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Trump threatens legal action against Grammy host over Epstein comment


Donald Trump threatened legal action on Monday against the host of the 68th Grammy Awards over the comedian’s comment on the U.S. president and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

After congratulating Billie Eilish for winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for her track “Wildflower,” host Trevor Noah brought up Trump and Epstein.

“Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” he quipped, referring to the president’s threats to seize the autonomous Arctic territory.

Noah then added: “Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

Noah, who announced that this will be his final year hosting the Grammys after six turns as emcee, has been light on political commentary in previous years.

His comments drew the ire of the president, who took to his Truth Social platform first saying that the “Grammy Awards are the WORST and virtually unwatchable,” before criticizing Noah.

“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory, statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” Trump asserted.

The Republican then branded South African Noah a “total loser” who needs to “get his facts straight.”

“I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C. … Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” Trump added.

Trump, who moved in the same social circles as Epstein in Florida and New York, has fought for months to prevent the release of a vast trove of documents about the disgraced financier and has given varying accounts of why he eventually fell out with Epstein.

More than three million documents were released on Friday that included mention of numerous powerful figures, including the 79-year-old president, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. (JapanToday)

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Grammys 2026: Bad Bunny makes history with Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar becomes most-awarded rapper ever

Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, becoming the first-ever artist to win the Grammy for album of the year for a non-English language album for his landmark DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” Benito said.

Outside of album of the year, Kendrick Lamar, who was the most-nominated act coming into the evening with nine overall, went back-to-back for record of the year with “Luther,” his collaboration with SZA. The record of the year win, though, came with a bit of confusion as Cher, who’d just received a Lifetime Achievement Award, began to walk off stage before announcing the category, then announced “Luther Vandross” as the winner. Lamar earned five wins on the night, including for best rap album and best rap song, and he became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z as the new record-holder.

A full list of winners is available here.

This year’s Grammys — the final year the show airs on CBS and the last time Trevor Noah is hosting — carried a strong political undercurrent throughout the night as many of the industry’s biggest artists called out ICE amid the turmoil that’s rocked Minneapolis in recent weeks. Many of the evening’s winners either directly called out the government or voicing their support to immigrants.

SZA came backstage Sunday night after the “Luther” win, calling it “dystopian that we’re dressed up and able to celebrate accolades in the material world.”

“People are getting snatched up and shot in the face on the street, it just feels bizarre,” she said.

Billie Eilish had one of the bigger surprises of the evening as “Wildflower,” her hit off 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft, took home song of the year, winning out in a category that featured the likes of Kpop Demon Hunters smash “Golden,” Carpenter’s “Manchild” and Bad Bunny’s “DtMF,” among others. During her speech, alongside her brother Finneas, Eilish said “fuck ICE,” further adding that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”

Before the album of the year win, Bad Bunny began his acceptance speech for best música urbana album by saying “ICE out.” “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Olivia Dean won out for best new artist, and during her acceptance speech, the “Man I Need” singer called herself “a granddaughter of immigrants.”

“I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated,” Dean said. “We’re nothing without each other.”

Bad Bunny, Lamar, Lady Gaga and Carpenter all came into Sunday with nominations across the major three categories, and while Gaga won for pop vocal album of the year, she was left out in the general field and is still yet to win a Grammy outside of the genre categories. Carpenter, who had six nominations this evening, came away empty-handed.

Rosé and Bruno Mars opened the show with global smash “Apt.,” itself a historic performance putting K-pop on music’s biggest stage. (While the song didn’t win for its record of the year nomination, another K-pop tune made history as “Golden” became the first K-pop song to ever win a Grammy). Carpenter followed soon after Mars and Rosé an instant classic “Manchild” performance that had Carpenter playing the role of pilot running through an airport.

Lamar started the night strong, winning the first award of the night for best rap album with GNX, beating out Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia. All three rap albums were up for album of the year. Clipse, meanwhile, took home a Grammy during the pre-telecast for best rap performance with “Chains and Whips,” which featured Lamar as well. (THR)

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Fela Kuti receives Posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti has been honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nearly three decades after his death, marking a historic milestone for African music.

The prestigious recognition was conferred on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, on the eve of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

With the honour, Fela becomes the first African artist to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been presented since 1963 to music legends including Bing Crosby.

The award recognises performers who have made outstanding artistic contributions to the recording field over their lifetimes.

Fela, who died in 1997 at the age of 58, was celebrated posthumously for his enduring cultural, political and musical impact.

Other recipients at the ceremony included Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Whitney Houston, who was also honoured posthumously.

The award was accepted on Fela’s behalf by his children, Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti and Kunle Kuti, in the presence of family members, friends and prominent figures from the global music industry.

During the presentation, Fela was described as a “producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the father of Afrobeat.”

In his acceptance speech, Femi said, “Thank you for bringing our father here. It’s so important for us, it’s so important for Africa, it’s so important for world peace and the struggle.”

Yeni expressed the family’s excitement at the recognition, noting that Fela was never nominated for a Grammy during his lifetime.

“The family is happy about it. And we’re excited that he’s finally being recognised,” she said, adding that while the honour was “better late than never”, there remained “a way to go” in fully acknowledging African artists globally.

Seun Kuti also welcomed the recognition, describing it as a “symbolic moment.”

“Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it’s a double victory. It’s bringing balance to a Fela story. The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it’s my father.”

Fela’s cousin and head of the Kuti family, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, reflected on how the musician might have responded to the honour.

Footage from the ceremony showed a large screen bearing Fela’s image alongside a summary of his legacy, including his expansive music catalogue, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by his life, and global cultural projects celebrating his work. (Channels)