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Mark SavageMusic correspondent
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Rosé could become the first K-Pop star to win a Grammy Award
K-Pop idol Rosé and pop star Bruno Mars kicked off the 2026 Grammy Awards in explosive style.
The duo performed a rock version of their megahit APT, which is nominated for three prizes at the ceremony, including song of the year.
Host Trevor Noah noted that the song was based on a South Korean drinking game, whose rules were more complicated than the US equivalent. "In America, every time you turn on the news, you drink," he joked.
The first award of the main ceremony went to Kendrick Lamar, who won best rap album for GNX.
"I'm not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music," he said.
"Hip-hop is always going to be right here."
It was the star's fourth victory in the rap album category, starting with his 2016 album, To Pimp A Butterfly.
Lamar is also up for the night's main prize, album of the year, where he faces competition from Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter.
Carpenter gave the second performance of the night, with an elaborate version of her number one hit Manchild.
She took to the stage dressed as a stewardess, dancing across luggage carousels and navigating male dancers dressed as baggage handlers. She ended the performance with a dove in her hands before taking to the skies.
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Sabrina Carpenter took to the skies with her performance of Manchild
The main ceremony was preceded by a longer "premiere" event, where 86 of the night's 95 awards were handed out.
Winners there included British stars Yungblud, FKA Twigs and The Cure.
Several recipients mentioned the current political situation in the US.
Among them was Latin music legend Gloria Estefan, who said she was "very worried" about the state of her country.
"I don't think anyone would say we want a free-for-all at the border. But what is happening is not at all criminals being arrested," she said backstage, after winning best tropical Latin album for Raíces.
"These are people that have families that have contributed to this country for decades. Little children, there's hundreds of children in detention centres. It's inhumane."
Several stars on the red carpet, including Kehlani, wore badges reading "Ice out", suggesting that politics will not be far from the main ceremony, either.
