The Grammy Awards show is no stranger to avant-garde fashions, crazy antics, and spectacular performances. They’re all staples of the awards show that everyone anticipates every year. However, the political tone of the Grammys appeared different on the night of February 12th. Over the last few years, suspected political statements have never been a main expectation at a Grammys ceremony, but with the current controversial administration pumping out executive actions almost every day, it was something to be expected. Many artists did end up sharing their political statements through both their words and their art last night, but here are some of the artists that I thought stood out the most.

1. Katy Perry

Katy Perry began her performance of “Chained to the Rhythm” behind a white picket fence. Wearing a white pantsuit, planned parenthood pin, and an armband with the word, “persist” written on it, Perry jumped about the stage as it deteriorated into what appeared to be a man-powered rotating disco ball. After the white picket fence was removed, Perry was joined by Skip Marley at the end of the song. In the performance’s final moments, Perry and Marley stood against the backdrop of a makeshift house while projections of the Constitution crawled up the side.

2. Beyoncé

Beyoncé’s ethereal performance featuring dazzling visuals and a royal wardrobe, while not entirely political in nature, closed with a pre-recorded statement: “If we’re gonna heal, let it be glorious.” Viewers suspected that this could either be an ode to the politically divided state of the nation or the injustices women and/or minorities continue to face; themes similar to the issues she discusses in her “Lemonade” album. She also utilized her platform after winning the Best Urban Contemporary Album Award to bring up the context of this album by stating her, "intention for the film and album was to create a body of work that will give a voice to our pain, our darkness, and our history — to confront issues that will make us uncomfortable."

3. Joy Villa

On the other side of the political spectrum, Joy Villa strutted the red carpet in a blue dress in support of President Donald Trump. The dress, which featured Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” flowing vertically down the front, was a center of controversy and seemed to be the only statement made that night in support of President Trump.

4. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez was invited to present one of the first awards of the night. After taking the stage, Lopez made a passionate speech about how, “at this particular point in history, our voices are needed more than ever.” Lopez ended her monolog with a quote from Tony Morrison mentioning that, “this is precisely the time when artists go to work.”

5. A Tribe Called Quest

Rap Group A Tribe Called Quest was not so subtle with their political message on music’s biggest night. During their performance, Busta Rhymes referred to President Trump as, “President Agent Orange,” and accused him of, “perpetuating all of the evil that [he’s] been perpetuating throughout the United States.” At the end of their show, rapper Q-Tip repeatedly yelled, “resist,” to the crowd and viewers at home.

6. Laverne Cox

Actress Laverne Cox was also invited to take the Grammys stage. Cox did not present an award, but was tasked with the duty of introducing pop superstar Lady Gaga and heavy metal band Metallica. Instead, Cox used her platform to implore viewers at home to google Gavin Grimm, a transgender teenager fighting for transgender bathroom rights in the Supreme Court.

7. Paris Jackson

Paris Jackson, daughter of the late Micheal Jackson, introduced The Weekend and his performance with Daft Punk. As the crowd cheered and clapped for her while she walked across the stage to the microphone, Jackson pleaded, “we could use this kind of excitement at a pipeline protest.”