Grammys Take Place in Shadow of Minneapolis Killing and Political Backlash

When musicians gather in Los Angeles this Sunday for the annual Grammy Awards, they will be stepping onto a stage shaped not only by celebration, but by crisis.

The ceremony comes as artists across the United States speak out against actions by the Trump administration in Minneapolis following the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti last weekend. Against this backdrop of national unrest, Grammy leaders say music itself may become a powerful response.

“You never know how it’s going to play out, but the one thing we have as an advantage is that musicians — we’re communicators,” said Harvey Mason Jr., president and CEO of the Recording Academy. “You’re going to hear and feel what’s going on in the world through the music.”

The 2026 Grammys are once again led by rap star Kendrick Lamar, who tops this year’s nominations with nine. The ceremony is also reviving a fan-favorite format: all best new artist nominees will perform live. That lineup includes Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr, and The Marías.

This year introduces two new award categories — best traditional country album and best album cover — reflecting the Academy’s continued effort to broaden how musical excellence is recognized.

Hosted by Trevor Noah, the show aims to offer unity during a divisive moment. Mason said he hopes the ceremony will feel uplifting. “Music has a unique ability, especially at a time when there’s unrest and division. I think the music community will be used as a tool, as medicine, to bring people together.”

Since taking leadership of the Recording Academy in 2020, Mason has faced challenges that extend beyond the stage — from political backlash against diversity initiatives to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in music creation.

On diversity, Mason has pushed for a more global Academy as international genres surge in popularity. In 2025 alone, more than 3,800 new members joined the Academy, with 58% identifying as people of color and 35% as women. For the first time, all Latin Recording Academy voting members were also invited, expanding the Grammy voting body worldwide.

That global shift is reflected in this year’s nominations. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny made history by becoming the first Spanish-language artist nominated simultaneously for album, record, and song of the year. K-pop also reached a new milestone, with two songs nominated for song of the year — including “APT.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars — marking the genre’s deepest entry yet into the Grammys’ top categories.

Mason sees these changes as part of a long-term evolution. “Global music creates more empathy, more understanding, more unity,” he said.

He also addressed artificial intelligence, calling it both “challenging” and “an exciting opportunity.” While the Grammys will not award AI-created artists or fully AI-written songs, Mason said AI use will not automatically disqualify entries. “We need to protect human creativity,” he said, adding that the Academy plans to push for legislation around responsible AI use.

The 2026 Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on February 1 — a night where celebration, protest, and passion are expected to collide through music.