British Star Olivia Dean Claims Coveted Grammy with Emotional Tribute to Immigrant Roots
At the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, British singer Olivia Dean secured her first-ever Grammy, winning the prestigious Best New Artist category. The 26-year-old artist triumphed over a formidable shortlist that included Addison Rae, KATSEYE, The Marias, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and fellow Brit Lola Young. Accepting the golden trophy from last year's winner Chappell Roan, Dean delivered a heartfelt and politically charged acceptance speech that resonated throughout the Crypto.com Arena.
A Granddaughter's Tribute to Bravery and Migration
With visible emotion, Olivia Dean used her platform to honor her family's immigrant background. "I guess I want to say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," she declared. "I wouldn't be here... I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated." She concluded by emphasizing collective strength, stating, "We are nothing without each other." Her grandmother immigrated from Guyana to the United Kingdom at age eighteen as part of the Windrush Generation during World War II, with Dean's ethnic heritage also encompassing Jamaican and English roots.
The London-born artist released her second studio album, The Art Of Loving, last year, featuring standout tracks like So Easy, The Hardest Part, and Man I Need, which she performed during the ceremony. She now joins an illustrious lineage of Best New Artist winners that includes Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Grammy Stage Becomes Platform for Immigration Protest
Olivia Dean was far from alone in using the Grammy platform to address immigration policies. Numerous artists visibly protested against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Trump administration's hardline stance. Many attendees, including music legends Joni Mitchell, Kehlani, and Justin and Hailey Bieber, wore distinctive ICE OUT pins. This protest followed the tragic murders of Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Renée Good and VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, incidents attributed to ICE agents.
The night's biggest winner, Puerto Rican global superstar Bad Bunny, reinforced this sentiment powerfully. Upon accepting the Album of the Year award for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the 31-year-old artist dedicated his honor "to all the people that had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams." Earlier in the evening, while collecting the Best Música Urbana Album award, his first words were a direct "ICE Out" declaration. He received a massive ovation when he asserted that immigrants and Puerto Ricans are not "savage, animals, or aliens" but are, in fact, Americans.
Artists Unite in Calls for Love and Political Action
Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for WILDFLOWER alongside her brother FINNEAS, used her speech to urge collective action. "No one is illegal on stolen land," she stated, encouraging the audience to "keep fighting and speaking up and protesting." She concluded her remarks with an uncensored expletive directed at ICE, a moment that was bleeped out during the CBS broadcast but met with cheers and standing ovations in the arena.
Similarly, seven-time nominee Kehlani, after winning her first Grammys for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, called for artistic unity against injustice. "I hope everybody's inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what's going on," she urged, ending with the same forceful anti-ICE sentiment.
Other Notable Winners and Memorable Moments
The 2026 Grammys celebrated diverse talents across genres. Key winners included:
- Kendrick Lamar with SZA for Record of the Year (luther) and Best Rap Album (GNX)
- Lady Gaga for Best Pop Vocal Album (MAYHEM) and Best Dance Pop Recording (Abracadabra)
- Lola Young for Best Pop Solo Performance (Messy) in an upset over established stars
Historic moments punctuated the evening, including Lauryn Hill's return to the Grammy stage after twenty-seven years to honor late R&B icons Roberta Flack and D'Angelo. A poignant tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, featuring Slash and Post Malone performing Black Sabbath's War Pigs, moved his family to tears in the audience. Trevor Noah hosted the ceremony for the sixth consecutive year, which he indicated would be his last.
The 2026 Grammys thus transformed from a mere awards show into a significant cultural moment, where artistic achievement intersected with potent political commentary, led by Olivia Dean's personal and powerful celebration of immigrant heritage.
