Grammys 2025 live chat: Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter win

5:43 p.m. Everyone knew this was a big year for the Pop Girlies, but St. Vincent and Doechii and Charli XCX and Sierra Ferrell cleaning up in the subgenres suggests this is going to be a deep-category story too. — A.B.

Feel like I’ve still never gotten a good explanation of the Chad Smith/Will Ferrell thing. — M.W.

Anthony Kiedis has regrettably changed from his outfit at FireAid, where he was a goth Tapatio guy. — A.B.

Goth. Tapatio. Guy. — M.W.

Sabrina for pop vocal album. Barry Koeghan must be in shambles. Might actually become The Joker now. — A.B.

5:41 p.m. While we’re on a commercial break, I’ll mention that I spoke with Dawes and the god Randy Newman yesterday about their opening number. Fun fact I couldn’t fit into my story: Newman’s favorite new discovery is … Gracie Abrams. —M.W.

5:31 p.m. Cardi B, who’s presenting rap album, is one of only two women who’ve ever won this award (along with Lauryn Hill of the Fugees). — M.W.

And it’s Doechii! Add a third name to that criminally short list, Mikael. — A.B.

Love that Doechii is calling attention to the history here. — M.W.

Big shoutout to her sobriety too, hell yeah. — A.B.

It is crazy, though, that — as a proud hip-hop theater kid — Doechii won a rap album Grammy before Nicki Minaj. — M.W.

5:25 p.m. I appreciate Sabrina Carpenter’s NOT trying to tell the world that she was sleeping when Grammy noms came out and she didn’t even know until she woke up to a million texts and wow what a crazy thing. — M.W.

Kinda rare to get someone who is receiving the breakout-young-superstar treatment at the Grammys who is also this many albums (and years of Disney training) deep in preparation to be this good and pro tonight. — A.B.

She’s got such a head start that it’s almost not fair. — M.W.

5:18 p.m. Very sweet gesture to give this ad block to an Altadena flower studio, Orla. — A.B.

Raj Kapoor, one of the show’s executive producers, told me in an interview last week about their plan to make spots with local businesses affected by the fires. Sounded weird, but that was kind of touching. Doja Cat: good pitchwoman. — M.W.

5:14 p.m. It’s kind of nice to see Billie with a really big backing band of live players! — A.B.

And this parched desert landscape — two for two on L.A.-centric performances. — M.W.

“Birds of a Feather” feels like one of those songs that’ll be around forever. I’ve probably heard it 150 times? Still dig it. — M.W.

5:12 p.m. Trevor Noah getting in some light cracks about being deported. Will that just be a dark undertone of the night or will anyone speak up more forcefully? — A.B.

Feel like Noah just live-blogged the entire last year of music in six minutes. I’m tired! — M.W.

5:10 p.m. Wonder what palms Sam Altman greased for Trevor Noah to suggest AI can make a new Rihanna album happen. — A.B.

5:05 p.m. Pretty big moment for local rock to give stalwarts Dawes (whose singer and drummer lost homes and studios in the Eaton Fire) such a huge opener with “I Love L.A.” with John Legend, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow and Brittany Howard. — A.B.

St. Vincent finessing that indelibly ‘80s synth solo — love to see it. — M.W.

5:03 p.m. Best line from Trevor Noah’s opening monologue about our town’s identity as the global hub of pop music: “L.A. was the city where Snoop first mixed gin and juice.” — M.W.

5:00 p.m. Well, August, here we find ourselves yet again. Obviously, the big awards-centric question is whether Beyoncé finally wins album of the year — or the Recording Academy just goes ahead and renames the prize after Taylor Swift. Any other tight races you’re watching? — M.W.

Mikael, it’s finally time for the inimitable high drama that only Music’s Biggest Night can offer. The fires obviously will be a huge theme for the night, and a big responsibility for the Academy to honor. It’s such an undisputed huge year for excellent pop that I’m holding out for at least one insane Classic Grammy Curveball, like an André 3000 win for album. — A.B.