It’s being billed as the the “biggest night in music” with the 60th annual Grammy Award ceremonies. For the first time in the award’s history, the top categories are not dominated by rock or pop music…hip-hop has now taken over the top spot.
While there are over 80 award categories, only a few of them are presented during the live performance packed live television broadcast.
James Cordon is hosting this year’s gala event.
The night of music at Madison Square Garden opens with a performance from Kendrick Lamar with an American flag waving in the background. U2 and Dave Chappelle joins Lamar on stage for a performance.
Lady Gaga takes the stage with her piano for a performance dedicated to her Aunt Joanne.
After a quick verse of “New York, New York” John Legend and Tony Bennett presented the first award of the night for Best Rap/Sung Performance to Kendrick Lamar and Rhianna for “Loyalty”.
British pop star Sam Smith performs his song “Pray”.
The award for Best New Artist went to Alessia Cara.
Little Big Town performed their Grammy nominated song “Better Man”.
Gary Clark Jr and Jon Batiste gave a tribute performance to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino – both of whom died in the past year.
The award for Best Pop Solo Performance went to Ed Sheeran for his song “Shape of You”.
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee perform their massive record breaking smash hit “Despacito”.
Actor and performer Childish Gambino performed his hit “Terrified”.
James Cordon recognized the Music Educator of the Year Melissa Salgeuro from New York City.
Comedian Dave Chappelle presented the award for Best Rap Album to Kendrick Lamar for his album “Damn”.
Pink takes the stage for a performance of “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken”.
Shaggy and Sting join James Cordon for a little Subway Karaoke.
Cardi B joins award winning entertainer Bruno Mars for a performance.
Trevor Noah presented the award for Best Comedy Album to Dave Chappelle for his album “The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas”.
Former Police member and award winning artist Sting performs his hit song “Englishman in New York”. Shaggy joins Sting on stage for the performance.
Winners of the Trustees Award for the 60th Grammy Awards are concert promoter Bill Graham, record executive Seymour Stein, and award winning composer John Williams.
The 2018 winners of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award went to:
Hall Blaine
Neil Diamond
Emmylou Harris
Louis Jordan
The Meters
Queen
and Tina Turner
Rhianna, DJ Khalid, and Bryson Tiller join up for a performance of “Wild Thoughts”.
The award for Best Country Album went to Chris Stapleton for his album “From a Room, Volume 1”.
Maren Morris, Eric Church, and Brother Osbourne paid a tribute to those music fans who died in the past year during mass acts of violence while attending concerts with a performance of “Tears of Heaven”. Behind the performers were signs with the names of the fans who were lost.
Kesha took the Grammy stage to perform her song “Praying”. She was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camilla Cabello, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, and Julia Michaels.
Irish rockers U2 gather along the Hudson River in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty for a performance of “Get Out of Your Own Way”.
Sting takes the stage to present the award for Song of the Year to Bruno Mars for his song “That’s What I Like” written by Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Ray Charles McCullough II, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus, and Jonathan Yip.
Sir Elton John give a performance of his hit “Tiny Dancer” and is joined on stage by Miley Cyrus.
Benn Plat from “Dear Evan Hanson” performs “Somewhere” from “West Side Story” in a Grammy tribute to Broadway and composer Leonard Berstein. Continuing the salute to Broadway, Patty LaPone performs “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” form “Evita” in a tribute to Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
SZA performed her song “Broken Clocks”.
New York girl and 15 time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys presented the award for Record of the Year to Bruno Mars for “24K Gold”.
For the In Memorium segment Emmylou Harris and Chris Stapleton take the stage for a performance of a Tom Petty song.
Khalid, Alessia Cara, and Logic take the stage for a performance together.
Bono and The Edge from U2 present the award for Album of the Year to Bruno Mars for “24K Gold”.