New Jersey did far more than simply show up at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 1, 2026 — the Garden State helped define the tone, the sound, and several of the most talked-about moments of the entire night. From major category wins to emotional on-air tributes and nationally broadcast performances, artists with deep New Jersey roots turned the ceremony into an unmistakable celebration of the state’s creative reach and cultural influence.

New Jersey had a major presence at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held yesterday (Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026). The “Garden State” was well-represented by several winners and high-profile performers: 

Key NJ Winners & Highlights

• SZA (Maplewood): The R&B star took home Record of the Year for “luther” (a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar). This was a standout moment as she was one of the night’s most celebrated artists.
• Jack Antonoff (Bergen County): The prolific producer and Meadowlands-area native won multiple awards for his work on “luther” and other projects.
• Lauryn Hill (South Orange): She delivered a powerful performance during the In Memoriam segment, paying tribute to legendary artists Roberta Flack and D’Angelo. 

Local Nominations

• Tye Tribbett: The Camden-raised gospel artist was nominated for Best Gospel Album for Only On The Road (Live).
• Queen Latifah (Newark): She was featured as a presenter during the live telecast. 

If you missed the show, you can find the full list of winners on the official Grammy website. 

At the center of the evening’s most electric momentum was Maplewood native SZA, whose sweeping year of artistic dominance reached a powerful peak when she captured Record of the Year for “luther,” her acclaimed collaboration with Kendrick Lamar. The win marked one of the most visible and competitive categories of the night, and SZA’s victory immediately placed New Jersey in the national spotlight. Her sound, shaped by both global R&B innovation and the authenticity of her hometown upbringing, has become emblematic of how New Jersey artists consistently blur genre boundaries while remaining emotionally grounded and unmistakably personal.

For many New Jersey viewers, the moment carried special resonance. Maplewood has long been known as a quiet incubator of creative talent, but SZA’s continued rise has elevated the town into an unlikely landmark on the modern music map. The Grammy recognition did more than validate a single track — it underscored how artists emerging from New Jersey communities continue to redefine what mainstream success can look like without sacrificing originality.

Equally influential behind the scenes was Bergen County’s own Jack Antonoff, whose fingerprints could be felt across multiple major projects honored throughout the ceremony. Widely regarded as one of the most sought-after producers and collaborators in contemporary music, Antonoff earned multiple Grammy wins for his production and songwriting contributions, including his work on “luther.” A longtime Meadowlands-area native, his career trajectory reflects a distinctly New Jersey creative mindset: collaborative, stylistically fearless, and deeply invested in the craft itself. While performers command the spotlight, Antonoff’s multi-award presence served as a reminder that New Jersey’s impact extends just as powerfully into the control room and the studio.

The emotional heartbeat of the evening arrived during the In Memoriam segment, when South Orange icon Lauryn Hill delivered a striking and reverent performance that honored the enduring influence of legendary artists including Roberta Flack and D’Angelo. Hill’s appearance was not simply a nostalgic callback to one of the most influential voices in modern soul and hip-hop history. Instead, it stood as a living bridge between generations of artistry — one New Jersey artist honoring others who reshaped global music culture.

Hill’s performance resonated deeply with viewers, particularly across New Jersey, where her legacy remains inseparable from the region’s creative identity. South Orange and its surrounding communities have long championed the intersection of activism, education, and artistic expression, and Hill’s return to the Grammy stage reinforced the idea that New Jersey’s musical heritage is as socially conscious as it is sonically innovative.

The Garden State’s presence extended well beyond the winner’s circle and marquee performances. Camden-raised gospel powerhouse Tye Tribbett earned a national nomination for Best Gospel Album for Only On The Road (Live), further highlighting New Jersey’s extraordinary diversity of musical voices. Tribbett’s career has consistently bridged faith, contemporary production, and live performance energy, and his Grammy recognition placed South Jersey firmly within the broader national gospel and inspirational music conversation.

Newark also took its place on the world stage through cultural trailblazer Queen Latifah, who appeared as a featured presenter during the live broadcast. Her presence reinforced the city’s longstanding contributions to entertainment, music, and popular culture, while offering a reminder that New Jersey’s artistic influence reaches far beyond the recording booth and into film, television, business, and community leadership.

Together, these moments formed a powerful narrative arc for New Jersey at this year’s Grammys. From genre-defining R&B and pop production to gospel recognition and legacy-driven performances, the state’s creative ecosystem was represented across nearly every corner of the ceremony. It is a reflection of a broader reality taking shape throughout the region — one fueled by independent venues, community arts programs, studio collectives, and a deeply interconnected creative network that continues to nurture emerging talent.

That ecosystem can be felt across New Jersey’s clubs, theaters, recording spaces, and cultural festivals, where artists at every level sharpen their sound and build audiences long before reaching national platforms. Readers exploring the depth and diversity of the state’s evolving performance landscape can discover more about New Jersey’s vibrant live and recording culture through Explore New Jersey’s dedicated coverage of the state’s music scene.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards ultimately told a much bigger story than individual trophies. They offered a high-profile snapshot of a state whose creative output continues to shape the national conversation — not through one singular sound, but through an extraordinary range of voices, styles, and artistic paths. Whether it was SZA redefining modern R&B from her Maplewood roots, Jack Antonoff steering the sonic direction of chart-topping projects, Lauryn Hill elevating a tribute into a moment of cultural reflection, or emerging and established figures like Tye Tribbett and Queen Latifah expanding the boundaries of what New Jersey artists represent, the Garden State once again proved that its influence on the music industry is not a fleeting headline — it is a sustained and growing force.

Overall, New Jersey at the Grammys:

Jack Antonoff: Born in Bergenfield, the frequent Taylor Swift collaborator was once again a presence among the night’s winners and nominees.

Presenters & Performers:

Queen Latifah: The Newark native served as a high-profile presenter during the telecast.

Lauryn Hill: Raised in South Orange, she gave a powerful performance during the In Memoriam segment, honoring D’Angelo and Roberta Flack.

SZA: The Maplewood-raised star was a major winner, taking home Record of the Year for “luther”.

I brought up Cher because she presented the Award last night for SZA and Jack, and I met her back in or about 1989 in Sea Bright, New Jersey. That was an incredible “Jersey moment!” She played the piano along side of me and meeting Cher through Richie Sambora in Sea Bright in 1989 put me right in the middle of their high-profile romance.

Sambora FYI, did pre production on their New Jersey record at the studio I managed those years. At that time, Richie was living in the Rumson/Sea Bright area, and Cher spent a significant amount of time there with him while he was at the height of his Slippery When Wet and New Jersey album fame. The place I saw them at was I think at the Tradewinds (the legendary beach club that stood in Sea Bright until 2002).

Coincidently, while she has long since returned to her Malibu sanctuary, she still has strong ties to the area—she was just back in New Jersey a few months ago for her book tour.

I thought that she lived in Jersey. Now I am thinking that she maybe lived with Richie and I assumed she lived here.