From performances to commercials, the Los Angeles fires never left the spotlight at the 2025 Grammys.
The award ceremony pulled out all the stops to honor those who fought the fires and help in the short-term and long-term relief efforts for victims of the devastating fires.
Here’s how the Grammys honored the LA fires.
Los Angeles fire department highlight
The most memorable of many tributes was when the Los Angeles County Fire Department walked with stars on the red carpet and presented the biggest award of the night — album of the year — to Beyoncé.
Firefighters took the stage while receiving an emotional standing ovation from all the music artists in the audience.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone spoke before presenting the award. He thanked the Recording Academy for this opportunity and for all the support they have received.
Marrone closed by saying, “I am confident that we will recover and rebuild together, because we are LA strong.”
“This is definitely not what we’re used to. That’s for sure. It’s been a humbling experience to be a part of this,” Los Angeles Country Fire Captain Joshua Swaney told BBC. “We are here making sure that people know that there’s so much more to Los Angeles than just what’s currently happening right now.”
Presenters, speeches and performances
Right from the start, according the The New York Times, Grammy host Trevor Noah opened the night’s event highlighting the resilience of Los Angeles throughout the devastating fires.
Noah was followed by the band Dawes as they performed an all-star version of Randy Newman’s song, “I Love L.A.”
Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, John Legend, Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent joined the band on stage for the “biggest performance of the band’s career yet,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Throughout the evening, presenters and performers referenced the Palisades and Altadena communities.
Ending their performances early, Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan shared their love for the city of Los Angeles, per The Hollywood Reporter.
The audience sang along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, according to the BBC, in an impromptu performance of their song, “Under the Bridge.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock were joined by students who had been impacted by the fires as well as choirs from Pasadena Waldorf School and Palisades Charter High School. The choir students showed their city pride by wearing sweatshirts with “L.A.” imprinted over a red heart.
Fundraising
Onstage tributes to victims and firefighters weren’t the only things that kept the city of Los Angeles at center stage.
According to the BBC, the red carpet was full of QR codes that would take people to the Grammys website, where they could donate to fire relief efforts.
Billboard reported that the broadcast also donated airtime to help small businesses that were impacted by the fires. Various music stars appeared alongside these small businesses.
Doja Cat starred alongside Orla Floral Studio encouraging everyone to help regrow the flower shop, per Billboard.
Charlie Puth appeared in another commercial for Two Dragons Martial Arts looking for a free lesson. Avril Lavigne and the Jonas Brothers were also seen in ads helping to support different small businesses and organizations.
The funds raised during the broadcast went to benefit MusiCare, Direct Relief, the Pasadena community foundation and the California Community Foundation, according to Billboard.
BBC reported that during the broadcast Noah noted that “at least $7 million had been donated thus far.”
And on Thursday, before the award show, The New York Times reported that $60 million was raised during the FireAid benefit concert — not affiliated with the award show — to aid “short-term relief efforts and long-term preventative initiatives.”