Trevor Noah Opens Grammys With Tribute to Those Impacted by LA Fires: ‘The Spirit of the City Has Emerged’

“Just a few weeks ago, we weren’t sure tonight that this show would event happen … Due to the heroic efforts of the firefighter, the firs have now been contained,” host Trevor Noah says

Trevor Noah paid tribute to those impacted by the fires and surprised the audience with a performance by several artists, including John Legend and rock group Dawes, to open the 2025 Grammy Awards.

“This city has just been through one of the largest natural disasters in American history. Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes. Entire neighborhoods have been erased, schools, local businesses and entire communities have burned to the ground,” Noah said as he opens the ceremony from the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles. “Thankfully, due to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and despite all the devastation, the spirits of the city has emerged. Neighbors who had never spoken before are helping each other.”

The Los Angeles fires, which started up the morning of Jan. 7 in the Pacific Palisades. Over the course of a few weeks, the blaze ravaged through 23, 338 acres, and has is now at 100% containment, per NBC News.

Noah continued: “So to kick off tonight’s show in a really special way, allow me to tell you about a band that has LA in their DNA. Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith are two brothers born and raised in the city who make up the band Dawes. They, like so many others, have lost so much in these fires. Griffin’s home, their childhood home, their home music studio, and almost all of their instruments. But despite their tragic loss, doors have helped raise money for nearly 100 other families also affected by the disaster, and they truly epitomize the unique spirit that we are seeing in LA right now.”

Noah then introduced a performance of Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” by Dawes backed by Brittany Howard, St. Vincent, John Legend and Sheryl Crow.