Jelly Roll has largely kept his thoughts about politics to himself, but backstage at the Grammy Awards Sunday night (Feb. 1), he said that’s about to change. And it will be “soon.”

In the press room, Jelly Roll was asked if he “would be willing to comment about what’s happening in the country,” he first stressed that “people shouldn’t care to hear about my opinion, I’m a dumb redneck,” adding that he doesn’t have social media and often goes months without a phone. “I hate to be an artist who’s that aloof, but I’m so disconnected from what’s happening…. I didn’t even know politics were f-cking real until I was in my mid-20s in jail. When you grow up in a drug addict household, you think we have common calls about what’s happening in world politics. We’re just trying to find a way to survive, man.”

He then added, though, he was ready to speak out. “I have a lot to say about it and I’m going to in the next week. And everybody’s going to hear exactly what I have to say in the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoken in my life. I look forward to it.”

Jelly Roll was one of the night’s big winners, taking home all three Grammys he was nominated for. In the pre-telecast, he and Shaboozey won the trophy for best country duo/group performance for “Amen,” while he and Brandon Lake were victorious in the best contemporary Christian music performance/song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

Then on the telecast, Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken nabbed best contemporary country album. As he often has when giving an acceptance speech, Jelly Roll took us to church and perhaps hinted what is to come by declaring, “Jesus is not owned by one political party.”

Jelly Roll also has new music coming, which he spent this past year working on, and he promises a lot of songs are coming fans’ way. “I spent a year really praying about what my sound is going to be and the message I wanted to bring to the world,” he says. “I wrote 100 songs and I’m fixing to start dropping music like I’m an independent kid again. It’s going to be so much fun this year, I’m probably going to drop more music this year than I’ve ever dropped in my career in the next 12 months.”

Jelly Roll also noted the similarities between himself and the late Ozzy Osbourne, whom he paid tribute to Saturday night (Jan. 31) at the Clive Davis/Recording Academy Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills, performing an emotional version of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”  “Ozzy Osbourne, the prince of darkness, another man who wore his faith quietly, but you could see it all over him the crosses everywhere,” he said. “There’s not a kid who grew up in the ’90s who didn’t think they were Ozzy Osbourne at least once in their life in their bedroom” He then added that  Osbourne’s children Kelly and Jack “call me brother now. They call me the fourth Osbourne.”

After months of buildup, the 2026 Grammy for album of the year was finally awarded Sunday (Feb. 1) to Bad Bunny for Debí Tirar Más Fotos — and he used his speech to pay homage to his roots while giving a message of strength to all who’ve had similar experiences.

In the moments after presenter Harry Styles read off his name, the Puerto Rican superstar needed several seconds to collect himself, covering his eyes with his hand as he stayed seated, visibly emotional, before making his way to the stage. After taking the golden gramophone from the British pop star, Benito delivered an emotional acceptance speech, mostly in Spanish, save for one sentence: “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.”

In his native language, the impassioned hitmaker declared, “Puerto Rico, I told you: We are much bigger than 100 by 35 [miles], and there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”

“Thank God, thank you to the academy, thank you to the people who have believed in me throughout my entire career,” he continued in Spanish. “To everyone who worked on this album. Thank you, Mom, for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico. I love you … To all the people who have lost a loved one and have still moved forward with strength, with so much love, this is for you.”

Though Bunny was visibly at his most emotional while accepting album of the year, it wasn’t the only trophy he took home Sunday night. The star — who will headline the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show exactly one week after the Grammys — also won best música urbana album for DTMF and best global music performance for “EOO.” Going into the ceremony, he was nominated for a total of six Grammys, tying with Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas and engineer Serban Ghenea for third-most overall.

Bunny’s win in the category with a fully Spanish language album comes at a crucial time in American politics for the Latin American community. When the musician was announced as this year’s Super Bowl performer in September, a wave of backlash from MAGA Republicans ensued, with Turning Point USA advertising an alternate halftime show featuring “anything in English” for entertainment shortly afterward. Elsewhere, immigrant communities across the country have been targeted by ICE, with outrage reaching a high point in January after agents shot and killed civilians on two separate occasions in Minnesota — both of which the Donald Trump administration claimed were the result of officers acting in self-defense, though many Americans think footage taken by eyewitnesses prove otherwise.

When accepting best música urbana album earlier in the night, Bunny made his stance on the matter clear. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ‘ICE out!’” he said on stage. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans … The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”

The album of the year category was particularly stacked in 2026, with Benito beating out Justin Bieber’s Swag, Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Leon Thomas’ Mutt and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia. It marks Bunny’s seventh Grammy win to date, taking home best música urbana album for Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, Un Verano Sin Ti and El Último Tour Del Mundo in previous years, as well as best Latin pop or urban album for YHLQMDLG in 2021.

The win also reflects Bunny’s success on the Billboard charts this past year. Debi Tirar Mas Fotos spent a full month atop the Billboard 200, while single “DTMF” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hosted again by Trevor Noah, this year’s Grammys took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Reigning 2025 song and record of the year winner Kendrick Lamar went into the ceremony with the most nominations of any artist that night at nine total; Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Cirkut followed closely behind with seven apiece.

Ifunanya Nwangene, a Nigerian singer who appeared on Season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, has died after suffering a snake bite. She was 26.

According to BBC Africa, Nwangene was bitten while asleep at her home in Abuja on Jan. 31 and later died after seeking medical treatment. A collaborator, Hillary Obinna, told the outlet that the bite woke her from her sleep and that two snakes were later discovered in the residence.

Nwangene initially sought care at a nearby clinic, where antivenom was reportedly unavailable, before being transferred to a hospital for further treatment. Music director Sam C. Ezugwu confirmed her death in a statement shared on Facebook, identifying the hospital as Federal Medical Center and describing the passing as sudden.

“A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world,” a statement from Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene sang as a soprano, read. “Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”

Born in Enugu and based in Abuja, Nwangene was also an architect. She gained national attention on The Voice Nigeria after turning chairs with her audition performance of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow”, later continuing to share covers and original material online.

Following her death, Nigerian artist Tbrass, who had recently worked with Nwangene, shared a tribute on social media, writing, “An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large💔.” He added, “The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy.”

Ezugwu told BBC Africa that Nwangene had been preparing for her first solo concert in 2026. Further details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be shared through Amemuso Choir’s official channels.

The 2026 Grammys delivered plenty of unforgettable moments on Sunday (Feb. 1) — such as the riveting medley by the best new artist nominees, and a bevy of stars such as Justin Bieber, Joni Mitchell and Billie Eilish wearing “ICE OUT” pins in protest of the agency’s ongoing and violent immigration crackdown. Bad Bunny himself made an impassioned statement during his acceptance speech for best música urbana album, declaring, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out!”

But amid the powerful displays of solidarity and pro-immigration resistance, there were lighthearted moments, too, including a seemingly unrehearsed and hilarious musical exchange between Bad Bunny and host Trevor Noah.

Acknowledging the impact of Bunny’s bold speech, host Noah first told the singer, “Hey, by the way, that was beautiful. I saw you up there, I heard what you said. It was really impactful.” The host then jokingly asked, “I know you can’t contractually sing, but we’re gonna see you at the Super Bowl, and you can’t perform anywhere else before? Don’t you get jealous seeing everyone else?”

Smiling, Bad Bunny responded, “Maybe a little bit.”

“Whenever I get drunk, I just hope someone helps me,” Noah unassumingly quoted Bunny’s Grammy-nominated “DtMF” in English.

Quick to capitalize on the moment, Bad Bunny quipped, “That’s how my song sounds in English?” before transitioning into the actual lyrics: “Y si hoy me emborracho, pues, que me ayuden.” The moment became even more endearing when a big brass band backed the pair from Bunny’s table.

With six noms this year, the “Baile Inolvidable” hitmaker was one of the most nominated acts, following Kendrick Lamar with nine nods and Lady Gaga with seven.