GRAMMY 2020 Highlights!

Last night (1/26) the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards were held at downtown LA’s Staples Center.

The evening started with a lovely tribute to KOBE BRYANT. After the opening number was over, Grammys host, ALICIA KEYS took the stage and addressed “the crazy sadness right now, literally sitting heartbroken in the house that KOBE BRYANT built.” She then brought out BOYZ II MEN to sing an a cappella homage of “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” with her. Throughout the night, presenters, performers and winners would continue to mention the athlete.

The Grammys ended in victory for 18-year-old singer-songwriter, BILLIE EILISH. She swept all four categories, winning SONG and RECORD OF THE YEAR for hit song, “Bad Guy,” as well as ALBUM OF THE YEAR and BEST NEW ARTIST. It marked the first time a female has ever won all four major categories! EILISH took home five awards, including Pop Vocal Album for “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go,” while her brother FINNEAS was awarded PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL.

Here are some of the most interesting and captivating performances seen during the show:

LIZZO opened the show by shouting, “This is for KOBE!” and then went into her song, “Cuz I Love You.” Several full-bodied ballerinas eventually entered the stage to join her for her boisterous “Truth Hurts.” It capped off by her patented flute solo which was lowered to her from the ceiling.

The next performers were BLAKE SHELTON and GWEN STEFANI who shared their new duet, “Nobody But You.” This was quickly followed by KEYS again who played the piano and sang a song about all the Grammy nominees and the current Recording Academy political climate. It was funny and charming in all the right ways.

THE JONAS BROTHERS then entertained the packed venue with their new track, “What A Man Gotta Do” with a full-scale production number featuring dancers and a backing ensemble of horns.

TYLER, THE CREATOR made his GRAMMY stage debut with BOYZ II MEN and THE GAP BAND’s CHARLIE WILSON for a surreal, fire-breathing turn on “Earfquake” and “New Magic Wand.” The latter track was accompanied by a futuristic world in which blonde-wigged TYLERs multiplied like rabbits.

A big highlight of the night was when USHER performed a PRINCE tribute joined by SHEILA E. This medley opened with “Little Red Corvette,” segued into “When Doves Cry” (featuring a pole-dance by FKA TWIGS) and ended with “Kiss.” CAMILA CABELLO had the Grammy audience crying with her performance of “First Man,” a song about her father. He happened to be sitting in the first row so Cabello was able to walk over to him.

ARIANA GRANDE sang a medley of her songs, “Thank u, Next,” “Imagine” and a full-on version of “7 Rings” surrounded by other girls at what looked like a big sleepover. BILLIE EILISH was up next and unlike most other artists that night, she was simply accompanied by her brother FINNEAS on piano. She beautifully sang, “When The Party’s Over,” featuring a gospel choir in the background.

AEROSMITH took the stage next. They started with their 1993 hit “Livin’ On The Edge,” followed by a reunion with RUN DMC for a rambunctious “Walk This Way.” LIL NAS X delighted the crowd with a performance of his mega-hit song, “Old Town Road.” It featured a revolving stage that rotated into BTS, yodeler MASON RAMSEY, DIPLO and surprise guest, the original NAS.

DEMI LOVATO performed a moving rendition of her new single, “Anyone.” It was apparently written after her well-publicized struggles with drug addiction. It was an emotional and powerful Grammy moment that had everyone at rapt attention. She received a well-deserved standing ovation when she finished.

Next up was a tribute to the late L.A. rapper/activist NIPSEY HUSSLE. The song was “Higher” and the performance featured DJ KHALED, JOHN LEGEND, YG, RODDY RICCH, MEEK MILL and KIRK FRANKLIN. Flamenco star-turned crossover artist and BEST NEW ARTIST nominee ROSALIA, danced all over the stage performing her songs, “Juro Que” and “Malamente.”

ALICIA KEYS took the stage with BRITTANY HOWARD on guitar to perform her new single, “Underdog.” At one point she even began plunking on a piano which was then raised into the air! This was shortly followed by H.E.R., who performed “Sometimes” and punctuated it with a searing guitar solo. GARY CLARK JR. put on an incredibly lively performance of the searingly political “This Land” about anti-immigration policies with the help of THE ROOTS.

The night ended with a tribute to Grammy producer KEN EHRLICH. This was his final show after 40 years and it was marked by a celebration of music education with an all-star line-up of CAMILA CABELLO, CYNDI LAUPER, JOHN LEGEND, BEN PLATT, COMMON, THE WAR AND TREATY, GARY CLARK, JR, dancer MISTY COPELAND and classical pianist LANG LANG. They performed “I Sing The Body Electric” from the “Fame” soundtrack.

For a list of all the 2020 Grammy winners, go to grammy.com.