Musicians descended on the Grammys red carpet with a strong statement.
Everyone from pop stars Justin Bieber, 31, and Billie Eilish, 24, to folk-rock legend Joni Mitchell, 82, topped off their glitzy outfits with “ICE OUT” pins in protest of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration blitz, which dominated headlines ahead of music’s biggest night in Los Angeles.
Other musicians spotted sporting the pins were R&B artist Kehlani, singer-songwriter Finneas, country music stars Amy Allen and Margo Price, singers Jordan Tyson and Brian Vu, jazz artist Samara Joy, songwriter and producer Jim-E Stack, Broadway actress Helen Shen, and Justin Vernon of the indie folk band Bon Iver.
Kehlani, 30, rallied her fellow musicians to speak out.
“I really wanted to say ‘F--- ICE’ but I think they needed some couth on the carpet,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re too powerful of a group to all be in the room at the same time and not make some kind of statement in our country.”
Kehlani stayed on message even after winning her first-ever Grammys: best R&B performance and best R&B song for her top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Folded.”
“Everyone is so powerful in this room. Together, we’re stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now,” she said. “Instead of letting it be just a few here and there, I hope everybody is inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on. And I’mma leave this and say, ‘F--- ICE’.”
Country music sensation Shaboozey, 30, similarly dedicated his first Grammy win to immigrants. He took home the best country duo/group performance award for “Amen” with Jelly Roll.
“Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them, for all children of immigrants,” he said. ”This is also for those who came to this country in search of a better opportunity to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it. Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions here. You give America color. I love y’all so much.”
Protests against ICE found renewed strength after two U.S. citizens were killed in immigration operations in Minneapolis just days apart in January.
Mother of three Renee Nicole Good and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, both 37, were fatally shot by federal agents, forcing President Donald Trump to de-escalate his immigration blitz.
