Before we dive into the night’s major winners, let’s talk about the one woman who didn’t just command the stage—she owned the venue. Diana Ross. A living legend. A queen in every sense of the word. At nearly 81, she remains the embodiment of glamour and Diana Ross songs exemplify musical supremacy. If anyone needed a reminder of her impact, only one woman could cause Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar to bow down with genuine respect. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter may have dominated the social-media conversation, but Diana Ross was unquestionably one of the night’s greatest highlights.

Of course, every year at the Grammys, the same question lingers: how do the women stack up against the men—both in total nominations and wins? In 2025, women unquestionably commanded the stage and the winner’s circle. They’re also making solid gains on the charts; in 2024, six of the top 10 most-streamed albums on Spotify were by female artists.

Women Continue to Lag Behind Men in Grammy Nominations

But while the spotlight on women at the Grammys shines brighter than ever, the numbers behind the scenes tell a different story. Despite the media buzz about female domination, women made up just 24% of all Grammy nominations in 2024 and 32% of winners—meaning less than one in four nominees and barely a third of winners were women or female-only bands. The Grammys stage may look like a victory parade, but the nomination ballots still suggest a slow climb toward actual parity. What is it going to take to close this gap?

While women aren’t receiving near equal recognition compared to men, they undeniably won over the night at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, where Beyoncé took home two trophies (including her first for album of the year), Chappell Roan was named best new artist, Sabrina Carpenter won both best pop solo performance and best pop duo/group performance, and Charli XCX likewise captured multiple prizes, including best dance/electronic album for her now-iconic Brat. Lately the trend has been dubbed the “Femininomenon” — and it’s no accident that this is also the title of an anthemic hit song by Roan, who coined the phrase to describe a confident woman who refuses to settle for what she’s seeking in love.

Put it all together, and it’s little wonder women dominated the stage — in both awards and style — at the 2025 Grammys. Social media kicked into overdrive with the arrival of Taylor Swift on the red carpet, wearing a bold red minidress by Vivienne Westwood creative director Andreas Kronthaler and adding ruby jewels by famed New York gem designer Lorraine Schwartz (including a custom leg chain that placed a jeweled “T” prominently on Swift’s thigh, leading to speculation about whether it represented her own initial or that of her high-profile boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce).

Diana, Beyoncé, Gaga, and Taylor Light up the Stage with Glamour and Bling

Beyoncé collected her three Grammys — for album of the year, best country album and best country duo/group performance — wearing a stunning ecru-hued custom gown with matching gloves by Schiaparelli, its hand-beading meant to evoke a paisley bandana motif as an ultra-chic nod to the star’s passion for all things country. Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, accented her shimmering pale blue JW Anderson gown with a spectacular Chopard necklace that draped down her back and highlighted a 50-carat, brilliant-cut, D-flawless diamond, while Lady Gaga likewise chose “important” jewelry, pairing her dramatic “warrior princess” gown by Samuel Lewis with a 1930s Tiffany & Co. necklace designed by Meta Overbeck, a historically significant female jewelry designer who worked for Louis Comfort Tiffany during the first half of the 20th century.

While the 2025 Grammys clocked in at almost four hours, ending just before midnight, the Recording Academy saved one of its most sensational moments for the broadcast’s finale. Viewers already had been treated to a wealth of legendary women — a roster that also included Sheryl Crow, Gloria Estefan and Queen Latifah, all looking equally stunning — but to present the Grammy for song of the year, among the night’s most coveted trophies, the academy enlisted genuine music royalty: Diana Ross.

Photo credit: Dolce & Gabbana

Ms. Ross will turn 81 years old on March 26, an astounding thought considering how breathtakingly gorgeous she looked as she walked onstage to a much-deserved standing ovation. For anyone who has attended a Diana Ross concert — it’s notable that she’s still performing, with tour dates set in the U.S. and the U.K. throughout 2025 — the ensemble worn by music’s ultimate queen felt wholly in keeping with the maximum glamour Ms. Ross favors for her concerts. Dolce & Gabbana crafted a custom look for this surprise appearance, a sleeveless silver jumpsuit fully embellished with Swarovski crystals, topped with a diaphanous white chiffon opera coat trimmed in Swarovski crystal mesh. The Italian label also created the shoulder-skimming crystal statement earrings worn by the icon. Overall the effect was dazzling and, dare we say, goddess-like, exactly as intended.

Diana Ross Stuns at 81, Receiving a Standing Ovation

But the instant standing ovation from the audience wasn’t the only respect paid in this moment. After Ms. Ross announced that the winner for song of the year was Kendrick Lamar for “Not Like Us,” he entered the stage and immediately made bowing-down motions as she held out his trophy. After a warm embrace — and careful maneuvers so he wouldn’t step on the train of her billowing chiffon coat — Lamar’s first remarks were, “C’mon, man, Diana Ross … I’m starstruck.”

He’s not alone. Amid a sea of talented women artists who increasingly create the headlines of the music industry, it’s an electrifying thought that, at nearly 81 years old, Diana Ross continues to reign supreme.

This article was updated on 02/16/2025

Laurie Brookins is an award-winning fashion journalist. You can follow her work at lauriebrookins.com.