Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX Dominated the Early Grammys

Tue Jan 13 2026 01:55:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Two rising stars make their mark as Grammy winners at the premiere ceremony.

In a night filled with musical brilliance and heartfelt tributes, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX kicked off the Grammy Awards by winning significant early accolades, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening.

Sabrina Carpenter has won the first Grammy Award of 2025, claiming the title of best pop solo performance for her catchy summer hit, "Espresso." British sensation Charli XCX also celebrated a significant achievement, taking home multiple early awards, including best dance/pop album for her sharp club production, "Brat," and best dance/pop song for its lead single, "Von Dutch." These victories mark Charli's first Grammys as a solo artist.

The awards ceremony commenced with a touching group performance of Simon & Garfunkel's timeless classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water," honoring the victims of the recent LA wildfires. Artists Yolanda Adams and Angelique Kidjo delivered a soul-stirring gospel rendition dedicated to the brave first responders who battled the flames to safeguard the community. "We will recognize the resilience of our community," Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated, emphasizing music's power to unite and heal.

While Beyoncé leads the nominations this year with her country-inspired album "Cowboy Carter," already winning best country performance by a duo for her duet with Miley Cyrus, she faced stiff competition. Kacey Musgraves triumphed over Beyoncé for best country song with "The Architect." "It feels good to fight darkness through song," Musgraves reflected while accepting her win.

The nominees for album of the year include heavyweights like Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and André 3000, who is in contention with his spiritual jazz flute album "New Blue Sun." The successes of Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter at the premiere ceremony have led fans to speculate about their chances of winning the night's top honor.

Neither artist could personally accept their initial trophies due to their scheduled performances later in the evening, but Charli's producer, Finn Keane, graciously accepted the award for "Von Dutch" in her absence, praising her as an "amazing collaborator." "She has been making this kind of music for 10 years, but everyone’s just caught up to it," he noted proudly.

As the evening unfolds, the anticipation for the main ceremony—and the potential of more surprises—remains palpable among fans and artists alike.