Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Secure Early Grammy Wins

Sabrina Carpenter debuted her Grammy win while Charli XCX celebrated significant victories, setting the stage for a thrilling awards night ahead of the main event.

Sabrina Carpenter has secured the first Grammy Award of 2025, triumphing in the category for Best Pop Solo Performance with her upbeat summer hit, Espresso. British sensation Charli XCX also made waves, claiming several early awards including Best Dance/Pop Album for her edgy club record, Brat, and Best Dance/Pop Song for the album's lead single, Von Dutch. These commendations mark Charli's inaugural Grammy wins as a solo artist.

The festivities began at the Grammys' "premiere ceremony," prior to the main event scheduled for 5 p.m. in Los Angeles (1 a.m. London time). The ceremony kicked off with a powerful ensemble performance of Simon & Garfunkel's classic, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," honoring victims of the recent LA wildfires.

Yolanda Adams and Angelique Kidjo delivered a poignant, gospel-infused rendition of the 60s song to pay tribute to the first responders who bravely battled the flames and safeguarded the community. Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. emphasized the ceremony's commitment to recognizing music's ability to inspire and heal, while also highlighting the city's resilience in the face of adversity.

Beyoncé leads the nominations this year with her country-tinged album, Cowboy Carter, racking up an impressive 11 nods and already claiming Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, II Most Wanted. However, she faced defeat for Best Country Song, which went to Kacey Musgraves for her thought-provoking track, The Architect, exploring profound themes in light of recent tragedies.

Kacey took the stage, reflecting on the current dark times and the uplifting power of music in combatting despair. She is also a nominee for Album of the Year this year, alongside other heavyweights like Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and André 3000, whose spiritual jazz flute album, New Blue Sun, has caught everyone's attention.

Both Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter are also vying for the coveted Album of the Year award, and their early victories could shift the momentum in their favor. Though neither artist was present to accept their initial accolades, Charli's producer, Finn Keane, graciously accepted the award for Von Dutch on her behalf, praising her as an "amazing collaborator" and acknowledging the decade of hard work she's put into her craft.