Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made an appearance at the Grammys Sunday.
Jackson was nominated in the audiobook category for her 2025 memoir, “Lovely One.” She reportedly lost. Jackson also managed to catch the eye of host Trevor Noah.
“I just want to say, ‘Congratulations.’ This is a special one. To first-time Grammy nominee, who’s in the house here, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” said Noah.
Jackson smiled as the audience hooted and clapped.
“And with her being here, you know what that means. For the first time ever, if you lose a grammy, you can appeal directly to the Supreme Court.” (RELATED: Rounding Up Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Best Moments Of The Year)
Former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg won an MTV Movie and TV Award for “best real-life hero” in 2019, but did not attend the event, according to CNN. Supreme Court justices regularly attend galas, or receive legal awards, but the Grammys are in another class altogether.
Trevor Noah gives a shoutout to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for the audiobook.
Noah notes that if you lose a Grammy, you can appeal to the Supreme Court tonight. pic.twitter.com/LAWfxgFnUK
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 2, 2026
For instance, girl group KATSEYE performed their song, “Gnarly,” complete with gyrating choreography and skimpy outfits.
The lyrics of “Gnarly” read: “Boba tea (Gnarly) / Robotics (Gnarly)/ Fried chicken (Gnarly) / Partyin’ in the Hollywood Hills (Uh) / This song (Gnarly, uh) / Oh my god, that new beat / (Gnarly, freaking gnarly) / Oh my god, is this real? / (Gnarly, everything’s gnarly).”
The girls continue: “Oh, we’re in a session tonight, gang, gang / Oh, we’re going out tonight, gang, gang / Oh my god, this song’s so lit, congratulations / Now you be like, “Gang” / Gang, gang, gang, gang, gang (Haha).” (RELATED: Ketanji Brown Jackson Defends Jim Crow Law During Second Amendment Case Hearing)
One imagines Jackson in the audience furiously scribbling down notes for her next dissent.
Celebrities also took the award show as an opportunity to show off what good people they are.
“Nobody is illegal on stolen land,” said singer Billie Eilish.
“F*ck [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)],” she added.
One wonders if Jackson was disappointed not to give her own speech. Tallies of “words spoken” on the bench find that Jackson had led the way in words per argument, outpacing even fellow justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatSandovalDC
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