Olivia Dean Wins Best New Artist at 68th Grammys as Kendrick Lamar Claims Best Rap Album

British soul-pop sensation Olivia Dean was named Best New Artist at the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday, while hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar secured the Best Rap Album award for his sixth studio album, GNX. The star-studded ceremony took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trevor Noah returning as host for his sixth and final Grammys gig.

The 26-year-old Dean, born in London, triumphed over fellow newcomers Leon Thomas, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren, and Lola Young. Accepting the award, Dean paid heartfelt tribute to her grandmother, who emigrated from Guyana to Britain in search of a new life. “I am a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other,” she said, earning cheers from the audience.

Kendrick Lamar, widely regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time, entered the Grammys with nine nominations. He won Best Rap Album for GNX, which also contended for Album of the Year alongside Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos and pop icon Lady Gaga’s Mayhem. If Lamar wins Album of the Year, he would become the first solo male rapper to claim this top honor, joining Lauryn Hill and Outkast as the only hip-hop winners in the category.

Bad Bunny made headlines not only for his musical achievements but also for his political statements. He accepted the Best Latin Urban Album award while highlighting fears of U.S. immigration enforcement affecting his fans. His upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance drew criticism from some quarters due to language concerns.

The Grammys also recognized KPop for the first time, with “Golden” from the Netflix animated movie KPop Demon Hunters winning Best Song Written for Visual Media. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg achieved EGOT status after winning his first Grammy for Best Music Film with Music by John Williams.

This year’s Grammys saw a more diverse voting body, with about 15,000 Recording Academy members casting ballots, including 1,000 new Latin Grammys voters, reflecting ongoing efforts to broaden representation in music industry recognition.