Trevor Noah took center stage at the Grammy Awards for his sixth—and allegedly final—time as host, delivering a monologue that balanced celebrity roasts with sharp political commentary.
While he mostly played it safe, the comedian didn’t hold back when it came to one notable absence from the Crypto.com Arena.
His opening routine featured the signature move of walking directly up to music’s biggest stars, delivering jokes face-to-face in a style that’s become his Grammy trademark.
But his sharpest barb was reserved for someone who wasn’t even in the building.
The Nicki Minaj Joke That Got Everyone Talking
Noah wasted no time addressing rapper Nicki Minaj’s recent White House visit and her pivot toward supporting Donald Trump.
Nicki Minaj is not here. She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.
The audience erupted in cheers at the mention, signaling the buzz surrounding Minaj’s political shift in recent months.
Noah then launched into a Trump impression that brought down the house.
Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass, everybody’s saying it Nicki.
Political Commentary Hidden in Plain Sight
Despite the charged political climate—with many attendees wearing “ICE OUT” buttons—Noah largely avoided direct references to immigration enforcement, Greenland, or other hot-button issues.
Instead, he condensed his political observations into one cleverly layered joke about Lauryn Hill’s return to the Grammy stage.
Do you understand how long ago that is? Back in 1999, the president had had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested.
The parallel between past and present wasn’t lost on the celebrity-packed audience.
Face-to-Face Celebrity Roasts
The Tattoo Face ID Joke
Noah approached singers Teddy Swims and Jelly Roll, both sporting extensively tattooed faces, with an unexpectedly technical observation.
He suggested they attempt unlocking each other’s phones using facial recognition technology—a joke that landed perfectly given their distinctive appearance.
Praising Olivia Dean’s Ticketmaster Battle
Standing beside British singer Olivia Dean, Noah highlighted her successful fight against Ticketmaster’s resale practices.
Because if the fans can’t afford tickets, we can’t have live music, and without concerts, how would we find out which CEOs are having affairs on the Jumbotron?
Dean secured partial refunds for fans last year after publicly criticizing exploitative ticket resale business models.
The Kendrick Lamar Moment
When Noah approached the evening’s biggest nominee, Kendrick Lamar, he wisely opted for congratulations over comedy.
I actually thought about writing a few jokes roasting you, but then I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries.
The South African comedian referenced Lamar’s infamous beef with Canadian rapper Drake, which culminated in “Not Like Us“—last year’s massive Grammy winner.
Noah continued dissecting modern hip-hop rivalries with a darker observation.
Hip-hop beef has gone to a new level. Rappers are doing full-on detective work on your life. It was so much simpler when all you had to worry about was being shot.
Bad Bunny’s Geography Lesson
In a lighter moment, Noah sat with Bad Bunny and jokingly asked if he could relocate to Puerto Rico should conditions in the United States deteriorate.
Bad Bunny delivered the perfect comeback.
Trevor I have some news for you. Puerto Rico is part of America.
A Historic Hosting Run Comes to an End
The Recording Academy announced Noah’s return less than three weeks before the ceremony, emphasizing this would be his final appearance.
I believe in term limits.
With six Grammy hosting gigs under his belt, Noah ranks second only to singer Andy Williams, who hosted seven times during the 1970s.
Ironically, Noah—a four-time Grammy nominee himself—was up for an award that very night. He competed in the best audio book recording category for “Into The Uncut Grass,” a children’s story.
He lost to the Dalai Lama.
Perhaps that’s the perfect way to exit the Grammy stage: gracefully, with humor intact, knowing when someone else deserves the spotlight more.