during the Grammy Awards.

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Everyone loved L.A.

The show opened with the rousing 1983 anthem “I Love L.A” by Randy Newman, 81, performed by Los Angeles rock duo Dawes and an all-star ensemble including Sheryl Crow, 62, Brad Paisley, 52, St. Vincent, John Legend and Brittany Howard. The lyrics were revised to address the resilience of fire victims (“Look at this city getting back off its knees”). Dawes brothers Taylor Goldsmith, whose home studio burned down, and Griffin Goldsmith, who lost his home (as did his parents around the corner), have been joining fund-raising efforts for neighbors.

Beyonce accepts the Album of the Year award.

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Finally, Beyoncé won album of the year

Queen Bey won best album for lauded Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé had racked up 99 nominations, more than any other artist, and she’s also won more Grammys than anyone (32). But she had never won album of the year. “I feel very full and very honored — it’s been many, many years,” she said on stage. “I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors.” Earlier in the evening, when Cowboy Carter won best country album, Beyoncé said, “I think sometimes genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists. And I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about, and to stay persistent.”

Chad Smith and Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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Los Angeles rocked on

On stage as presenters, singer Anthony Kiedis, 62, and drummer Chad Smith, 63, of the Red Hot Chili Peppers delivered a capella lines from their L.A.-centric hit “Under the Bridge."

Sometimes I feel like my only friend​Is the city I live in, the City of Angels​/Lonely as I am, together we cry

Kiedis added enthusiastically, “Tonight, let’s get it on, and let’s all get vocal about helping our friends and neighbors.”