The Weeknd Makes Triumphant Grammy Return With Surprise Performance Featuring Playboi Carti

The boycott is over. The Weeknd made his surprise return to the 2025 Grammy Awards stage on Sunday (Feb. 2) with an electric performance of “Cry for Me” and “Timeless” featuring an assist from his upcoming tourmate Playboi Carti.

After an extended broadcast tease, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. shocked viewers by introducing The Weeknd, who previously said he’d boycott the Grammys following his criticism of the Recording Academy in 2021 when his After Hours album received zero nominations.

A hooded Weeknd in a trench coat rose atop the smoky stage to deliver a fiery performance of the Metro Boomin-produced “Cry for Me” — a standout from his new Hurry Up Tomorrow album — while commanding flailing dancers completely covered in full bodysuits.

Laser beams then filled the stage as Playboi Carti popped out to bring the rage to their Billboard Hot 100 top three hit “Timeless” to close out the performance.

Prior to The Weeknd touching the Crypto.com Arena stage, Harvey Mason Jr. reflected on hearing the artist born Abel Tesfaye’s frustrations and instituting change to the makeup of the Recording Academy body over the past few years, which has improved its diversity efforts.

“Criticism is OK. I heard him, I felt his conviction,” the Recording Academy head said. “What we all want is an organization dedicated to the well-being of all music makers … So over the past few years we’ve listened, we’ve acted and we’ve changed.”

Mason Jr. says that the Academy has added more than 3,000 voting women members and now boasts nearly 40 percent people of color. “I firmly believe we’re on the right path … What better way to bring us together than this next artist,” he added before welcoming The Weeknd — a four-time Grammy Award winner — back into the fold.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.