Trevor Noah’s final Grammys as host brings Nicki Minaj, Trump, and “Epstein island” jokes

The 68th Grammy Awards aired Sunday night, February 1, 2026, with Trevor Noah returning as Grammys host for what he said would be his last time emceeing the show. The opening monologue leaned into celebrity roll call, then veered into politics as he joked about Nicki Minaj, Donald Trump, and a line that name-checked “epstein island,” drawing a mix of big laughs and immediate pushback online.

Nicki Minaj and the Trump riff

One of the night’s loudest moments came when Noah pointed out that Nicki Minaj was not in the building, then delivered a punchline tying her absence to “nicki minaj trump” chatter that has been circulating in recent days. The joke hinged on the idea that she was occupied with political business instead of attending the ceremony.

In the room, the bit landed as a classic awards-show roast: quick, pointed, and built for reaction shots. Chrissy Teigen was among the celebrities shown responding positively in the moment, reinforcing that the crowd largely treated the line as comedy, not commentary.

Trevor Noah Grammys host, one last time

Noah served as the host of Grammys 2026 from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the main telecast beginning at 8 p.m. ET. He framed the night as a capstone to a run that made him one of the show’s most consistent recent emcees, balancing music-first pacing with short, viral-ready jokes.

In addition to the Minaj moment, the monologue included broader crowd work—shout-outs, playful digs, and references to the year’s biggest artists—keeping the opening moving without turning the show into a political rally. That said, the Trump material inevitably became the headline driver, especially because it arrived so early in the broadcast.

The “epstein island” reference and why it stood out

The “epstein island” line was delivered as a throwaway comparison inside a larger joke, but it hit a different nerve than typical celebrity teasing because it invoked a notorious real-world scandal. In context, it functioned as a shorthand reference rather than a detailed allegation, and the show moved on quickly.

Still, moments like that tend to travel faster than the rest of a monologue: the phrase is instantly recognizable, and its appearance in a mainstream awards opening is enough to dominate social feeds, even when it’s only a brief line.

Who is Trevor Noah

For viewers asking “who is trevor noah,” he’s a South African-born comedian and TV personality who became globally prominent as the longtime host of a major U.S. late-night satire program. In recent years, he’s leaned heavily into stand-up, touring, producing, and hosting high-profile events, building a reputation for monologues that mix pop culture with current events while keeping the tone accessible for a broad audience.

That skill set—fast reads, clean transitions, and comfort with live television—has made him a natural fit for awards telecasts, where the job is as much traffic control as it is comedy.

Why Trevor Noah is not hosting the Grammys going forward

The question “why is trevor noah not hosting the grammys” has a simple on-air answer this year: he described this ceremony as his final time hosting and emphasized a “term limits” idea for the role. No formal successor has been announced yet for next year’s show, and no additional reason has been publicly confirmed beyond his decision to step away after this run.

That doesn’t indicate a feud or a sudden exit; it reads more like a planned endpoint—an intentional handoff after multiple years—especially given how demanding the hosting schedule can be.

Key takeaways

• Grammys host Trevor Noah called 2026 his final year in the role.

• The biggest headline moment was a joke tying Nicki Minaj to Donald Trump.

• A brief “epstein island” reference amplified controversy even as the monologue quickly moved on.

Sources consulted: Associated Press; Recording Academy; Entertainment Weekly; People