Kehlani used her Grammy Awards moment to deliver a direct message to the music industry, urging fellow artists to use their platforms and speak out against injustice.
The 30 year old singer won Best R&B Performance for Folded, her viral hit, during Sunday night’s ceremony at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Taking the stage, Kehlani shifted the focus beyond celebration, emphasizing the collective power of the artists in the room.
“There is so much power in this space,” she told the audience. “And together, we’re stronger in numbers when it comes to speaking against the injustice happening in the world right now.”
Rather than limiting that responsibility to a few outspoken voices, Kehlani encouraged unity across the creative community. “I hope everyone feels inspired to come together as artists and actually say something,” she added, before closing her remarks with an unmistakable condemnation of ICE.
Her stance wasn’t limited to the stage. Earlier on the red carpet, Kehlani, wearing an “ICE OUT” pin, explained why making a statement felt unavoidable. “We’re too powerful of a group to all be in the same room at the same time and not say anything,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “To me, it’s brainless not to.”
The win marked Kehlani’s second Grammy, also for Folded, and she used part of her acceptance speech to honor her mother, who adopted her and supported her upbringing. “You didn’t have to give up your life for me,” she said emotionally. “You could’ve done whatever you wanted in your twenties, but you chose to take care of me and feed who I am today. I owe you everything.”
In a night where multiple artists addressed immigration and political unrest, Kehlani’s message landed as both a call to action and a reminder of the influence artists wield, especially when they choose to act together.
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