February had big shoes to fill following the month of January, but the Grammys allowed February to live up to its potential. On February 2, 2025, the Grammys made history by naming the first black woman to get Album of the Year, a black queer artist being the third woman to ever win in her category and by highlighting queer artists within the music industry.
CHAPPELL ROAN:
Starting strong, Chappell Roan, who is an iconic queer pop star on her journey through fame, showcased an Edgar Degas-inspired gown with her signature clown-drag makeup on the red carpet. The dress was adorned with ballet dancers, a reference to the darker side of the dancing industry in the 19th century. As the popularity of ballet began to fall, many dancers who came from low-income backgrounds were left with nothing. Roan has been very vocal about her need to represent her community as well as other communities that go unrepresented, the dress is an homage to the current industry she is living in. Roan won the Grammy for Best New Artist, a deeply meaningful achievement for a young queer artist who was originally dropped from her first record label. Roan used this achievement as a pathway to advocate for smaller artists and call for the industry to provide livable wages to its pursuers.
KENDRICK LAMAR:
Song of the Year and Record of the Year are just two of five Grammys awarded to rapper Kendrick Lamar. Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” broke several records on Spotify and gained popularity for calling out Canadian rapper Drake. It attained 1 billion streams and has projected Lamar into a new era of his music career. Lamar sported denim on denim on denim in his red carpet look, which is believed to be another jab at Drake as the denim on denim look is dubbed as the “Canadian tuxedo.” However, Lamar is known not just for calling people out, but for his beautifully articulate lyrics and production. Lamar did not perform at the Grammys, but he made tribute to the city of Compton, California and the people of the Palisades and Altadena.
LADY GAGA & BRUNO MARS:
Monster and man made a monumental move and produced a groundbreaking collaboration. Pop star Lady Gaga has been known to break through the barriers of the music industry, providing music and looks that cater to the weird side of things. Staying in character, Gaga starred in three different outfits, the most iconic being an all-black Victorian style gown with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. When performing a cover of 1960’s “California Denim” to pay tribute to wildfire resilience alongside Bruno Mars, she changed into a floral gown. Mars accompanied this look with a beige suit and cowboy hat, presenting their synced forms of artistic expression. To end the night, and to accept their Grammy for Best Pop Duo award for their song “Die With A Smile,” both artists sported all-black looks on stage. Gaga wore an off-the-shoulder corset-style gown, while Mars assumed an all-black suit once more.
DOECHII:
Rapper Doechii has been a prominent voice in the rap community for years. However, she began her journey through mainstream media in 2024 with the release of her debut album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” A monumental win for herself and young women in the rap community, Doechii becomes the third black woman to accept a Grammy for Best Rap Album. She has made a name for herself through intricate dance performances, as she showcased when performing “Catfish” and “Denial Is A River.” down the red carpet, Doechii turned heads with her off-the-shoulder gray pinstripe dress with corseting detail down the back, which she wore over a white Oxford shirt with Browne’s signature red, white and blue armband as stated in Vogue magazine. Similar to her first look, Doechii stayed with the grey and white look as she accepted her Grammy in oversized, skirt-like gray pants with a dramatically exaggerated hip silhouette — plus another gray tie and white shirt. She encouraged people watching and looking to her for inspiration to know they are always in the right place at the right time.
While these were just the most prominent showings of the night, some honorable mentions of the night would include Sabrina Carpenter’s beautiful performance of her hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” from “Short n’ Sweet,” which would win the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Beyoncé leaves the Grammys with Album of the Year for her first country album “Cowboy Carter,” setting the precedent as the first black woman to win Best Country Album ever. Controversially, though they were nominated for several categories, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift left the Grammys empty-handed. It’s safe to say the 2025 Grammys highlighted many young queer and black artists who, as they make their mark on the entertainment industry, show that a new era of music is coming.
