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Home • Awards

Grammy Night 2026 Was A Love Letter To Black History And Gen Z Excellence

From Kendrick Lamar’s historic wins to Olivia Dean’s Best New Artist breakout, GU recaps the best Gen Z moments and red carpet looks from the 68th Grammy Awards.
Grammy Night 2026 Was A Love Letter To Black History And Gen Z Excellence
By Amber Little · Updated February 2, 2026

A successful Grammy night is the perfect way to kick off Black History Month. Superstars from around the world arrived last night, eager to make history at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. What made this ceremony even more special was the recognition the Academy gave to Gen Z, highlighting how the generation significantly influenced nominations and wins through TikTok-driven trends and emphasizing the cultural impact Gen Z is making during these celebratory moments.

From artists winning their first Grammys to emotional tributes to musical legends, the night felt like a perfect celebration of cultural heritage that uplifted everyone. As the evening progressed, we saw many Gen Z artists making history. From Olivia Dean performing her lively breakout hit “Man I Need” to winning her first Grammy, the night symbolized artists finally receiving the recognition they deserve. If you missed it, GU has you covered with some of our favorite moments.

Olivia Dean Wins Best New Artist

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Throughout her rising career, Olivia Dean has captivated the world with jazz-infused pop, drawing on the tenderness and rich tones of her ballads. When she arrived last night in a custom black-and-white Chanel gown featuring a sequined, embellished bodice with feathered fringe and a voluminous white skirt, her look highlighted a modern twist on vintage style. As she celebrates her first-ever Grammy, we are confident this won’t be the last time her name makes headlines.

Leon Thomas Wins Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance

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With Leon Thomas securing two wins—Best R&B Album for MUTT and Best Traditional R&B Performance for “VIBES DON’T LIE”—this victory felt like a collective triumph and proof that R&B is alive and thriving.

Kehlani Wins Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance

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This win felt especially meaningful as many have witnessed Kehlani’s musical journey from the beginning; therefore, this award felt long overdue. Kehlani is now a 2x Grammy Award-winning artist for “FOLDED”—respect has officially been earned.

Tyla Wins Best African Music Performance

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Tyla took home her second Grammy for her song “PUSH 2 START,” wearing a Dsquared2 Fall/Winter 2013 ensemble. She paired the look with a high-sling ponytail and an asymmetrical feather-trimmed gown featuring a gem-embellished mesh bodice, finished with three diamond tennis chokers styled by Ronnie Hart.

SZA & Kendrick Win For Best Melodic Rap Performance

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This win felt like a collective victory for the community. As SZA and Kendrick Lamar won Best Melodic Rap Performance for their hit “luther,” SZA offered words of encouragement to the audience, emphasizing the importance of never losing hope.

Kendrick Lamar Makes History Again

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Kendrick Lamar has once again made history during Black History Month. Winning Best Rap Album for GNX, he demonstrated that music with purpose yields the most significant rewards. With 26 Grammy wins, Kendrick is now the most awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z’s record of 25 trophies.

Lola Young Wins Best Pop Solo Performance Lola Young wore a Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2025 abstract camouflage and trinket-printed ensemble, paired with a collared button-down and a red tie, as she took home the award for her hit song “Messy.”

Bad Bunny Wins Album Of The Year

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Bad Bunny made history as the first Latin artist to win Album of the Year with an all-Spanish language album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. As he continues to showcase authenticity and vulnerability in his music, he has solidified his place among the most influential artists of this generation. However, his words resonated even more during his acceptance speech, as he urged the audience to oppose injustice with love and peace.

Shaboozey Wins

Arriving on the red carpet, Shaboozey paired a traditional tuxedo jacket with silk lapels and a string tie with blue jeans and a Western-style belt, highlighting his intent to make a bold fashion statement. The night got even better when he won his first Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Jelly Roll for the song “Amen.”

Stars Pay Tribute To Roberta Flack and D’Angelo

Artists such as Lucky Daye, Leon Thomas, Bilal, Jon Batiste, Anthony Hamilton, and Raphael Saadiq delivered heartfelt tributes celebrating D’Angelo as a musical genius. The surprises didn’t end there, as Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited to honor Roberta Flack’s 1973 original record “Killing Me Softly With His Song” before performing the Fugees’ iconic 1996 version. The set felt like an overdue Black family reunion.

Doechii Wins Best Music Video

Doechii graced the red carpet, exuding modern goddess energy in a custom Roberto Cavalli gown featuring a sheer burnt orange laced-up top, an eggplant bodice, and a flowing 13-foot train. With all due respect, she truly earned a Grammy for her captivating music video “Anxiety.” 

Sinners Wins Again

Everyone can’t get enough of ‘Sinners’ as they took home two Grammys for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack  For Visual Media.

Given that all the Grammy wins represent significant milestones, it’s also worth noting that some of our favorite Gen Z stars arrived on the red carpet dressed to turn heads. Styled by top fashion experts, these stars displayed vintage-inspired outfits with their own distinctive touches. Through stunning ensembles featuring sculptural chokers and elegant gowns, timeless looks were reinvented last night.

The UK’s emerging pop sensation and Gen Z icon PinkPantheress made her highly anticipated Grammy debut in a stunning Vivienne Westwood gown from the brand’s exclusive 2012 capsule collection. Reflecting her signature edgy, British style, she chose a design resembling a distressed Union Jack flag, uniquely draped to create a daring statement.

Another standout was Ayra Starr, who looked breathtaking in a sheer, form-fitting purple dress by Nicola Bacchilega, complemented by a striking diamond-encrusted sculptural choker and styled by Elly Karamoh. The Shea Butter Queen, Ari Lennox, displayed pure elegance in a bold black-and-silver sculptural gown by Valdrin Sahiti, featuring avant-garde detailing. Lastly, the group FLO showcased their individuality in custom Luar outfits, with each member wearing a distinct variation of vibrant blue-and-black floral fabric paired with flowing royal blue mesh skirts.

Needless to say, this year’s Grammys were one for the books.

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