Dalai Lama wins first Grammy as historic moments mark 68th Grammy Awards
PTC Web Desk: The 68th annual Grammy Awards began on a historic note on Sunday, delivering a series of first-time wins and emotional moments during the star-studded Premiere Ceremony held ahead of the main telecast in Los Angeles.
Among the most unexpected winners was the Dalai Lama, who secured his first-ever Grammy in the category of Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording. The Tibetan spiritual leader edged out notable nominees, including US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The award was accepted by musician Rufus Wainwright, who contributed to the project.
“I am not the Dalai Lama,” Wainwright joked during his acceptance speech, calling it an honour to be part of the recording.
Another major milestone came when the song “Golden” from the animated series KPop Demon Hunters won Best Song Written for Visual Media. The win marked the first time a K-pop act has received a Grammy. The songwriters addressed the audience in both English and Korean, reflecting the global reach of K-pop music.
The ceremony also saw legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg complete the rare EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, after Music for John Williams took home the Grammy for Best Music Film.
The Premiere Ceremony, held at the Peacock Theater, was hosted by actor and musician Darren Criss and featured the distribution of a majority of the 86 awards presented before the main broadcast. Criss opened the event by announcing the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award, which went to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for “Defying Gravity”, though neither artist was present to accept it.
Rock musician Yungblud won his first Grammy for Best Rock Performance for his live cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes”, recorded during Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance. Hardcore band Turnstile also celebrated their first Grammy wins, taking home awards for Best Rock Album and later for Best Metal Performance.
Alternative rock icons The Cure won Best Alternative Music Performance but did not attend the ceremony as they were mourning the recent death of longtime band member Perry Archangelo Bamonte.
Singer-songwriter FKA twigs won her first Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album for “EUSEXUA”, becoming only the second Black woman to win in that category. Visibly emotional, she thanked the Recording Academy and said she never expected to win.
In the rap category, Lefty Gunplay earned his first Grammy for Best Rap Performance for his collaboration on Kendrick Lamar’s track “TV Off”. Latin music also featured prominently, with Natalia Lafourcade winning Best Latin Pop Album for “Cancionera”. Argentine duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso won Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for “Papota”, their first Grammy on their first nomination. Carin Leon picked up Best Musica Mexicana Album for “Palabra De To’s (Seca)”.
The tone of this year’s Grammys marked a return to celebration after the 2025 edition was reshaped around relief efforts following devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. In 2026, the focus has shifted firmly back to music, with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny set to compete during the main televised event at the Crypto.com Arena.
The ceremony opened with a lively performance by Earth, Wind & Fire, joined by several guest artists. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. praised the opening act, calling it a symbol of joy and resilience.
Several artists used the platform to speak on political and social issues, particularly immigration. Country duo Shaboozey and Jelly Roll, who won Best Country Duo/Group Performance, delivered an emotional speech highlighting immigrant contributions to the US. Songwriter Amy Allen and singer Kehlani also voiced strong anti-ICE messages during their acceptance speeches.
Comedian Trevor Noah is set to host the main Grammy Awards ceremony for the sixth and final time, as anticipation builds for what could be another historic night in music.
- With inputs from agencies
