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Trevor Noah’s final Grammy Awards monologue had one clear reported hit: a pointed joke about Nicki Minaj’s absence that drew cheers and then an angry response from President Donald Trump. But the Associated Press described most of the monologue as safe, so that sharp moment should not be mistaken for the tone of the whole set.
Why was Trevor Noah hosting the Grammys for the last time?
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 1, 2026, marked Noah’s sixth consecutive year as host. The Recording Academy had announced this as his final hosting turn; he also served as an executive producer. The Academy’s announcement and 2026 host page identify the event and his role. The host page also lists him as a nominee for his audiobook, narration, and storytelling recording, Into The Uncut Grass.
What were Trevor Noah’s best and worst jokes at the 2026 Grammys?
The clearest hit: the Nicki Minaj joke
Noah roamed through the audience in his opening monologue, making jokes about stars present and saving some sharper material for people who were absent. The Associated Press reported that one line about Nicki Minaj drew cheers: “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.” The joke referred to Minaj’s absence. The AP’s account of the line and its reception appears in its February 2 recap.
As a piece of hosting, the joke’s strength was its specificity: it connected an absent celebrity with a current political image rather than relying on a generic awards-show gag. Its timing also gave it a clear target. The AP reported that Trump responded angrily in a post after the joke, a sign that the line reached beyond the room, though not evidence that the entire monologue was political.
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The miss: a mostly safe opening
The AP characterized the monologue overall as mostly safe. That is the main limitation in the available account: the memorable sharper line stood out, but the opening as a whole did not sustain that edge. By this writer’s assessment, the contrast made the Nicki Minaj joke more effective while leaving the rest of the monologue less distinctive. The AP reported a specific in-room response to the joke, not a comprehensive verdict from viewers or critics, so it would be too broad to call the full performance a triumph or failure.
How the jokes fit the ceremony
The awards show had several major stories beyond its host. Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos won Album of the Year, and Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “luther” won Record of the Year, according to the Recording Academy’s official results. Olivia Dean won Best New Artist. The AP also reported that 86 awards were handed out at the Premiere Ceremony before the main telecast.
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In that larger broadcast, the White House line was one pointed moment, not proof of an unusually political monologue from start to finish. Its effectiveness came from the abrupt, specific jab and the reported cheers; its limitation was that the rest of the opening, as the AP described it, largely stayed on safer ground.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to check for a replay
The Recording Academy’s pre-event announcement listed CBS for the live broadcast and Paramount+ for streaming, with live and on-demand availability dependent on subscription tier. Because the 2026 ceremony has already aired, check the services’ current listings before assuming a replay is available.
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