Trevor Noah Grammy monologue boldly shades Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Donald Trump while throwing praise 2 others

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue kicked off his sixth and final year hosting the Grammys with his signature blend of humor, hip hop insight, and cultural commentary. Known for his sharp wit and thoughtful jokes, Noah has become one of the most respected hosts in Grammy history, surpassing LL Cool J’s record. His unique approach combines political satire, celebrity commentary, and hip hop humor in a way that entertains and informs simultaneously.

Over the years, Noah’s hosting style has been celebrated for turning awkward moments into comedic gold. This year, he balanced jabs at public figures with meaningful recognition for rising and established artists, leaving audiences laughing while also highlighting hip hop’s evolving culture. His monologue was a mix of laughs, education, and praise for those making waves in the music industry.

From political humor to celebrity interactions, Noah managed to keep the energy high while also giving heartfelt recognition where it was due. Here is a detailed look at the roasts and praises from this year’s show, including every key celebrity who caught his attention.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue roasts Nicki Minaj and Donald Trump

Nicki Minaj was a central figure in Noah’s comedic jabs. The rapper’s absence from the Grammys did not go unnoticed. Noah quipped, “Nicki Minaj is not here. She is not here. She is still at the White House with Donald Trump, discussing very important issues.”

He then performed a playful Trump impression: “Actually, Nicki. I have the biggest a*s. I have it. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki. I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. Wop, Wop, Wop. Look at it! Look at it, baby.”

Trump himself became a recurring target during the monologue, from Greenland jokes to Epstein references. Noah remarked, “Almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” and humorously emphasized the importance of term limits: “Yes, I want to set an example for anyone who might be watching the show. You know, just leave when your time is up.”

These moments demonstrated Noah’s ability to blend political satire with celebrity culture, creating laughs while still touching on current events.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue: Drake gets roasted in front of Kendrick Lamar, who loved it

Kendrick Lamar, one of the most-nominated artists of the night with nine nominations and five wins including Record of the Year for “luther” with SZA, witnessed one of Noah’s funniest moments involving Drake. While Noah didn’t directly roast Kendrick, he joked about the intensity of modern hip hop beefs:

“I remembered what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries, yeah, me and my delegation are still recovering from the pain, so I’m just saying, ‘Congratulations.’ And, can I say, your hip hop beef has gone to a new level, like rappers are doing full-time detective work on your life. You beef with Kendrick – he’s investigating you and your crew. If you beef with 50 Cent, he’ll make a four-part documentary exposing what a v*olent creep you’ve been your whole life. Things have changed. It was so much simpler when all you had to worry about was being shot. But now, they hurt your feelings.”

The audience laughed as Drake would have been the implied target, while Kendrick seemed to enjoy the moment, highlighting the playful, competitive side of hip hop culture. Noah’s subtle roast balanced humor with respect, showing his understanding of the dynamics between these artists.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue: Justin Bieber receives praise for his achievements

Noah highlighted Justin Bieber’s return to the Grammys after four years. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, Justin Bieber is back in the house… Over the last few years, this young man has done so many amazing things. Are you kidding me? His album, SWAG, [has] four Grammy nominations. He’s come back as a new dad. Congratulations to both of you.”

Even Bieber’s tech influence earned praise: “My personal favorite thing that Justin Bieber has done over the past years [was that] he told Apple to move the dictation button on the keyboard. [You’re a] hero, Justin. Now I just need you tell them to make a new feature where you search on your phone, it finds things.”

Though the interaction was slightly awkward at times, it emphasized Noah’s ability to recognize achievement and celebrate artists beyond music.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue: Olivia Dean gets flowers for fighting Ticketmaster.

Best New Artist Olivia Dean earned recognition for her advocacy against ticket resellers. Noah praised her efforts, saying:

“She fought Ticketmaster to stop resellers from ripping off fans, which is amazing, because if the fans can’t afford tickets, we can’t have live music, and without concerts, how would we find out which CEOs are having affairs on the jumbotron? Thank you so much, Olivia Dean.” This moment highlighted Noah’s knack for balancing humor with acknowledgment of social and industry issues.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue got word for Bad Bunny

Noah highlighted Bad Bunny’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy while keeping ticket prices affordable. He said:

“For those who don’t know, Bad Bunny set up a residency in Puerto Rico. He teamed up with local tourism to make sure Puerto Rican hotels and businesses benefited from his show. He made sure to keep the prices affordable for local Puerto Ricans…”

Noah playfully asked if Bad Bunny could stay with him if America worsened, to which the artist replied, “Trevor, I have some news for you. Puerto Rico is part of America.”

Bad Bunny eventually performed “DtMF” acapella with a live salsa band, showcasing both his talent and Noah’s ability to elevate artists through humor and praise.

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars educated and entertained

Noah also explained the meaning behind ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT” opening performance: “APT is actually inspired by a Korean drinking game where you stack your hands on top of each other. Someone shouts a number, you count up, and then if your hand hits that number, you drink. That’s way more complicated than the drinking game we have – APT.”

This moment showed Noah’s role in helping the audience engage with Grammy-nominated music while keeping the tone light and educational.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue: Billie Eilish receives recognition

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue included a congratulation to Billie Eilish for winning Song of the Year, noting the award’s importance: “Every artist wants that award – almost as much as Trump wants Greenland.” This line cleverly combined humor with recognition, reinforcing Noah’s talent for balancing roasts with praise.

Trevor Noah Grammy monologue this year proved why he remains one of the most skilled and respected hosts in the music world. From roasting Nicki Minaj, Donald Trump, and implicitly Drake, to praising Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber, Olivia Dean, Bad Bunny, ROSÉ, Bruno Mars, and Billie Eilish, he left the audience laughing, informed, and inspired. His monologue highlighted the evolving world of hip hop, politics, and celebrity culture, making it a memorable finale to his hosting legacy.

With the Grammys moving to ABC next year, Noah leaves behind a record of humor, insight, and hip hop respect that will be hard to surpass.