Music Correspondent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The 2025 Grammy Awards have opened with a special performance by the Los Angeles band Dawes, two brothers whose homes were destroyed in the recent wildfires.<\/p>\n The duo were joined on stage by former Grammy winners including Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Brad Paisley and Brittany Howard to perform Randy Newman’s classic song I Love LA.<\/p>\n “It’s often said that in the darkest of times, the best of humanity shines through, and the people of Los Angeles right now are a perfect example of that,” said host Trevor Noah, introducing the performance.<\/p>\n “So tonight, we decided we’re not just going to be celebrating our favourite music. We’re also celebrating the city that brought us so much of that music.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The comedian, who is hosting the ceremony for the fifth time, said that “just a few weeks ago, we weren’t sure that this show would even happen”.<\/p>\n “Thankfully, due to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has emerged,” he added, to generous applause.<\/p>\n Several firefighters were invited to the awards to honour their efforts; and walked the red carpet taking selfies with the biggest stars in music.<\/p>\n Los Angeles native Billie Eilsh was the second artist on stage, playing her Grammy-nominated song Birds Of A Feather against a backdrop inspired by California’s natural beauty.<\/p>\n “I love you LA,” she said as the music ended.<\/p>\n The ceremony is raising money for those affected by what Noah called “one of the largest natural disasters in US history”; and organisers have handed over a portion of their airtime to let local businesses advertise for free as they try to rebuild.<\/p>\n Noah also joked that winners whose speeches ran longer than one-and-a-half minutes would pay $1,000 for every extra second they spoke.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As for the awards, Beyonc\u00e9 is the night’s biggest nominee, with 11 nods for her country-inspired album Cowboy Carter – including album of the year.<\/p>\n The star arrived at the ceremony with more Grammys than any other artist in history, a total of 32, but she has never won the biggest prize.<\/p>\n Ahead of the main ceremony, she picked up one additional trophy – best country duo\/group performance, for II Most Wanted, a duet with Miley Cyrus.<\/p>\n Other artists awarded in the early “premiere ceremony” included the Beatles, who won best rock performance for their AI-assisted track Now And Then, based on an old John Lennon demo.<\/p>\n British pop star Charli XCX won three trophies for her trend-setting club album Brat; and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was named best pop solo performance. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The first prize of the main ceremony was best rap album, which went to Florida-born rapper Doechii, for her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal.<\/p>\n She noted it was only the third time a woman had won the category since it was introduced in 1989, with a shout-out to her predecessors Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.<\/p>\n “I put my heart and soul into this mixtape,” she added. “I bared my life, I went through so much, I dedicated myself to sobriety and God told me that I would be rewarded.”<\/p>\n She ended her speech with a message to other aspiring female artists. <\/p>\n “There are so many black women out there that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you, you can do it. <\/p>\n “Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you [or] tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark, or that you’re not smart enough, or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud.<\/p>\n “You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are and I am a testimony. Praise God.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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