LOS ANGELES, Feb 2— A new chapter in music history was written Sunday as the K-pop genre and the Dalai Lama both secured their first Grammy Awards during a high-energy Premiere Ceremony. The win for the Dalai Lama came in the storytelling and narration category, while the song “Golden” broke barriers for K-pop acts in the visual media category.
Steven Spielberg also became the latest artist to enter the prestigious EGOT club. His win for best music film solidified his place in history, marking the first time the acclaimed director has taken home a Grammy. The win contributed to an afternoon of first-time honors, which included rock artist Yungblud and the hardcore band Turnstile, who took home awards for rock performance and rock album respectively.
Frontman Brendan Yates of Turnstile mentioned his roots during the acceptance, stating, “To Baltimore, thank you, we love you.” Meanwhile, FKA twigs made history as the second Black woman to win best dance/electronic album. She noted her surprise during her speech, saying, “I didn’t expect to come up here. I was just so happy to be nominated.”
The ceremony was punctuated by social commentary regarding the central government’s immigration policies. Artists such as Kehlani and Shaboozey spoke to the contributions of immigrant communities. Backstage, Gloria Estefan mentioned her concerns regarding the current political climate and the treatment of children in detention centers. “I don’t recognize my country in this moment right now,” Estefan said.
The show, hosted by Darren Criss during the pre-telecast, preceded the main event hosted by Trevor Noah. While many winners celebrated in person, others were absent, including The Cure, who were attending a funeral for their longtime keyboardist. Kendrick Lamar enters the evening’s main televised ceremony as the lead contender with nine nominations.
