Personally, I don’t think the Grammys started with their strongest performances, but as the show continued, I realized that they were trying to “hook” younger viewers with the “new artists” at the start of the show. Something that didn’t help at all: the Grammys’ sound engineers really screwed over a lot of artists. There were only a handful of performances which actually sounded good and non-janky. One of those performances was, I swear to God, Justin Bieber’s stripped-down performance of “Yukon.”
Bieber arrived at the Grammys with his wife Hailey, and they even walked the carpet together. Justin felt like one of the “elder statesmen” of this year’s Grammys in a weird way, which I know is an odd thing to say about a 31-year-old. But his performance was amazing, I will admit. The fact that he literally stripped down to a pair of boxers/shorts was interesting too. But he held the audience and reminded everyone that at his zenith, he’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world.
Justin Bieber’s full #GRAMMYS performance of “Yukon” pic.twitter.com/xBIhw5Qhu0 https://t.co/UpfDR6XUrp
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) February 2, 2026
Photos courtesy of Getty Images.
He sounded really good. There just something about him I can’t get past…
I’m old enough now that I didn’t even know the Grammys were happening, so I’ll have to watch when I have a moment, but I want to say I’m not surprised. Although I’m 40, I was an OG Belieber. Justin is insanely, insanely talented as a musician and always has been. We don’t give teeny boppers enough credit.
100% agree with you, Justin Bieber should have more credit, he is like you said insanely talented. I am with you Justin, l am your biggest fan!
Nothing primarily enjoyed by young women gets enough credit!
I think the stripping down was moving and poetic. That guy has been through it all as a child star but he’s still standing and saying this is me. He sounded great. I know he’s probably still fighting some demons and the performance was a take on his struggles
I worry about him. I used to think he was an out of control brat but then I saw some of the video clips of him with Usher and Diddy and realized we have no idea what he went through. I think he has been put through hell and come out the other side. I don’t know if he’ll ever fully recover but I sure wish him well. I do think Hailey has been good for him and helps him a lot. She seems to be a calming influence on him.
Same. I used to judge him as a horrible brat but now I feel so much sympathy for anyone who was working as a child. I think he tried to “come to god” to make amends but those people were just trying to profit off him as well. I hope he’s getting good therapy now
I have come to appreciate Bieber. His eyes look dead, though. Hope he is ok and will grow to be happy. His wife was lovely. Don’t think I’ve seen her look better. Hope they are happy. I have seen a performance where he is grinning and that makes all the difference in the world. He is quite cute and animated and nice and happy looking when grinning.
Interesting you say his eyes look dead, I saw that picture of him looking directly into the camera and though it was notable that he’s facing it and allowing himself to be seen and also keeping something of himself back. Which strikes me as a good thing. So many young performers are revealing entirely too much of themselves and then can’t figure out why they feel empty when they aren’t performing.
This performance was actually very nice.
When he walked on the carpet both he and Hailey wore ICE Out pins. Considering how little so many artists were saying, I give him credit for that.
Also it was a good performance. I agree that he doesn’t seem entirely comfortable when he’s not performing though.
Yukon is a good song. There’s my something nice about Justin Bieber.
His entire album is so incredible and that’s my favourite song on the album. Also check out Daisy (same album). He is so damn talented and I appreciate his beautiful voice. I loved the ICE OUT pins he and Hailey wore on the red carpet. They seem in a good place and I hope he’s treating her better. I have gone from side eyeing him to becoming a Bieber apologist – he’s been through a lot! I hope he heals from all of it.