Justin Bieber made a significant return to the Grammy stage on Sunday, delivering a stripped-down performance, starkly clad in just a pair of boxers and socks. Utilizing a loop pedal, the Canadian pop star crafted a distinctly intimate backing track with a guitar and a drum machine before performing his single "Yukon." This marked Bieber’s first live appearance at the Grammys in four years, following his battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome in 2022, a condition that resulted in temporary paralysis of half of his face.
During this emotional performance, Bieber’s wife, Hailey Bieber, was spotted in the audience, visibly proud as he sang. The pop icon was nominated for four Grammys at the ceremony, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best R&B Performance.
In a touching moment of the day, renowned Canadian folk legend Joni Mitchell made a rare public appearance to accept the Grammy for Best Historical Album. She won for "Joni Mitchell Archives Volume 4: The Asylum Years," a box set that showcases unreleased material from her personal archives spanning songs from 1976 to 1980. The 82-year-old singer-songwriter was warmly escorted onto the stage wearing a dazzling pantsuit embellished in sequins of gold, silver, and black.
Although she did not delve into political discourse during her speech, Mitchell was adorned with an "Ice Out" button. This button has become a symbol of protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's presence in American cities, with Hailey Bieber also seen wearing one at the event.
Reflecting on her creative journey, Mitchell recounted the experiences leading to the release of her 1974 album "Court and Spark," sharing that she faced pressure from her label to assemble a band for the project. Instead, she chose to work with the jazz ensemble L.A. Express. Hilariously, she reminisced about her 1972 album "For the Roses," revealing that the head of her label, David Geffen, had barred her from using a sketch of a donkey's rear as the album cover, although he did allow it to be featured on a billboard, leading to laughter from the audience.
Throughout the afternoon ceremony, numerous winning artists expressed their criticisms of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which have been met with widespread condemnation for their harsh enforcement. Mitchell’s speech also touched on her artistic journeys during a transformative time in music history.
Several other Canadians also made their mark at the Grammys, including Halifax's Henry Walter, known as Cirkut, who clinched the awards for Producer of the Year and Best Dance Pop Recording. He shared this award with Canadian sound mixer Serban Ghenea for their collaborative work on Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.” In his acceptance speech, Walter expressed gratitude toward all his collaborators, including Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, highlighting his humble beginnings as a kid from Canada making music beats in his bedroom.
Additionally, Toronto’s Justin Gray achieved a milestone by becoming the first Canadian to win a Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album. While accepting the award for his project "Immersed," he acknowledged the contributions of 38 Toronto-based artists involved in bringing the album to fruition, expressing heartfelt thanks to his home country, Canada.
