Olivia Dean calls for immigrants to be celebrated in Grammys best new artist win
British pop singer Olivia Dean has called for immigrants to be celebrated after she won the best new artist gong at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The 26-year-old’s comments come after artists protested against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officers deployed in US cities at Sunday’s awards ceremony.
Becoming emotional after scooping the award, the London-born star said: “Thank you, I never really imagined that I would be up here, let alone nominated, so thank you so much, I just want to say that an artist is really nothing without their team.
“Emily, my best friend, my manager, we’ve been doing this for 10 years, so this is for you too, and my family.
“I guess I want to say, I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant, I wouldn’t be here (if it was not for immigration).
“Yeah, I’m a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated, so yeah, we’re nothing without each other. Thank you so much, I love you, thank you so much.”
It came after all of the nominees for the award performed, including British singer Lola Young, who delivered a powerful performance of her single Messy as she made her return to performing publicly, having sung at Spotify’s best new artist party on Thursday.
The 25-year-old performed an intimate version of the track, seated at a piano in a red tartan outfit.
The gong was presented by last year’s winner, The Subway singer Chappell Roan.
Also performing were girl group Katseye, indie band The Marias, pop star Addison Rae, pop rocker Sombr, R&B artist Leon Thomas and US singer Alex Warren.
Earlier in the night, singers Joni Mitchell and Kehlani, and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon were among artists wearing “Ice out” and “Be Good” pins at the annual ceremony, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Ice officers have been deployed in US cities as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation initiative, most notably in Minnesota and Minneapolis, where about 2,000 federal agents have been deployed.
Officers have come under strong criticism over their aggressive approach. Most recently, Ice agents fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis: Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24.
Vernon, 44, whose group Bon Iver is nominated for best alternative music album, said he wore a whistle as a tribute to the legal observers documenting the actions of federal agents in the streets.
“I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to heal and to bring people together,” he told The Associated Press. “But the real work are those observers on the on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to shout them out.”
Kehlani, 30, cursed Ice in her acceptance speech as she won her first Grammy for best R&B performance for Folded.
She said: “I hope everybody’s inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on. F*** Ice.”
Speaking on the red carpet, Colombian singer-songwriter Karol G, who is nominated for her record Tropicoqueta in the best Latin pop category, addressed the plight of the US’s Latin community.
She said: “Our community here in the United States is going through a lot of bad and difficult and hard things, and just to be a voice, just to be a representation, just to be a part of how positive we are, and how special we are for the world.
“So it is like the best meaning of being in these places, and I am super happy because there’s a lot of Latin artists tonight, and to keep like seeing every year more and more and more, that’s evolution, it’s very special, that’s beautiful.”
Amy Allen, Rhiannon Giddens and Margo Price were also among the artists wearing the political pins.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar has also taken home his fourth gong of the night with best rap album for GNX, having already scooped best rap song for TV Off, featuring Lefty Gunplay, and best melodic rap performance for Luther, a duet with R&B singer SZA.
After receiving his award, the Not Like Us rapper said: “I’m not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music, it’s an honour to be here…
“I appreciate y’all, god is the glory, love y’all.”
He has also won best rap performance for Chains & Whips with Clipse, Pusha T, Malice and Pharrell Williams.
Lamar, 38, is the most nominated artist at this year’s ceremony with nine nods.
Pop superstar Lady Gaga, who was the second-most nominated artist with seven nods, has also taken home best pop vocal album for her record Mayhem, having already won best dance pop recording and best remixed recording for Abracadabra and its Gesaffelstein remix.
After being moved to tears when her pop vocal album win was announced, Gaga said: “We are so, so grateful.
“I just want to say for women in music, that I know sometimes when you’re in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard, so I urge you to always listen to yourself, and always fight for your ideas, fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer.
“Make sure that you are heard loudly, and thank you so much for supporting me.”
In another British win, Young was awarded best pop solo performance by Charli XCX for her song Messy, which the Brat star said she could “relate to”, before Young, who did not have a speech prepared, had to apologise for swearing.
Published: by Radio NewsHub