The 68th Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, 2026, became a milestone night for hip‑hop: Kendrick Lamar left the Staples Center with more career Grammys than Jay‑Z, while a brief ceremony mix‑up drew attention to the legacy of Luther Vandross. The wins underline shifting influence in music and a night of historic firsts — including Bad Bunny’s album of the year triumph.

What happened: Lamar’s record, the Cher slip and the Luther reference

Kendrick Lamar took home multiple awards at the ceremony, including record of the year for “Luther” (with SZA) and best rap album for GNX. Those victories pushed his career Grammy total past Jay‑Z’s 25 to 27 — making him the most awarded rapper in Grammys history.

During the record of the year presentation, Cher accidentally named “Luther Vandross” as the winner before correcting herself. One of “Luther”’s producers, Sounwave, opened the acceptance by saying, “Let’s give a shoutout to the late and great Luther Vandross.” Lamar himself acknowledged Vandross’ impact, saying that when they cleared a vocal sample for the song “we all dropped a tear,” and stressing the importance of love in the music.

Key quotes

  • Onstage after his rap album win Lamar said, “Hip‑hop is always going to be right here … We’re gonna be having the culture with us.”
  • Producer Sounwave’s salute: “Let’s give a shoutout to the late and great Luther Vandross.”

Bigger night: Bad Bunny, politics and standout moments

Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos made history as the first Spanish‑language album to win album of the year. He used his acceptance speeches to make pointed political statements about immigration — telling the crowd, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” and dedicating his album of the year award “to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams.” The Puerto Rican star also did not perform, a decision tied to contractual obligations ahead of a Super Bowl halftime appearance, according to the ceremony’s host interactions.

Other winners included Billie Eilish (song of the year for “Wildflower”), Olivia Dean (best new artist), Lady Gaga (pop vocal album), and Jelly Roll (inaugural contemporary country album). Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and Cher accepted a Lifetime Achievement honor.

Industry and fan reaction

The Grammys’ mix of political statements, genre shifts and surprise wins sparked wide reaction online and in industry circles. Kendrick’s new record total has been framed as a symbolic moment for hip‑hop’s mainstream authority, while Bad Bunny’s album win signaled growing global recognition for Spanish‑language music.

What to watch next

Expect streaming and sales bumps for the night’s winners, renewed discussion about awards categorization across genres, and continued attention on Kendrick Lamar’s career trajectory. For Bad Bunny, the spotlight ahead of his Super Bowl–related commitments will likely keep his historic win in the headlines.