CBS’ presentation of the 68th Grammy Awards on Sunday night shed significant viewers compared to recent years.
The politically charged event that saw several celebrities use the music award ceremony to criticize the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) averaged 14 million total viewers, an 11% drop compared to last year and a 20% decline compared to 2024.
When it came to the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults age 25-54, the Grammys averaged 5 million viewers compared to 5.7 million last year, for a 13% decline. The event also dropped 19% among adults age 18-49 and 10% of viewers at least 55 years old.
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The biggest dropoff came among young viewers, as the Grammy Awards averaged 2 million viewers age 18-34 compared to 2.4 million last year for a 20% decline.
The Grammy Awards will move to Disney networks and streaming services in 2027 after 54 years on CBS. The 2026 edition featured several artists wearing “ICE OUT” pins, including Billie Eilish, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kehlani, Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Brandi Carlile.
Eilish took it a step further when accepting the Grammy for Song of the Year.
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“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said. “I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
“And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say, sorry,” she added.
Other performers also added anti-ICE or pro-immigration remarks in their speeches, including Bad Bunny, Sza, Olivia Dean and Shaboozey.
President Donald Trump on Monday blasted the show as “virtually unwatchable” and threatened legal action against host Trevor Noah over what he called a “defamatory” Jeffrey Epstein jab.
Noah suggested Trump wanted Greenland because he needed a new island to “hang out with Bill Clinton” on, since the disgraced, deceased financier’s private island is no longer available.
“The Grammy Awards are the WORST, virtually unwatchable! CBS is lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer. The host, Trevor Noah, whoever he may be, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Ratings Academy Awards. Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$. Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and others, how that all worked out,” Trump continued. “Also ask CBS! Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you! President DJT.”
Fox News Digital’s Nora Moriatry contributed to this report.
