2026 Grammy Awards See Ratings Decline as Artists Address Political Issues

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The 2026 Grammy Awards saw a drop in viewership, with 14.4 million people tuning in to the CBS broadcast – a million fewer than last year, according to Nielsen Big Data. This represents a 6.5% decrease and marks the second year in a row that viewership has declined, following 16.9 million viewers in 2024. Some believe the drop may be linked to more political statements made by performers during the show, as reported by Deadline.

With popular and vocal artists like Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, along with host Trevor Noah, scheduled to perform, many people who were tired of politics might have chosen to watch something different that Sunday night.

Politically Charged Performances

According to The New York Times, this year’s Grammy Awards had more speeches addressing political issues than any other major awards show in recent memory.

Bad Bunny’s album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, received the Album of the Year award. During his acceptance speech, he emphasized, “We are humans, and we are Americans,” pushing back against negative labels. Given Bad Bunny’s recent performance as the Super Bowl halftime show headliner, advertisers are probably watching to see how the Grammys’ viewership numbers change.

As a big music and awards show fan, I wasn’t entirely shocked during Billie Eilish’s Song of the Year acceptance speech for “Wildflower.” She used the platform to really voice her strong feelings about U.S. immigration policies and even suggested the very foundation of America is questionable. Knowing her history of speaking out on political issues, it didn’t come as a surprise when she powerfully stated that, in her view, ‘no one is illegal on stolen land.’ It was a bold moment, definitely one that sparked a lot of conversation.

Billie Eilish’s recent statement was quickly praised by her fans, but it also sparked a conversation about the land her home is built on. Representatives from the Tongva tribe, who are the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles area, pointed out that her mansion is located on their ancestral lands.

Right after Billie Eilish finished speaking, the show’s host, Trevor Noah, told a joke that upset many Americans and even received criticism from President Trump.

Trevor Noah Controversy

After Billie Eilish finished performing, Noah joked, “And there you have it – Song of the Year! Congratulations, Billie. That’s a Grammy every artist dreams of – almost as much as Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. It’s understandable, though – since Jeffrey Epstein is no longer around, Trump probably needs a new island to visit with Bill Clinton.”

The joke was well-received by the audience, but it could lead to a lawsuit. The president has threatened to sue Noah for defamation.

As someone who pays attention to these things, I noticed Trump pointed out this was the last year CBS was airing the Grammys. And honestly, his reaction felt pretty spot-on given the numbers we’ve been seeing. He basically said the Grammys were terrible and unwatchable, and that CBS was smart to drop them. It was a pretty blunt take, but I get where he was coming from – the viewership has definitely been declining.

Future of the Grammys

When musicians and entertainers use award shows to talk about politics, politicians like Trump will likely react. However, many people who tune in to enjoy the artistry and celebrate their favorite performers feel that these shows have lost some of their sparkle due to the focus on political statements.

Disney might ask attendees at next year’s Grammy Awards, which will be broadcast on ABC, to avoid overly political statements. They fear continued drops in viewership if this doesn’t happen.

Did you watch the 2026 Grammy Awards? Why or why not? Sound off in the comments!

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2026-02-05 15:56