Alabama Shakes
I'm excited that they won. It's nice to see a collection of people who don't look like they came out of a Musician Factory.
Carrie Underwood
Speaking of. This dress is technically accomplished but the whole look feels snorey to me. It's unfair, maybe, but for some reason I can't get excited about her red-carpet looks lately. They seem stuffy. Here, I think it's that she finally cut her hair, and they managed to fluff it into a style that looks like she's Kellie Pickler in 15 years.
Carrie Underwood
She's just never felt LESS young and contemporary.
Carrie Underwood
The hair is MUCH better here, but the Derelicte Boudoir Collection outfit is a bummer. Further, Carrie has a great voice, but her duet on-stage was really airless -- I think it went on too long, people don't care that much about the song, and as a consequence the audience was bored and you could feel it. If you're going to do a long, drawn-out, emotional performance -- which a lot of them were -- I think you have to either a) be showcasing mind-blowing new talent (Tori Kelly, nearing the end of her In Case You Missed It, I'm Super Good tour), or b) singing something beloved and emotional (Adele).
Carrie Underwood, Rachel Platten
Rachel is winning this one.
LeAnn Womack
She and Underwood maybe could have switched dresses. Pictured: Lee Ann Womack FameFlynet, Inc - Beverly Hills, CA, USA - +1 (310) 505-9876 RESTRICTIONS APPLY: NO FRANCE
Elle King
Red lipstick is your FRIEND, Elle. EMBRACE YOUR FRIEND.
Anna Kendrick
This was a bit of a bummer. It feels like Serious Clothes for a Serious Salute to Heroes, rather than a lighthearted Grammys romp.
Kaley Cuoco
Her bod looks good, but I'll pass on the big floaty pant legs that she's going to spend all night stepping on, rendering them torn and dirty.
Meghan Trainor
This is better than she usually looks, but we still need to stage a shoe AND lip intervention here. I also feel a bit badly for her. She should not have won Best New Artist, I don't think, but "I'm All About That Bass" did get a lot of radio play. But I think her weeping when she won it suggested that a) she knew it was a HUGE SHOCK; b) she knew people would be vocal about it; and c) that she was more affected than perhaps it seemed by how much people HATED "Dear Future Husband." It felt like she was happy-crying, yes, but also weeping the tears of "OMG MAYBE I AM NOT TERRIBLE AT THIS AFTER ALL."
Demi Lovato
She looks okay, but seriously, what's with all the gravely serious outfits? You can have fun and still not run off the road.
Mya
I mean, look at Mya! She is serving it on a platter.
Pharrell
And he's blond now. Dude. Don't do something that Tyga did first. It MIGHT ENCOURAGE HIM.