Cara Delevingne Transforms with Chocolate Brown Hair at Star-Studded Pre-Grammy Event
Cara Delevingne made a striking departure from her iconic blonde hair on Thursday night, unveiling a rich chocolate brown hairstyle at the Warner Music Group pre-Grammy awards celebration. The 33-year-old supermodel, renowned for her platinum locks, captivated attention with her darker tresses as she graced the red carpet in Los Angeles. This dramatic transformation marked a significant style evolution for the fashion icon, who has maintained blonde hair throughout much of her career.
Androgynous Elegance on the Red Carpet
Delevingne complemented her new hair colour with a sophisticated androgynous ensemble that showcased her fashion-forward sensibilities. The Vogue covergirl selected a pinstripe oversized suit, which she layered over a vibrant purple shirt and a striped tie. Her accessories included a distinctive gold brooch and a matching red rectangular handbag that coordinated perfectly with her pointed stiletto heels. The complete look demonstrated her ability to blend masculine tailoring with feminine details, creating a memorable fashion statement at the high-profile event.
Celebrity Companions Make Their Own Fashion Statements
Joining Delevingne on the red carpet were several notable celebrities who each brought their unique style to the occasion. Scout Willis, the 34-year-old daughter of Hollywood icons Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, made a bold impression in a sheer polkadot gown. Willis chose to go braless beneath the transparent garment, which offered a glimpse of her underwear, while accessorising with scarlet heels and a matching handbag for a pop of colour.
Meanwhile, Benson Boone brought energetic enthusiasm to the proceedings. The 23-year-old singer, who received a Best New Artist nomination at last year's Grammy Awards, danced energetically on the red carpet. Boone, whose hit single Beautiful Things lost to Chappell Roan in his category, opted for an all-black ensemble complemented by stylish sunglasses.
Additional Notable Attendees and Atmosphere
The Warner Music pre-Grammy party attracted numerous other celebrities who contributed to the vibrant atmosphere. Chloe Jane arrived carrying her pet dog while wearing a sparkling coordinated outfit, while Remy Bond, Arielle Schnitzer and Olivia Bond appeared in high spirits throughout the evening. Music legend Pharrell Williams made an appearance sporting a platinum grill, and Teddy Swims and Evan Ross posed happily together on the red carpet.
Fashion highlights included Caylee Cowan's metallic midi dress and Orkid's wet-look gown, while an unexpected guest—a 1X Neo humanoid robot—added technological intrigue to the festivities. Nessa Barrett seemed particularly amused as she posed for photographs with the robot, and Diane Warren mingled comfortably with other guests. Tallia Storm completed the celebrity lineup, appearing cheerful as she enjoyed a drink at the prestigious gathering.
Grammy Awards 2026: Key Details and Nominations
The pre-Grammy party served as a glamorous precursor to the 68th annual Grammy Awards ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, February 1st at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena. Widely regarded as "Music's Biggest Night," the event will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in the United States, beginning at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Comedian Trevor Noah returns for his sixth consecutive year as host, maintaining continuity for the prestigious awards show.
Leading Contenders and Notable Nominations
Kendrick Lamar emerges as the frontrunner for the 2026 Grammys, leading all artists with an impressive nine nominations. The 22-time Grammy-winning rapper's album GNX has earned him a place in the Album of the Year category, marking his fifth consecutive studio album to receive this honour—an unprecedented achievement in Grammy history. Lamar also competes for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his collaboration with SZA, Luther, marking his third simultaneous nomination in these three major categories.
Lady Gaga follows closely with seven nominations, including Album of the Year for MAYHEM and Record of the Year for Abracadabra. This represents a career milestone for Gaga, as she has never before received nominations in all three major categories simultaneously. Sabrina Carpenter also commands attention with six nominations for her album Man's Best Friend, while Justin Bieber makes a notable comeback with four nominations for his album SWAG, including Album of the Year.
Category Changes and Eligibility Details
The Recording Academy has introduced significant changes for the 2026 ceremony, including two new categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. The country music division specifically distinguishes between "contemporary" and "traditional" styles, formally splitting the previous Best Country Album category. This adjustment follows Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter sweep at the 2025 Grammys and reflects the Academy's commitment to representing diverse musical expressions.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. explained these modifications, stating: "The Academy's top priority is to represent the music people that we serve each year. That entails listening carefully to our members to make sure our rules and guidelines reflect today's music and allow us to accurately recognize as many deserving creators as possible." Eligibility for the 2026 nominations required commercial release in the United States between August 31, 2024, and August 30, 2025, with final voting occurring from December 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026.
Notable Absences and Category Highlights
Taylor Swift's absence from the 2026 nominations represents a significant shift from recent ceremonies where she has dominated. Her album The Life of a Showgirl missed the eligibility cutoff by two months, having been released on October 3, 2025. This creates an opportunity for other artists to claim the spotlight during music's most prestigious night.
The Album of the Year category features particularly strong competition, with Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Clipse (Pusha T and Malice), Leon Thomas, and Tyler, the Creator all vying for the top honour. This marks the first time three rap albums—GNX, Let God Sort Em Out, and Chromakopia—have been nominated for both Best Rap Album and Album of the Year simultaneously.
Additional noteworthy elements include Bad Bunny's Debí Tirar Más Fotos becoming only the second all-Spanish language album nominated for Album of the Year, and Billie Eilish's Wildflower qualifying through a special Recording Academy rule despite being released before the eligibility window. The Best New Artist category promises excitement with emerging talents including Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young competing for the prestigious award.
