Trevor Noah, Lizzo, and the 2026 Grammys: what happened, what was said, and what’s next

Trevor Noah, Lizzo, and the 2026 Grammys: what happened, what was said, and what’s next
Trevor Noah

If you’re seeing a rush of searches about Trevor Noah, Lizzo, and the Grammys, it’s because multiple threads collided at once: the awards show wrapped on Sunday night, a handful of jokes ricocheted into politics, and viewers noticed a major hosting change is already baked into next year.

Here’s what’s confirmed as of Thursday, February 5, 2026 (ET), and what remains rumor-driven.

Is the Grammys over?

Yes. The main 2026 Grammys telecast aired Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (ET). The awards week included an earlier, separate ceremony that handed out many categories before the primetime show.

That timing matters for the “did I miss it?” questions: by Feb. 5, all official 2026 results were already final, and the conversation had shifted to recap clips, backlash moments, and next-year planning.

Who is Trevor Noah, and was he the Grammy host?

Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, writer, and TV host who became a global name through satirical news and stand-up work. He has hosted the Grammys repeatedly in recent years, and he returned for the 2026 ceremony as host and an executive producer.

Despite the online phrasing “why is Trevor Noah not hosting the Grammys,” the real update is more specific: he hosted in 2026, but this was billed as his final time in the role. In other words, he wasn’t absent this year—he’s stepping away after this year’s show.

Why is Trevor Noah not hosting next year?

Public messaging around the 2026 broadcast framed it as a planned handoff rather than a sudden ouster. The show’s producers and the awards organization positioned Noah’s exit as the end of a long run, with praise for his tone and reliability as a live host.

No successor has been publicly finalized in the most widely circulated pre-show materials, which is why “Grammy host” searches keep spiking: viewers are trying to figure out who’s next.

What did Trevor Noah say about Trump?

Noah’s opening monologue included jokes that touched U.S. politics, and at least one line drew a direct response from President Donald Trump in the days after the ceremony.

The broad contours are clear: Noah used the Grammys stage to make a joke that referenced Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein story, and he also made a “term limits” quip framed as a comedic example about leaving when your time is up. Those jokes became the core of the “Trevor Noah joke about Trump” searches.

What’s less clear in the public record is a single, universally agreed verbatim “quote of record” from Noah—clips circulated in different edits, and commentary often paraphrased the setup rather than reproducing the exact wording.

Lizzo and the Grammys: what she did this week

Lizzo trended around the 2026 Grammys largely because she was visible during the surrounding events and social calendar, even if she wasn’t the central headline of the winners’ list. She appeared at major pre-show gatherings and was photographed with other artists during after-parties, which quickly reignited “Lizzo Grammys” searches.

Separate from 2026 week-of coverage, she remains a frequent Grammys search topic because of her earlier wins and nominations—people looking up her history often land in the same search stream as current-year highlights.

“Trevor Noah gay” and other viral side-questions

Searches about Noah’s sexuality spike periodically during big TV moments. As of Feb. 5, 2026 (ET), Noah has not publicly identified himself as gay in mainstream, on-the-record biographical material. Treat claims asserting otherwise as unverified unless he states it himself.

Another side-thread in the same search clusters is “Aaliyah.” While Aaliyah’s legacy frequently resurfaces during award-season discourse and tribute talk online, there is no widely confirmed, official 2026 Grammys program element that centers on her. Much of what circulated appeared to be fan-driven or unrelated social posts rather than a verified segment from the show itself.

Key takeaways

  • The 2026 Grammys already ended: Sunday, Feb. 1, 8:00–11:30 p.m. (ET).

  • Trevor Noah did host in 2026, but it was promoted as his final year as host.

  • His monologue included jokes that drew a political response afterward, fueling the spike in “Trump” searches.

  • Lizzo trended mainly through Grammys-week visibility and ongoing interest in her past awards history.

  • Claims about Noah’s sexuality and “Aaliyah at the Grammys” chatter are largely driven by online speculation rather than confirmed show material.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, Recording Academy, ABC News, Los Angeles Times