Bad Bunny makes history with album of the year; Kendrick Lamar tops night

Bad Bunny seized a landmark victory at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the first artist to win album of the year with a Spanish-language record. The Puerto Rican star accepted the prize at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena after Trevor Noah’s final stint as host and after Harry Styles presented the top award. The album was reported under several stylizations by outlets, including “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” (CBS News, CBC), “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (ABC7, NPR) and “Débi Tirar Más Fotos” (Los Angeles Times), reflecting differing transcriptions of the title across coverage.

The win was framed as historic across reporting: ABC7 and NPR noted it was the first Spanish-language album to claim the Recording Academy’s most prestigious prize, and the Los Angeles Times placed Bad Bunny alongside Santana and João Gilberto as the third Latino act ever to win album of the year. CBC published the nominees list that Bad Bunny beat, which included Justin Bieber’s SWAG, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Leon Thomas’s MUTT, Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA and Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out.

Onstage, Bad Bunny addressed the arena predominantly in Spanish and used the moment to cast a wider political and cultural light on the award. NPR reported he was “sitting alone as his name was called” and appeared overcome with emotion before speaking. ABC7 captured him saying in Spanish, “Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35,” and thanking collaborators and his mother: “To all the people who worked on this album, thank you mami for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico, I love you.” NPR’s transcript included similar lines, “Puerto Rico, believe me when I say we're way bigger than 100 by 35” and “There's nothing we can't accomplish”, and recorded his English dedication: “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.” The Los Angeles Times transcribed a variant emphasizing solidarity: “Puerto Rico, believe me when I say that we are so much bigger than 100 by 35 and there is nothing that exists that we can’t accomplish.”

Kendrick Lamar was the night’s other big winner, taking five Grammys. NPR and Euronews reported Lamar won record of the year alongside SZA for “Luther” and picked up rap album of the year, with NPR calling him the most awarded rapper in Grammy history. CBC went further with a numeric total, reporting Lamar now has 27 Grammys and that he surpassed Jay-Z as the rap artist with the most wins.

The ceremony mixed celebration and politics. Euronews said the night “mixed celebration, politics and a sense of change,” and noted Billie Eilish used her song of the year acceptance for “Wildflower” to criticize immigration policies. ABC7 highlighted broader artist activism, reporting performers used the stage to protest immigration crackdowns and display anti-ICE messages. NPR and the Los Angeles Times characterized Bad Bunny’s remarks as an expression of solidarity with Latino and immigrant communities.

Beyond the headline winners, CBC reported Cher received a Lifetime Achievement Award, Pharrell Williams was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Olivia Dean was named best new artist, Ms. Lauryn Hill led tribute performances, and Justin Bieber staged a provocative set during his nominated R&B performance. Bad Bunny did not perform at the ceremony, NPR noted, because of his scheduled Super Bowl halftime appearance the following week, a crossover that will likely magnify the commercial and cultural impact of his Grammy win. The night signaled both a shift in mainstream recognition for Spanish-language music and a moment in which awards, politics and platform intersected on one of music’s biggest stages.