Throughout the Grammy Awards this year, winning artists repeatedly emphasized a single point: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, poses a serious threat and needs to be addressed.
Recent, forceful federal raids targeting immigrant communities and their allies, particularly in Minneapolis and nationwide, have sparked both outrage and calls for action across the United States. While several Grammy-nominated artists had previously spoken out against these raids, the issue became a prominent theme during the awards show on Sunday, with many winners addressing it in their acceptance speeches.
Music
I was really impressed to hear about what Nur-D, a rapper and activist from Minneapolis, did last week. He actually physically intervened to protest ICE – a really brave and powerful move, if you ask me.
Bad Bunny dedicated his Grammy win for Album of the Year to those who have left their homes and countries in pursuit of their dreams. He delivered most of his acceptance speech in Spanish.
Earlier in the evening, Bad Bunny playfully teased Trevor Noah, joking that Puerto Rico wouldn’t be a good escape for him since it’s still a U.S. territory. But even before winning a major award, Bad Bunny delivered a powerful message: “Ice out,” he said, meaning to stay cool, “and if we’re going to disagree, let’s do it with love.”
As he prepares to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show next week, he’s widely considered the world’s most influential musician, bringing a vital message to the center of America’s biggest live spectacle.
Awards
As a huge music fan, I was thrilled to see Bad Bunny’s ‘Débi Tirar Más Fotos’ take home the Album of the Year Grammy! It’s such a monumental moment – it’s the very first time an album entirely in Spanish has won that top prize from the Recording Academy. It really feels like a big step forward for Latin music and a fantastic recognition of Bad Bunny’s artistry.
Following recent ICE raids, many musicians used their public appearances to show support for those affected. At Sunday’s event, artists like Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Olivia Rodrigo, Brandi Carlile, and Justin and Hailey Bieber all wore pins to demonstrate their solidarity.
It was notable how many artists used their acceptance speeches to criticize the agency’s policies during President Trump’s administration.
Billie Eilish, visibly moved after winning a song award with her brother Finneas for “Wildflower,” made a pointed statement. She said, “No one is illegal on land that was taken from others.” She acknowledged the difficulty of knowing how to respond to injustice, but urged continued activism and speaking out, emphasizing that people’s voices are powerful. The CBS broadcast then cut to a long silence, likely due to something strong she said about the same issue.
Awards
Trevor Noah ended his time hosting the Grammys with a humorous speech that included jokes about Nicki Minaj, Jelly Roll, Justin Bieber, and Jeff Bezos.
The feeling of gratitude and appreciation was widespread throughout the music industry and across different backgrounds. Olivia Dean, a rising R&B singer from the U.K. and a new award winner, spoke about how proud she was to be the granddaughter of an immigrant, saying her family’s courage deserved recognition.
Country artist Shaboozey, whose parents immigrated from Nigeria, powerfully stated, “This country was built by immigrants.” After winning an award, he continued, “This is also for everyone who came here hoping for a better life, a place that promised freedom and a fair chance to succeed through hard work. Thank you for sharing your culture, music, stories, and traditions with us.”
Awards
Siblings Billie Eilish and Finneas won the song of the year Grammy for a third time.
After winning an award for her R&B song and performance, Kehlani emphasized the power of unity, stating, “When we work together, we have a stronger voice to fight against the injustices happening in the world today.” She hopes this inspires artists to join together and speak out.”
” F— Ice,” Kehlani added, walking off the stage.
I was really struck by what Harvey Mason Jr., the head of the Recording Academy, said during his speech. He talked about how unsettling things are right now in America, and how many people are genuinely hurting. He admitted it’s easy to feel lost and powerless when times are tough. But then he reminded us that music is always there – it doesn’t just stop. It’s something that lifts you up when you’re drained, and it’s a companion when you’re going through a hard time. It really resonated with me.
After winning a record award for her hit song “Luther,” a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, singer SZA used her acceptance speech to offer a calming message, contrasting with the more critical tones heard earlier in the evening.
“Don’t give up hope,” she urged. “I know it feels overwhelming, like everything is failing, according to what we’re seeing online. But we can keep going, and we need to support each other. Our true guidance doesn’t come from the government, but from a higher power.”
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2026-02-02 10:01