NPR Music Recapping a historic Grammys night
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Feb 2, 2026 Reanna (Rihanna) Cruz, freelance music and culture journalist and former NPR intern, and Hazel Cills, NPR Music editor and critic, recap a landmark Grammys night. They talk Bad Bunny's historic album win and Kendrick Lamar's big night. They break down standout performances, chaotic speeches, Best New Artist moments, Lady Gaga's rock turn, and milestone wins and tributes.
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Spanish-Language Album Wins Big
- Bad Bunny's Spanish-language album De Be Tirar Mas Fotos winning Album of the Year signals Latin music's full integration into mainstream pop.
- The win challenges the idea that Latin artists must record in English to achieve major mainstream recognition.
Predicting Bad Bunny's Win
- Reanna Cruz predicted Bad Bunny's album of the year win when it was released and felt emotional watching him accept the award.
- She noted his dedication to immigrants and the Puerto Rican community made the moment especially moving.
Kendrick Becomes Top Grammy Rapper
- Kendrick Lamar's five Grammys pushed his career total to 27, making him the winningest rapper in Grammy history.
- His Record of the Year win for "Luther" reflected both commercial appeal and careful sample clearance constraints.