The 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was filled with unforgettable moments. Kendrick Lamar emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home five Grammys, including the coveted Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Not Like Us.” Meanwhile, Beyoncé finally broke what seemed like an unshakable curse—after four previous losses, the 43-year-old icon secured her first Album of the Year win for Cowboy Carter. In doing so, she also extended her record as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history, bringing her total wins to 35.
It was also a big night for rising stars. After a dominant 2024, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter all won their first Grammys. But, as with every year, the 2025 Grammys weren’t without controversy. Some moments left fans thrilled, while others sparked outrage. In this article, we dive into the biggest snubs and surprises of the night.
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Snubs
Zero Wins for Billie Eilish
Arguably the biggest snub of the night, Billie Eilish walked into the ceremony with seven nominations—the second most of any artist this year—including major nods for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Her third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, was both a critical and commercial success—we even ranked it as the best album of 2024. It produced multiple hit singles, including “Birds of a Feather,” which became the most-streamed song of the year. Yet, despite her dominance, Eilish left the ceremony empty-handed, a result that left fans stunned.
Zero Wins for Taylor Swift
For the first time since 2022, Taylor Swift walked away from the Grammys without a win. The pop superstar was nominated for six awards, including three in major categories. Many expected her to secure her fifth Album of the Year win for The Tortured Poets Department, but not only did she lose, she was also defeated in three other categories by Kendrick Lamar.
Zero Wins for Ariana Grande
This one was expected, but still disappointing. Ariana Grande’s snub at the 2025 Grammys will be hard to forget. Surprisingly, Eternal Sunshine was left out of the top categories when nominations were announced. Despite earning three nods in the Pop and Dance categories, she ultimately went home empty-handed.
Surprises
Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year
After years of waiting and an incredibly successful career, Beyoncé finally won her first Grammy for Album of the Year. Don’t get us wrong—she absolutely deserves it—but Cowboy Carter wasn’t exactly the frontrunner. Many, including us, expected Charli XCX’s BRAT or Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft to take the win. Others were betting on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.
Kendrick Lamar Wins Song of the Year
While we predicted “Not Like Us” to win Record of the Year, few expected it to also take home Song of the Year. The track beat out strong contenders like “Birds of a Feather,” “Fortnight,” “Die with a Smile,” and “Good Luck, Babe!”
Chappell Roan Wins Best New Artist
This isn’t exactly a shock, as the race was always between Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. Both artists had incredible breakthroughs in 2024, and both were more than deserving of the win. While we predicted Sabrina to take it, Chappell’s victory is well-earned.
St. Vincent Dominates Rock and Alternative Categories
For St. Vincent, seeing her hard work recognized at the GRAMMYs must have been incredibly rewarding. She took home three awards: Best Rock Song, Best Alternative Music Performance, and Best Alternative Music Album. Her seventh studio album, All Born Screaming, wasn’t just entirely self-produced—it was also independently released through her own label, Total Pleasure Records.
Doechii Wins Best Rap Album
The show kicked off with one of the biggest surprises of the night: Alligator Bites Never Heal was announced as the winner for Best Rap Album. The LP was the only female-led project nominated in the category this year, triumphing over J. Cole’s Might Delete Later, Eminem’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), and Future & Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You.
Images of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish Courtesy of the Recording Academy@/ Getty Images ©
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