68th Grammys: Dalai Lama wins, Trevor Noah quips, Donald Trump erupts

The 68th annual Grammy Awards , the music industry’s most prestigious global honours, delivered a night that blended historic recognition , sharp humour and political fallout, with moments on and off the stage resonating far beyond Los Angeles.

One of the most striking developments came at the Premiere Ceremony , where the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy in the Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording category for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama . The spoken-word album, centred on compassion, peace and shared humanity , edged out nominees including US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and comedian Trevor Noah. Accepting the award on behalf of the project, musician Rufus Wainwright joked, “I am not the Dalai Lama,” calling it “a privilege” to be involved.

Responding to the honour, the 90-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said he accepted the recognition with “gratitude and humility,” emphasising that it was not a personal achievement but a reminder of “our shared universal responsibility.” He said peace, care for the environment and the oneness of humanity were essential for the well-being of all people.

China reacted swiftly, with Beijing saying it “firmly opposes” the use of the Grammy platform for what it described as anti-China activities , reiterating its long-standing position that the Dalai Lama is engaged in separatist politics under the guise of religion.

The ceremony’s political edge sharpened during the televised broadcast, hosted by Trevor Noah . While introducing Song of the Year , Noah quipped:

“Song of the Year, which is a Grammy that every artist wants, almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

The remark quickly went viral.

US President Donald Trump responded angrily on social media, calling the Grammys “the worst” and “virtually unwatchable.” He accused Noah of making a “false and defamatory statement,” denied ever visiting Epstein’s island, and warned of legal action against Noah while also criticising broadcaster CBS. “Get ready Noah,” Trump wrote, “I’m going to have some fun with you.”

Beyond the controversy, the Grammys featured historic firsts and outspoken advocacy. Several US artists used their acceptance speeches to protest immigration crackdowns and criticise ICE, making immigrant rights a recurring theme of the night. Billie Eilish declared, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” while other winners echoed similar sentiments on stage and backstage.

Musically, the awards delivered landmark achievements. K-pop secured its first-ever Grammy win, Steven Spielberg achieved EGOT status , and Bad Bunny became the first artist to win Album of the Year with an all-Spanish-language album. Kendrick Lamar led the field with multiple wins, reinforcing the ceremony’s return to a music-first focus after last year’s wildfire-relief themed show.

From a spiritual leader’s unexpected Grammy to a comedian’s joke triggering a presidential outburst, the 68th Grammys underscored how music’s biggest night continues to spill into global politics, culture and controversy long after the trophies are handed out.