Cover Trevor Noah onstage at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Trevor Noah onstage at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
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Trevor Noah hosts Grammy Awards for the fifth time. Here are some of the most memorable moments from his opening monologue
For the fifth year in a row, Trevor Noah took the Grammys stage as host, setting the tone for the night with a mix of sharp humor, heartfelt tributes and a few eyebrow-raising remarks.
His speech included a touching reflection on the unifying power of music, especially amidst crisis and division. He also teased some of the industry’s biggest stars rather successfully, proving why he’s a Grammy-night staple. Noah seamlessly blended cultural commentary with lighthearted entertainment, ensuring the audience remained engaged from start to finish.
Here’s a look at the highs and lows of his opening monologue.
High: Paying Tribute to LA and the spirit of music
Noah kicked off the night by honouring Los Angeles, the city that has long been the heart of the music industry, and one that just recently experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in history.
He acknowledged its influence, from its iconic clubs to the way it has inspired countless artists—including 2025’s Best New Artist Chappell Roan, whose viral hit “Pink Pony Club” was born from the real clubs of LA.
More than just a nod to the city, Noah took a moment to reflect on the deeper essence of music itself. “When you look at it, music is made up of four key elements: rhythm, a beat, melody, and harmony. So much divides us right now, but music is about uniting us through our differences,” he said. “Music isn’t just the harmony of sound, it’s the harmony of human beings. Of different races, genders, religions, identities, sexual orientations—knowing we’re different but rejecting division to find moments of joy, unity and harmony.”
High: A playful dig at Beyoncé and Taylor Swift
Trevor Noah knows how to walk the fine line between roasting and reverence, and his jokes about Beyoncé and Taylor Swift were proof. “Beyoncé, we can’t afford a new tour. Maple syrup is about to be $50,” he quipped, referencing both Beyoncé’s latest Cowboy Carter tour announcement and the skyrocketing cost of goods.
As for Swift, Noah had a fun take on her Eras Tour and its cultural impact: “Taylor is fresh from the biggest world tour in history. Not only did she crush those record books, but she’s got more Americans traveling for her than those hair transplants.” The audience, including the two megastars, seemed to take it all in stride. Good-natured ribbing is part of Grammy tradition, after all.
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Low: A cringe-worthy comment about the Grammy voting process
Noah made a joke about the Recording Academy’s voting process, which involves “13,000 industry professionals and 20 million illegal immigrants.”
The remark, seen by many as both inaccurate and tone-deaf, sparked immediate backlash online—and off. Doechii, who took home the Best Rap Album award, was seen rolling her eyes at the joke.
Low: A controversial joke about Shakira
Not every punchline landed smoothly. Noah’s comment about Shakira—calling her “the greatest thing out of Colombia that isn’t a Class A felony”—raised eyebrows. While meant to be a lighthearted quip, many found it to be an unnecessary jab at Colombia’s struggles, especially in light of mass deportations taking place throughout the US. Social media quickly lit up with criticism, with some calling the remark insensitive.
High: A sharp and timely take on AI in music
AI’s role in music was a major talking point at this year’s Grammys, and Noah delivered one of the night’s best lines on the topic. Referring to The Beatles’ song “Now and Then”—which used AI to resurrect John Lennon’s vocals—he quipped, “I think if they win this, this could open up a few doors for them. And who knows, through the power of AI, one day, we could even get another Rihanna album. Praise be Nvidia!”
“Now and Then” did end up taking home the Best Rock Performance Award, making it the first AI-assisted song of its kind to win a Grammy.
Trevor Noah’s monologue had its moments of brilliance, some playful jabs, and a couple of missteps. Love him or not, he’s got the Grammys formula down—and after five years at the helm, he’s mastered the art of keeping us talking long after the last award is handed out.
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