Kendrick Lamar got quite the shout-out at the 2025 Grammys, as did his feud with Drake.
Though Trevor Noah, hosting music's biggest night for the fifth straight year, was subtle about that second part.
As his monologue inevitably got to Taylor Swift, a 14-time Grammy winner heading into the evening and nominated for another six, Noah praised her for getting an Album of the Year nod for the LP she announced while accepting in that category last year.
"That was like Grammy Inception," he quipped, invoking Christopher Nolan's trippy sci-fi hit. "I like how you did that." (See all the artists who've already won a Grammy tonight.)
But the comedian also warned her what might happen if she ended up winning Album of the Year for a record fifth time, which would make her the only artist to achieve the feat.
For starters, he said, that means "she would break the record of four wins, set in 2024 by... Taylor Swift. If you break Taylor's record, you know, the Swifties are going to come for you. You don't want to mess with them, man, they're like an army of Kendrick Lamars."
So while the Beyhive probably won't be too happy, either, should their queen be denied yet again in that category, Noah went with a subtle nod to what happens when you incur Lamar's wrath. Which Drake, and his lawyers, know all too well.
Lamar was nominated for seven Grammys heading into the Feb. 2 ceremony at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena, and he won five: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for "Not Like Us."
So, it was worth his while to attend before he had to jet to New Orleans to prepare for his Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
Meanwhile, Noah may be able to host the Grammys in his sleep by now, but this time around he had to shake up his playlist.
While the location remained the same and the faces hadn't changed all that much—11-time nominee Beyoncé, Swift, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are partying tonight with Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey—the vibe couldn't help but be different in the wake of the devastating wildfires that tore through large swaths of Los Angeles last month, Noah had to shake up his usual playlist.
A number of related events that normally would have taken place in the days leading up to the Feb. 2 ceremony were canceled, and the telecast itself, according to the Recording Academy, was "reimagined to raise funds to support wildfire relief efforts and aid music professionals impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles."
So Noah was tasked with hitting the right note between solemnity and celebration. True to form, he was pitch perfect, and opened the show not with jokes but with a heartfelt tribute to L.A.'s music community.
The jokes did come, however, among them Noah comparing how important the Grammys are to music to what Father's Day means to prolific reproducer Nick Cannon, and optimistically suggesting that maybe A.I. could hasten along a new Rihanna album, "praise be Nvidia."
He also noted that it wasn't the greatest time for Beyoncé to announce her Cowboy Carter Tour because "there's tariffs, we can't afford a new tour."
Yes, politics were in the house, and Noah cracked that he planned to enjoy himself, just in case it was "the last time I get to host anything in this country."
"It's exciting, it's different, it's probably the best concert of the year," Noah said in a behind-the-scenes video about why he loves hosting music's biggest night. "Where else are you going to have the best in country, the best in hip-hop, the best in pop, the best in R&B, all on the same stage, all on the same night, everybody coming together ? It's an easy one to say yes to."
Among the twists in store for the evening, he teased "a little surprise" in how the performances by the Best New Artist nominees would unfold. And "on a sad but then also beautiful note," there will be a star-studded tribute to prolific producer (and 28-time Grammy winner) Quincy Jones, who died in November.
In addition to emceeing, Noah is a co-producer of the telecast and he's a nominee for Best Comedy Album, for Where Was I.
"I don't think it ever gets old," Noah said. "I've seen Beyoncé win her however-many-eth award and have a look in her face that says, 'This is so special.' And I've seen people winning their first award. Like I remember Victoria Monet's face when she received her Grammy, it was otherworldly."
See every star who hit the red carpet at the 2025 Grammys:
Taylor Swift
In custom Vivienne Westwood, Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and Casadei heels.
Beyoncé
In custom Schiaparelli.
Jennifer Lopez
In Stephane Rolland.
Lady Gaga
In custom Samuel Lewis and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Chappel Roan
In Jean Paul Gaultier and Anabela Chan and Djula earrings.
Cynthia Erivo
In custom Louis Vuitton and FoundRae earrings.
Shakira
In Etro and Pomellato jewelry.
Miley Cyrus
In Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
GloRilla
In Lena Berisha.
Victoria Monét
In Oude Waag.
Janelle Monáe
In Area and Tag Heuer watch.
Alicia Keys
In Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda.
Cardi B
In Roberto Cavalli and Le Vian earrings.
Mandy Moore & Taylor Goldsmith
In Stella McCartney.
Latto
In YESSAYAN necklace.
Charli XCX
In Jean Paul Gaultier.
Olivia Rodrigo
In vintage Versace, Stuart Weitzman shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Shaboozey
In custom Diesel and Jacob & Co. watch.
Paris Hilton
In Chrome Hearts and Gianvito Rossi heels.
Julia Fox
Lainey Wilson
In Sergio Hudson and Charlie1Horse hat.
Will Smith
In Balmain.
Trevor Noah
In Giorgio Armani and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Valentina Ferrer & J Balvin
In Dior.
Coco Jones
In custom Defaïence.
Omarion
Busta Rhymes
Quenlin Blackwell
Ty Dolla $ign
Kenzie Yolles