It’s the biggest night in music – the annual Grammy Awards! This year the Recording Academy and Grammy are celebrating 68 years of Grammys.
With the actual awards presentations starting hours before the live television broadcast, most music fans miss out on seeing what may be some of their favourites earning the coveted gramophone trophy.
With all the special performances and tributes, only a handful of the biggest awards are presented during the live broadcast. This year one of those special performances is a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne who died last summer.
Prior to the presentation of the Grammy Awards on Sunday, the Recording Academy held a ceremony for Special Merit Awards on Saturday night.
Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti, and Whitney Houseton all received Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The only recipient to attend the ceremony, Chaka Khan said in her acceptance speech “music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth. Through it, I saved my life.”
She added, “over 50 years I am blessed to walk alongside extraordinary artists, musicians, writers, producers and creatives,” she said, pausing before adding, “and cuckoos.”
Kuti and Houston’s awards were posthumous presentations.
Fela Kuti is considered the “father of Afrobeat” and is the first African to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cher and Carlos Santana spoke via video. Cher said, “the only thing I ever wanted to be was a singer. When I was four years old I used to run around the house naked, singing into a hair brush. Things haven’t changed all that much.”
Santana said, “the world is so infected with fear that we need the music and message of Santana to bring hope, courage and joy to heal the world.a”
Sir Elton John’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin was presented with a Trustees Award – presented to contributors who are not performers. Taupin said, “I’ve been waiting 57 years for one of these,” he said, looking at his honorary trophy.”
In a posthumous presentation, Latin Jazz and Rumba innovator, pianist, and composer Eddie Palmieri was presented with a Trustees Award. He was the first Latino to win a Grammy Award in 1975.
The first woman of colour to head a major record label – Sylvia Rhone – also received a Trustees Award.
John Chowning was presented with a Technical Grammy Award for his contribution to the synthesizer sounds.
The Grammys Music Educator Award went to Jennifer Jimenez – a band director from South Miami Senior High School.
The Harry Belafonte Song for Social Change Award went to Raye for “Ice Cream Man”.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards opens with a performance from Bruno Mars and Rose.
In his final appearance, Trevor Noah hosts the gala event.
Sabrina Carpenter gives a performance of her hit “Manchild”.
Queen Latifah and Doechii present the first award of the night for Best Rap Album to Kendrick Lamar for “GNX”.
New Artist of the Year nominees The Marias, Addison Rae, Katseye, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, and sombr all gave back to back performances before the winner was announced. And the winner of the New Artist of the Year Award goes to Olivia Dean. Calling herself the granddaughter of an immigrant, Dean said that those people need to be celebrated.
Host Trevor Noah spoke with Bad Bunny and noted that during Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican residency put $400 MILLION into the Puerto Rican economy!
Justin Bieber returns to the Grammys to perform music from his album “Swag”.
Hosting his sixth Grammy Awards, Trevor Noah said that he believes in term limits.
The award for Best Musica Urbana Album went to Bad Bunny for his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”. Giving his acceptance speech in English, Bad Bunny said, “before I give thanks to God, ICE Out!”. He noted that we are not animals, we are humans and we are Americans. He added that it is tough not to hate and hate only gets more powerful with hate; adding that the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
The award for Best Contemporary Country Album went to Jelly Roll for “Beautifully Broken”. While in fail, Jelly Roll said that he believed that music could save his life and noted that Jesus does not belong to any political party.
Lady Gaga takes the stage for a performance of her hit song “Abracadabra”.
The award for Best Pop Vocal Album went to Lady Gaga for “Mayhem”.
Bruno Mars returns to the stage for a performance of his new hit single “I Just Might”.
Charli xcx present the award for Best Pop Solo Performance to Lola Young for her song “Messy”.
Contractually, Bad Bunny cannot perform at the Grammy Awards and Trevor Noah keeps trying to get him to sing.
It has been 55 years since Carole King released her album “Tapestry”. She presents the award for Song of the Year to Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell for “Wildflower”. Eilish said, “No one is illegal on stolen land!” King had a pin that said ICE Out on her lapel.
Tyler. The Creator takes the stage for a performance.
Q-tip presents the Dr Dre Global Impact Award to 13 time Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams. Pharrell said that he is honoured to do this job; adding that he loves what he does.
Bruce Spingsteen remembers Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
John Mayer remembers Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead.
Taking the Grammy stage for the very first time, Reba McEntire performs her song “Trailblazer” during the In Memoriam segment.
Post Malone, Slash, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, and Duff McKagan take the stage for a tribute to the Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne with a performance of “War Hoggs”. During the performance the names and faces of other rockers aired.
For the first time since 1999, Lauryn Hill takes the stage to remember D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Layla Hathaway, Leon Thomas, Marcus Miller, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Wyclef Jean, and Jon Batiste were among the superstar artists who took to the stage to join Hill. The house were on their feet singing along by the end of “Killing Me Softly With His Song”.
Chaka Khan remembers Sly Stone.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason reminds us the power of music, when words fail music speaks.
After an 18 year absence, Cher returns to the Grammy stage to present the award for Record of the Year to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther”. Trevor Noah presented Cher with her Lifetime Achievement Award. In recounting her career, Cher said that she is the first artist to use auto tune. She tell the audience to never give up…it will happen.
Larmar noted that first and foremost it was important to give a shout out to the late great Luther Vandross. SZA noted that this is a scary time but please don’t fall into despair.
Voices of Fire, Pusha T, Malise, and Pharrell gave a performance.
In the final award of the night, Harry Styles presents the award for Album of the Year to Bad Bunny for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”. This time around, Bad Bunny gave his acceptance speech in Spanish.