It’s been a weird and somber lead-up to the Grammy’s after news broke that morning of legend Kobe Bryant’s shock death in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter, Gianna, 13, and seven others.
After his passing, the Staples Centre was inundated with fans who wanted to pay respect to and remember the Lakers and NBA icon at his home court. At the same time, the Recording Academy was decking out the interior in preparation for the biggest night of the year. Truly, a surreal experience.
Just surreal at Staples Center – Kobe’s face on every screen as hundreds of people seem to just want to be somewhere they can cry together. Also: The Grammys are here tonight so there is the odd person wandering around in a tuxedo.
None of this feels real. pic.twitter.com/esukv1yNZs— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) January 26, 2020
But the show must go on. And go on it has, with plenty of tributes to the Kobe Bryant from the get go.
Lizzo kicked off the show with a powerful performance of her hits ‘Cuz I Love You’ and ‘Truth Hurts’, saying “Tonight is for Kobe.”
Lizzo kicks off the #GRAMMYs by dedicating the night to the memory of Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/xUht1o1h5L
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) January 27, 2020
Alicia Keys, on hosting duty, then paid special tribute to Bryant at the top of the show, after Lizzo’s performance, addressing the “crazy sadness” that everyone was feeling after the loss of Bryant, “a hero” to the city, the country, and the whole world.
We’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.
She urged the audience to hold Bryant, his daughter, and the other victims in their spirits, hearts, and prayers. And she encouraged them to “share our strength and our support with their families.” Keys was then joined by Boyz II Men to perform a small but touching part of ‘It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye to Yesterday’ as “something that could describe a tiny bit of how we all feel right now.”
“We love you Kobe.” @aliciakeys and Boyz II Men sing in tribute to Kobe Bryant and his family at the opening of the #Grammys https://t.co/kk0nIau0ee pic.twitter.com/v3KpXSkvyW
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 27, 2020
And now I need tissues again.
She concluded by saying that they were going to “bring it all together and make sure we’re celebrating the most powerful energy, the one thing that has the power to bring all of us together, and that’s music.
It’s the most healing thing in the world
And that was just the beginning, later in the show, Run-DMC held up Bryant’s number 24 Lakers jersey during their performance with Aerosmith.
.@OfficialRunDMC holds up a Kobe Bryant jersey to pay tribute to the @Lakers legend during their performance with @Aerosmith. #GRAMMYs @RecordingAcad pic.twitter.com/hHhNcVG3Nh
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 27, 2020
On the red carpet before the show, DJ Khaled said that his Nipsey Hussle tribute performance would incorporate a shout-out to the NBA great. And what a shout-out it was.
John Legend, DJ Khaled and more end their Nipsey Hussle #GRAMMYs tribute with an image of Kobe Bryant next to Nip pic.twitter.com/0l4STVoRcY
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) January 27, 2020
Dude. I am not okay. I am a mess.
It’s incredible how quickly the artists were able to pull together to put on such touching, thoughtful tributes to the late, great, Kobe Bryant and the other victims.
Image Sources: Twitter (NBC News, Power 1051, 1News)
