Music’s biggest night returns this Sunday with historic moments already written into the lineup.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards promises unforgettable performances, groundbreaking nominations, and a few surprises that have never happened before in the ceremony’s storied history.
Kendrick Lamar leads all artists with nine nominations, including one that places him in a category entirely his own.
Trevor Noah returns to host for the sixth consecutive year, steering what promises to be an unpredictable evening of live music celebration.
When and Where to Tune In
The Grammy Awards air live on Sunday, February 1st, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific Time) on CBS television stations across the country. Viewers can locate their local CBS affiliate for traditional broadcast viewing.
Streaming options provide flexibility for cord-cutters and mobile viewers. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch the ceremony live as it happens, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers will have on-demand access starting Monday morning.
Red carpet coverage kicks off an hour earlier at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, featuring CBS Los Angeles anchor Kalyna Astrinos and entertainment journalist Grae Drake. The pre-show streams live on CBS News Los Angeles, with KCAL broadcasting for local Los Angeles market viewers.
Kendrick Lamar Makes Grammy History
Lamar’s nine nominations this year include Album of the Year for “GNX,” marking an unprecedented achievement in Grammy history.
This represents his fifth consecutive studio album to receive an Album of the Year nomination—something no other artist has accomplished. The streak demonstrates sustained creative excellence and industry recognition across nearly a decade of releases.
Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Canadian producer Cirkut follow with seven nominations each. Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, and Canadian audio engineer Serban Ghenea earned six nods apiece.
Bad Bunny’s Groundbreaking Nominations
Bad Bunny achieved another historic first this year. According to Variety, he became the first Spanish-language artist nominated for Song, Record, and Album of the Year in the same ceremony.
This triple recognition signals evolving appreciation for non-English language music within Recording Academy voting.
New Categories Expand Recognition
The 68th Grammy Awards introduce two new categories, bringing total awards presented to 95.
Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover join the lineup, while the former Best Country Album category receives a contemporary designation. Best Contemporary Country Album now distinguishes modern country sounds from traditional approaches.
These additions reflect genre evolution and renewed appreciation for visual artistry in album presentation.
Star-Studded Performance Lineup
All eight Best New Artist nominees will perform during Sunday’s broadcast—a showcase for emerging talent that includes Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Sombr, and The Marías.
Established stars round out the performance roster with Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Clipse with Pharrell Williams taking the stage.
Emotional Tribute Performances
Lauryn Hill will honor two musical legends lost in the past year. D’Angelo, who died of cancer in October at age 51, and Roberta Flack, who passed in February at 88, will be celebrated through Hill’s performance.
Post Malone joins Duff McKagan, Slash, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt for a tribute to late rock icon Ozzy Osbourne. The performance promises to honor Osbourne’s enduring influence on heavy metal and rock music.
Trevor Noah’s Sixth Hosting Turn
The comedian and former “The Daily Show” host returns for his sixth consecutive year guiding music’s biggest night. His 2024 hosting saw him navigate a broadcast refocused following devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
Noah told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King he embraces the unpredictable nature of live awards shows.
I don’t know what’s going to happen. So that’s what I love about the Grammys is it’s live; it’s happening; it’s on the fly.
His quick wit and musical knowledge have made him a Grammy mainstay, handling spontaneous moments and keeping three-plus hours of live television moving smoothly.
Presenters Include Grammy Royalty
Three-time Grammy winner Harry Styles will present awards during Sunday’s ceremony. His appearance marks a return to the Grammy stage where he’s previously performed and won accolades.
Doechii, already a Grammy winner and nominated for five additional awards this year, joins the presenter lineup. Her dual role as nominee and presenter underscores her rapidly rising influence in contemporary music.
Crypto.com Arena Hosts Ceremony
Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena provides the venue for this year’s ceremony, continuing the Grammys’ tradition of celebrating music in major entertainment capitals.
The downtown Los Angeles venue seats over 20,000 attendees and provides state-of-the-art production capabilities for elaborate performances and technical requirements.