Grammys red carpet turns political as Joni Mitchell and Kehlani lead stars donning anti-ICE pins

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At the 2026 Grammy Awards, many celebrities openly expressed their political views by wearing pins protesting ICE on the red carpet.

Joni Mitchell, the celebrated singer and songwriter, was a prominent voice criticizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 82-year-old singer, who resumed performing after a brain aneurysm in 2015, didn’t wear a political pin while walking the red carpet. However, she added one to her sparkly outfit before accepting the award for Best Historical Album – Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years – at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Kehlani, Jason Isbell, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Rhiannon Giddens, Margo Price, and other stars also made memorable appearances, both while posing for photos and performing on stage.

Kehlani, age 30, turned heads on the red carpet with a sparkling black dress and a bold accessory. But her Grammy win allowed her to make an even bigger statement.

After being nominated seven times, the artist was initially stunned to finally win two Grammys for her hit song, ‘Folded.’ She took home awards for both Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song.

Kehlani paused after approaching the microphone. ‘It’s been ten years since I was first nominated for a Grammy at this same show,’ she said.

After briefly thanking people, she began discussing the next Trump administration’s efforts to target undocumented immigrants.

She emphasized the incredible power of everyone present, stating that united, they have a stronger voice to address the injustices happening globally. She hopes this inspires all artists to come together as a community and speak out collectively, rather than individually.

Before stepping away, she quickly added, ‘I’mma leave this and say, f*** ICE!’

Jason Isbell, a former member of Drive-By Truckers, showed his opposition to ICE by wearing an “ICE OUT” pin on his jacket.

Okay, so I noticed a really interesting detail about Justin Vernon from Bon Iver recently. He was wearing a navy blazer, and he’d pinned a little ‘ICE OUT’ pin to one lapel. On the other side, he had a bright orange whistle hanging down. It was a cool, unexpected touch – a little bit quirky and definitely showed some personality!

Vernon clarified that his protest wasn’t just against ICE; he was also demonstrating solidarity with legal observers who were documenting the activities of federal agents in Minneapolis and other cities nationwide.

He told the Associated Press that he believes music exists to help people heal and connect with one another. However, he emphasized that the most important work is being done by people on the ground in Minneapolis, and he wanted to acknowledge their efforts.

Rhiannon Giddens, known for her work with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, made a statement on the red carpet. She wore an “ICE OUT” pin over her sheer black top and decorated the strap of her banjo with a line of the same pins.

Margo Price arrived in a see-through beige dress with a tattered train flowing behind her. She fastened an ‘ICE OUT’ pin to the strap of the dress.

Amy Allen was among the celebrities sporting ICE OUT pins. She received the award for Songwriter of the Year in the non-classical category.

The 66th annual Grammy Awards, known as ‘Music’s Biggest Night,’ will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ beginning at 5 p.m. Pacific Time / 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Trevor Noah, known for hosting The Daily Show, is back to host again this year – marking his sixth time leading the event.

Oh my gosh, the nominations are finally out! And you guys, Kendrick Lamar is absolutely dominating – nine nominations! Seriously, nine! He’s already won 22 Grammys, and it feels like he’s going to sweep everything again this year. I’m so excited!

Lady Gaga received the second-highest number of nominations with seven, tying with Jack Antonoff, a frequent collaborator with Taylor Swift, and well-known pop producer Cirkut.

Sabrina Carpenter, with six nominations for her upcoming 2025 album, Man’s Best Friend, is set to perform at the three-hour show alongside other major musical artists.

Gaga, Justin Bieber and K-pop sensation Rosé will also take the stage. 

The Recording Academy added two new awards this year: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.

After Beyoncé’s success with her country album, Cowboy Carter, the Grammy Awards will now separate country music into two categories: ‘contemporary’ and ‘traditional’. This means the ‘Best Country Album’ award will be split into two separate awards starting at the 2025 ceremony.

According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the Academy’s main goal is to accurately represent the musicians it supports, and these changes reflect that commitment, as stated in June.

This means we need to closely listen to our members so our rules stay current with the music industry and ensure we can properly identify and reward all the talented creators we can.

To be considered for nominations in 2026, recordings had to be officially released for sale in the United States between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025.

Grammy winners were decided after voting closed between December 12, 2025, and January 5, 2026.

In a statement, Harvey Mason Jr. explained that the Grammy Awards are a chance to celebrate the artists who make the music industry so dynamic, and this year’s nominees showcase the amazing talent currently shaping the future of music.

This year’s nominees – ranging from exciting new artists to established music legends – truly represent the wide variety of sounds and styles shaping music today. I’m looking forward to celebrating their achievements in the weeks to come.

The competition for Album of the Year in 2026 is expected to be fierce, with major artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Sabrina Carpenter all vying for the top spot.

Kendrick Lamar’s new album, GNX, has achieved a historic feat: it’s the fifth time in a row one of his albums has been nominated for Album of the Year – a record no other artist holds. If GNX wins, it would be Lamar’s first victory in this category.

The rapper is nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year with his song “Luther” featuring SZA. This is the third time he’s been nominated for all three of the most prestigious Grammy Awards – Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year – at the same time.

The singer, originally from Compton, is also nominated for awards in several other categories, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album.

Justin Bieber is also set to make his long-awaited return to the Grammy Awards stage. 

The popular singer, age 31, will perform at the 2026 Grammys. This will be his first time on stage at the awards show in four years.

Justin Bieber last took the stage at the awards show in 2022, performing his hit song “Peaches” with Giveon and Daniel Caesar to a great response from the audience.

This year, Justin Bieber has received four award nominations. He’s up for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album for Swag, Best Pop Solo Performance for Daisies, and Best R&B Performance for Yukon.

Throughout his career, the Canadian artist has been nominated for a Grammy Award 23 times and has won twice.

Adding to the excitement of the Grammys, Selena Gomez, who previously dated Justin Bieber, is also scheduled to be there.

Selena Gomez and her ex-boyfriend, music producer Benny Blanco, are both nominated for an award for their song ‘Bluest Flame.’ This means they’ll be at the same event, one of the biggest nights in the music industry.

Justin Bieber is expected to attend the ceremony with his wife, Hailey, who has been a steady support during his career comeback.

After taking a break from music for health reasons, Justin Bieber returned to the spotlight in 2025 with his new album, SWAG.

As a longtime observer of pop culture, I’m so thrilled for Lady Gaga! Her album, MAYHEM, is in the running for Album of the Year, and her song “Abracadabra” has landed nominations for both Record and Song of the Year. It’s a really exciting moment because this is the first time she’s been nominated for all three major awards at the same time – a huge achievement for any artist!

The singer, originally from New York and now based in Los Angeles, is also a strong contender for awards in several pop categories, including Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Dance Pop Recording. She received one nomination for her album, Harlequin, in the Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.

Jack Antonoff, known as both a musician and producer, has earned two nominations in the major categories at the awards show: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year, thanks to his work with Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter.

He created Carpenter’s next album after their Grammy-winning ‘Short N’ Sweet’, called ‘Man’s Best Friend’, and it featured the song ‘Man’s Best Friend’.

Jack Antonoff produced the album GNX, which includes the song ‘Luther’ featuring Kendrick Lamar. This collaboration earned Antonoff his first Best Rap Song nomination for ‘Tv Off’ featuring Lefty Gunplay.

Jack Antonoff will compete against producer Cirkut, who also received seven nominations for his work on Lady Gaga’s album, MAYHEM.

He is also the musical mind behind Rosé and Bruno Mars’s hit single APT.

Cirkut is nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2026 awards ceremony thanks to the popularity of several hit songs: Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” MAYHEM’s lead single, and a collaboration with Mars featuring Rosé.

Okay, so beyond Lady Gaga’s ‘MAYHEM’ and Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ – which, let’s be real, are amazing – the Album of the Year nominees also include Carpenter’s ‘Man’s Best Friend’, Bad Bunny’s ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’, Justin Bieber’s ‘SWAG’ (yes, really!), Clipse, Pusha T & Malice’s ‘Let God Sort Em Out’, Leon Thomas’s ‘MUTT’, and Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Chromakopia’. I’ve been listening to them all non-stop, trying to decide which one deserves the win… it’s SO hard!

As a longtime music lover, I’m really excited to point out something historic happening this year! For the very first time, three albums – GNX, Let God Sort Em Out, and Chromakopia – are nominated for both Best Rap Album and the coveted Album of the Year. It’s a huge moment, recognizing the incredible artistry and crossover appeal of these projects.

 

Bad Bunny’s album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, is just the second album entirely in Spanish to be nominated for the most prestigious award.

Bad Bunny, Carpenter, Leon Thomas and Serban Ghenea all boast six nominations.

Andrew Watt, the production team behind Clipse, rapper Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile, and Tyler, the Creator have each received five nominations.

This year’s Best New Artist nominees include the girl group Katseye, along with singers Olivia Dean and Lola Young, band The Marias, and social media stars Addison Rae, Sombr, Thomas, and Alex Warren.

The nominees for Record of the Year are Bad Bunny with “DtMF,” Sabrina Carpenter with “Manchild,” Doechii with “Anxiety,” Billie Eilish with “Wildflower,” Lady Gaga with “Abracadabra,” Lamar and SZA with “luther,” Chappell Roan with “The Subway and Rosé,” and Mars with “APT.”

Many fans were surprised to see Billie Eilish’s song “Wildflower” nominated for a Grammy, as it appeared on her 2024 album, Hit Me Hard And Soft, but was released before the eligibility period.

The Recording Academy has a rule that lets albums released before the current eligibility period be considered for a Grammy, as long as the same songs weren’t submitted last year and the album didn’t already win. There are a few specific cases where this doesn’t apply.

By that rule, Wildflower, which was not previously entered, is eligible for the 2026 ceremony. 

Song of the Year is the final award in the major categories. It celebrates the songwriters – and sometimes the artists themselves – who created the year’s most popular songs.

The nominees for Song Of The Year are nearly identical to those up for Record Of The Year.

The only change is that “The Subway” by Chappell Roan has been swapped out for “Golden” from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.

Singers, composers, producers and musicians alike will compete across 95 categories.

I’m so excited about the 2026 nominees! It’s fantastic to see some fresh faces like Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, and PinkPantheress being recognized – this is the first time they’ve been nominated, and I can’t wait to see what they bring!

Taylor Swift, a hugely popular and award-winning artist, didn’t receive any Grammy nominations this year, even though she released a new album last year.

Taylor Swift’s new release, The Life of a Showgirl, comes after her Grammy-winning 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Taylor Swift narrowly missed the 2026 deadline because her film, The Life of a Showgirl, came out on October 3, 2025 – the birthday of her future husband, Travis Kelce.

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2026-02-02 03:30