Beyonce on Sunday finally won the Grammy for the year’s best album for her culture-shaking “Cowboy Carter,” as rapper Kendrick Lamar posted a clean sweep on a night that served as a love letter to fire-ravaged Los Angeles.Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii and Sabrina Carpenter emerged as big winners at the performance-heavy gala, while heavyweights Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish went home empty-handed.Beyonce’s win for “Cowboy Carter” now makes her the most nominated, most decorated artist at the awards show ever — as well as the first Black woman to claim the top prize in this century.The triumph was all the more relevant as the 43-year-old’s ambitious, historically rooted album elevated and showcased the work of Black artists in country music, whose rich contributions the industry has repeatedly sidelined.”I just feel very full and very honored,” she said, her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy cheering from the crowd of A-listers at Crypto.com Arena.She dedicated the prize to Linda Martell, a pioneering Black country musician featured on the album.”I hope we just keep pushing forward, opening doors,” Beyonce said.The win brought Beyonce’s total Grammys on the night to three: she also won for her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, and snagged the best country album trophy.”I really was not expecting this,” she said as she accepted that prize, her voice audibly shaking. “Sometimes genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists.””I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about and to stay persistent,” she added.- Lamar, Chappell Roan own the stage -Hip-hop laureate Lamar cleaned up thanks to his smash diss track “Not Like Us,” one of a series of songs from the Los Angeles-area native that skewer rap rival Drake.He won in all five categories in which he was nominated, including Record and Song of the Year. He lost only to himself — he was twice up for two of the rap genre prizes.”Nothing more powerful than rap music,” the 37-year-old Lamar said in accepting the top song trophy. “We are the culture.””Not Like Us” shattered streaming records, catapulted to the top of the charts and quickly became a West Coast rap anthem, beloved for its pounding bass line, rhythmic strings and exaggerated enunciation.Lamar dedicated his best record win to his hometown, which is still reeling from the fires that razed whole neighborhoods and left thousands of people displaced.The coveted prize for Best New Artist went to Chappell Roan, capping a meteoric year for the Midwestern artist who went from struggling singer to music’s It girl seemingly overnight.But in a powerful acceptance speech, she recounted how it wasn’t always easy — she was dropped from her label during the pandemic and struggled to find work.Roan demanded that labels provide artists with a “livable wage and health care.””Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees,” she said. “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”- ‘Anything is possible’ – Doechii emerged as another big winner, becoming just the third woman to ever win the prize for best rap album. The second-ever winner, Cardi B, presented her with the prize.”Anything is possible,” Doechii said as she accepted the trophy through tears, speaking directly to Black girls and women like herself. “Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough, or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud,” she said.”You are exactly who you need to be.”Sabrina Carpenter won for best pop vocal album, her second award of the night that followed a slapstick, Old Hollywood-inspired performance of her nominated hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.”Shakira scooped Best Latin Pop Album, before delivering a jaw-dropping performance of her classics and new work, gyrating around the room.And Charli XCX won three prizes including best dance/electronic album for her summer-defining “Brat” before a banging performance at the end of the night.- ‘Love you, LA’ -Sunday’s gala was an homage to the city of Los Angeles.Yet it was not a somber evening but rather one of warmth, celebrating first responders while urging donations. Host Trevor Noah said at least $7 million was raised from viewers for wildfire relief.Top LA County firefighters presented Beyonce with her big award, while students who lost their schools sang with Stevie Wonder on “We Are The World” as part of the tribute to the late music powerhouse Quincy Jones. The show opened with a supergroup including Sheryl Crow and John Legend performing Randy Newman’s track “I Love LA,” while Eilish sang her hit “Birds of a Feather” in an LA Dodgers baseball cap.”I love you LA,” she said to cheers.

Camp queen, queer icon, a searing yet irreverent songwriter with cascading vocals: Chappell Roan has soared to pop’s upper echelons on a singular blend of vulnerability and high-production performance that has earned her legions of fans.And now the Missouri musician with a waterfall of red curls is a top Grammy winner, having snapped up the prestigious prize for Best New Artist.Her over-the-top theater kid persona, complete with wildly lavish costumes and high-drama makeup that nods to drag culture, made her an unstoppable force on the festival circuit.And since then, the 26-year-old has since been truly inescapable — on TikTok, the radio, streaming, late-night shows and, eventually, a viral media cycle over her lukewarm support of presidential candidate Kamala Harris that proved, in case anyone doubted it, just how big she’d gotten.In an industry thirsty for “moments,” it seemed like Roan was a rare bird who appeared out of nowhere.But she’d actually been hustling for a decade — making music while working odd jobs, handling mental health struggles and coming into her own.- Midwest Princess -Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz on February 19, 1998 in Willard, Missouri, Roan threw herself into the arts while never quite finding her social footing, and grappling with weighty emotions she would eventually learn were symptoms of bipolar disorder.Her YouTube performances earned attention, and she moved to Los Angeles — but then home again after Atlantic Records dropped her amid the early days of the pandemic that left the music industry reeling.But before she was cut loose, Roan dropped “Pink Pony Club,” a track that years later would blossom as one of her smash hits.Dan Nigro, the heavyweight, Grammy-winning producer who worked with Roan at Atlantic, reconnected with her in 2021, and the years-long build-up to her soaring takeoff began in earnest.For several scrappy years, she worked odd jobs, amassed followers on TikTok, underwent therapy to treat her unpredictable condition and finished her debut album.But in accepting her Best New Artist Grammy, she took the industry to task, saying that her experience of feeling “betrayed” and “dehumanized” by the label that dropped her was “devastating.””Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees,” she said, demanding that they pay a living wage and provide health care to emerging artists. Roan — whose stage name pays homage to her late grandfather Dennis Chappell and his favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan,” which she also noted onstage Sunday — released her bold, vulnerable album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” in 2023 to critical praise.On it, she delves into themes of sexuality and yearning with a pop-forward, dance-heavy beat and impressive vocals that one critic characterized as “singing in cursive.”Her standalone single “Good Luck, Babe!” and the cheerleader-inspired dance number “Hot to Go!” found enormous audiences.She thrived on TikTok but Roan wasn’t only magnetic online: it was her extravagant presence onstage — she did New York’s Governors Ball dressed as the Statue of Liberty after arriving in a huge apple bong — that cemented her superstar status.She had that on full-display yet again at Sunday’s gala, delivering a circus-themed rodeo of a performance of “Pink Pony Club” — wearing a leather fringed corset get-up as she straddled a giant pink pony — that had the crowd on its feet.- Growing pains -Roan’s phenomenal rise has come with a price: she has spoken out about fame’s growing pains that have left her exhausted and at times afraid of aggressive fans.During a set over the summer, she broke down in tears, telling fans she felt “a little off today.”She says many of her fellow artists have reached out with sympathetic support, including Elton John — who comically called her from an unidentified number 11 times before she answered and realized it was him, she told Rolling Stone.Roan, who grew up in a conservative, Christian household, came out as a lesbian recently, and regularly sings of queer love in her songs, but refuses to be pigeonholed for her sexuality.She also isn’t shy about speaking out on topics from trans rights to supporting the Palestinian cause.Making her demand Sunday night that working artists earn health insurance and a livable wage was totally on brand.”Labels, we got you, but do you got us?” she asked.

Music’s brightest stars on Sunday rocked the red carpet at the Grammy Awards, bringing some high drama, serious style — and, as ever, lots of skin.While the Oscars tend to embrace a classic brand of Hollywood glamour, the Grammys are daring: some of the most iconic fashion looks have emerged at the storied gala, such as Jennifer Lopez’s plunging green Versace gown in 2000.Here’s a look at what the A-listers wore to the Grammys in Los Angeles:- Music royalty -Beyonce finally won the Album of the Year award for the first time in her career, and she chose a glittering Schiaparelli gown for her golden moment.A “Cowboy Carter” coded bandana motif was worked into the low-cut gown with a keyhole opening. Elbow length gloves completed the look, and the singer wore her hair long and icy blonde.Taylor Swift, who presented Beyonce with her best country album award but went home empty-handed, was dressed to impress in a sexy, sparkly red Vivienne Westwood one-shoulder mini-dress.Red is the title of one of her albums, but it is also the signature color of boyfriend Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs. Speculation ran rampant on social media about the message she was trying to convey. Her naughty thigh chain with a “T” charm also begged the question — did it stand for Taylor, Travis or both?- High drama -Breakout star Chappell Roan, who took home the award for Best New Artist, is known for her theatrical style, and she did not disappoint.She hit the red carpet in a vintage look from Jean-Paul Gaultier inspired by Edgar Degas’s depiction of ballet dancers.The pop singer wore a fascinator to match the bright yellow and baby blue printed gown with dramatic black bows on the shoulders. Her makeup was heavy, and her signature red curls flowed loosely down her back. Her nails were long and golden — like the statuette she took home.Lady Gaga, who is also known for being sartorially dramatic (meat dress, anyone?), went for goth chic in a long-sleeved black corseted Vivienne Westwood gown with a full skirt and matching jet-black hair. – Not demure, not mindful – Besides Roan, other members of music’s new generation of pop stars didn’t let their red carpet moments go to waste, rocking decidedly sexy looks.Sabrina Carpenter, who won two Grammys in the pop categories, wore a backless baby blue JW Anderson floor-length halter gown with a feather peplum and hem. Her blonde locks were swept into a come-hither curly up-do that conjured up images of Marilyn Monroe.Charli XCX, who scooped up three Grammys, wore a gray Gaultier gown with a corset bodice and oodles of frothy chiffon — definitely very brat.And Olivia Rodrigo slayed in a daring Versace black halter gown with a plunging neckline and a nearly bare back, with just a few straps holding it together.- Head scratchers -Rapper Kanye West, who was nominated for best rap song, arrived with his wife Bianca Censori, who shed a fur coat to reveal that she was practically naked in a sheer body stocking that left everything in view.They left the event shortly after the bold arrival. Some reports suggested they were thrown out, but celebrity news website TMZ, citing a source close to the Recording Academy, said they left on their own. Singer Willow Smith, the daughter of Hollywood couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith rolled up in a bejeweled bikini and a tuxedo-style jacket. Her actor brother Jaden had a giant black castle hat encasing his head.And singer Joy Villa, who has made no secret of her support for President Donald Trump with her looks over the years, wore a red baseball cap that bore a resemblance to the ubiquitous MAGA hats at his rallies.Villa’s chapeau, paired with a slinky golden gown, simply said: “The Hat Stays On.”

US President Donald Trump has slapped new tariffs on Chinese goods, partly in response to Beijing’s alleged role in a deadly opioid epidemic in the United States.Washington has long accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the deadly fentanyl trade, which US authorities estimate caused tens of thousands of deaths a year. China denies responsibility.Here AFP looks at where the issue currently stands:- What is fentanyl and where does it come from? -The United States is facing an epidemic of deaths caused by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin and much easier and cheaper to produce.US officials have said it is now the leading cause of death among people aged 18 to 45.The US Drug Enforcement Agency has accused China of being “the main source for all fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States”.While the Congressional Research Service acknowledged last year that direct supplies of the drug from China had been stemmed by stricter controls from Beijing in 2019, it said the move had simply shifted the supply lines.Rather than the drugs being supplied directly via international courier services, it said, chemical components are instead shipped from China to Mexico, where they are then made into fentanyl and smuggled across the border.Many of those components are legal in China and have legitimate medical use as painkillers — making prosecution tricky.Beijing, which insisted there is “no such thing as illegal trafficking of fentanyl between China and Mexico”, has promised to crack down.It has pointed to its tough drug laws — some of the world’s harshest — and warned that new tariffs would “inevitably affect and damage future bilateral cooperation on drug control”.- What has the US done to crack down? -Former president Joe Biden’s administration made the fight against fentanyl a priority.In October 2023, it slapped sanctions on over two dozen China-based entities and individuals alleged to be the “source of supply” for many US-based narcotics traffickers, dark web vendors, virtual currency money launderers and Mexican cartels.The group, which included a Wuhan-based company and a number of other firms based in Hong Kong and the mainland, was alleged to be responsible for the shipment of approximately 900 kilograms of “seized fentanyl and methamphetamine precursors” shipped to the United States and Mexico.”The global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies in China,” the then US attorney general Merrick Garland said last year.China condemned the investigation at the time as part of a US campaign of “pressure and sanctions” against it.- What have the US and China agreed to? -China-US talks on drug control stalled in the face of some of their worst relations in years.But following a summit between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November 2023, Washington and Beijing agreed to restart talks.Last summer, a counternarcotics working group convened in Washington and China announced it would step up its regulation of three key fentanyl precursors.But it remains to be seen whether the latest curbs will fully stop the cross-border traffickers — who the Justice Department said “adapt to tightening restrictions”.Analysts say that manufacturers are able to develop new variants of the synthetic precursors faster than they can be identified and added to scheduled lists of substances controlled by Chinese authorities.Vanda Felbab-Brown, an expert on organised crime at the Brookings Institution, had said Beijing needs to take a tougher line against domestic firms involved in the trade.”We are nowhere close to robust indictments, robust prosecutions in either the money laundering sector or smuggling of precursors to the Mexican cartels,” she said in a podcast.- Will the tariffs work? -Whether tariffs will spur greater action from Beijing is unclear.Felbab-Brown argued that Beijing’s cooperation is tied to China-US relations.”With countries with whom China has good relations or with whom it wants to build good relations… it extends law enforcement and counter-narcotics cooperation,” she explained.”And with countries with whom it has bad relations or with whom relations deteriorate, it denies the cooperation.”China’s foreign ministry has warned that Washington should “not take China’s goodwill for granted”.Compounding the problem are expansive money laundering networks that underpin the trade, which experts say requires closer coordination between Washington and Beijing to curb.”International drug cartels are increasingly turning to specialized Chinese criminal gangs for swift, cheap and secure money laundering services,” wrote Zongyuan Zoe Liu in a September report for the Council on Foreign Relations.”Obtaining support from Beijing to stop the flow of illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals is an important first step in addressing the supply problem,” Liu wrote.