The GRAMMY Awards have always mixed legacy with surprise. From genre-shaping legends to artists breaking through in real time, each telecast adds new chapters to pop history. This year’s show focused heavily on spectacle and emotion, seamlessly transitioning between intimate moments and dazzling performances. The show reminded viewers of the significance of this stage and demonstrated how a single song, look, or speech can set the tone for the upcoming year.

Four years away from the show did nothing to dim Justin Bieber’s pull. He returned with a stripped-down performance of “YUKON” that felt raw in both sound and presentation, as if he were daring the room to sit with the emotion rather than the production. Hailey Bieber watched from the audience, smiling through the moment, which added to the intimacy. It wasn’t built for perfection. It was built for impact, and that made it land harder.