Grammys 2026: Olivia Dean wins best new artist, Kendrick Lamar best rap album
British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean won the Grammy for best new artist at the 68th Annual Grammys on Sunday, while Kendrick Lamar won the first Grammy handed out on the CBS telecast for best rap album for “GNX.”
Dean, who performed live, as did the other seven nominees in the category before announcement of the winner, was tearful as she reached the stage to accept the Grammy from Chappell Roan, winner of the best new artist honor in 2025.
“I never really imagined that I’d be up here, let alone nominated, so thank you so much,” said Dean, who performs in a soul-R&B pop style.
“I want to say I’m here as the granddaughter of an immigrant,” said Dean, whose grandmother immigrated to the United Kingdom from Guyana. “I wouldn’t be here. I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. We’re nothing without each other.”
Lamar, with nine nominations, had the most of any artist nominated this year; he won the Grammy for best rap album for his 2024 release “GNX.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, what’s up, what’s up, what’s up?” Lamar said as he reached the stage after live performances by Rosé of Blackpink and Bruno Mars, and then Sabrina Carpenter.
“I’m not good at talking for myself, but I express it through my music,” he continued. “Every time I tell you this hip-hop is going to be right here. We gonna be in these suits, we gonna be looking good. We’re going to have the culture with us, so I appreciate you all.”
The win was the fourth Grammy for Lamar at that time. He’d picked up three Grammys in the pre-show portion of the ceremony, which is not broadcast on CBS as part of the main show.
The majority of the Grammys are handed out before the broadcast begins, allowing more room for the biggest categories and live performances once the three-and-a-half-hour telecast starts.
Among the preshow Grammys handed out on Sunday were several significant wins and winners.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg completed his EGOT – adding a Grammy to the Emmy, Oscar and Tony he’d already won – as one of the winners of the Grammy for best music film for “Music By John Williams.”
“Golden,” from the soundtrack to “KPop Demon Hunters,” became the first-ever K-pop song to win a Grammy, with songwriters Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick and singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami.
The Dalai Lama won his first-ever Grammy for best heavy metal album, wait, no, that’s not right, excuse us. He won for best audio book, narration, & storytelling recording for his book, “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”