Awards season returned this year with major moments across music, film and television, and students at Spartanburg High School (SHS) followed the highlights. Each show recognizes the artists, actors and creators who shaped the past year, and several standout wins sparked conversation all over campus from the Country Music Association Awards (CMAs) to the Golden Globes and then to the Grammys.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards, held Feb. 1, marked one of the most talked‑about nights of the season for SHS students. The Grammy Awards, or Grammys, are considered one of the highest honors in the music industry, recognizing achievements across genres and highlighting the artists who shaped the past year. This year’s ceremony featured several historic wins and high‑profile performances that quickly became major points of discussion online and on campus.
The ceremony began and ended with featured performances from some of the year’s most prominent artists. Acts by Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and others circulated across social media within minutes. The expanded access gave students multiple ways to follow the show even if they weren’t watching live.
Finley Sloan (12) said the live acts were what kept her watching the full broadcast.
“I watched the Grammys because I love the live performances, and I was rooting for my favorite celebs,” Sloan said.
Bad Bunny earned one of the night’s biggest awards, Album of the Year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” His win marked a milestone for Latin music at the Grammys and reflected the genre’s recent growing influence on mainstream charts. Kendrick Lamar also made history, becoming the most‑awarded rapper in the history of the Grammys after winning Record of the Year for “Luther” with SZA. Both wins were widely shared online and contributed to the night’s momentum. Country music singer, Jelly Roll, also made a statement when he delivered an acceptance speech after winning Best Contemporary Country Album. His speech was unique in that it focused on themes of faith, personal redemption and unity. He referenced his past, noting a time when he had only a small Bible and a radio in a 6-by-8-foot cell, crediting his faith with changing his life.
Olivia Battochio (11) kept up with the ceremony by watching clips of the night’s most talked‑about moments.
“I saw clips of Jelly Roll’s speech after winning a Grammy, as well as clips of Bruno Mars’ and Sabrina Carpenter’s performances,” Battochio said. “I think these moments highlight people’s different tastes in music and how much people care and follow an artist to see if they win, rather than watching the entire awards show.”
Earlier in the season, the 59th annual Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 19, 2025, brought major shifts within the country music industry. Lainey Wilson made an impact when she earned both Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. Big changes came when Cody Johnson ended Chris Stapleton’s four‑year run as Male Vocalist of the Year and when The Red Clay Strays won Vocal Group of the Year over longtime winner Old Dominion. These results stood out to fans as well as the media.
Joshua Cato (11) enjoyed watching awards shows this season.
“Watching the 68th annual Grammy awards gave me a chance to see all of my favorite artists get rewarded for their hard work,” Cato said. “Artists spend long amounts of time crafting their art, and I think they deserve to be honored on the big screen.”
While major film and television award shows are just beginning, the 83rd annual Golden Globes opened with several memorable moments. Timothée Chalamet won Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy for “Marty Supreme,” Jessie Buckley won Best Actress in a Drama for “Hamnet”, and the series “Adolescence” earned four awards, making it one of the night’s biggest winners. Red carpet moments, comedic monologues from host Nikki Glaser and unexpected interactions were among the highlights students discussed. The 98th Academy Awards will air on March 15, followed by the Tony Awards on June 7.
With the Grammys complete and the Academy Awards approaching, the final stretch of awards season is underway, bringing new performances, winners and standout moments.
