Grammy Awards: Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish perform; Lizzo picks up 1st award
Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Ariana Grande performed a medley of her latest hits Sunday and Lizzo picked up the first award of the night at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Grande sang "Imagine" before giving her own take on "My Favorite Things," the Sound of Music tune that inspired her song "7 Rings," which she sang next. She finished up her set with "thank u, next."
Billie Eilish followed up with brother Finneas, who performed "When the Party's Over."
Aerosmith reunited with Run DMC for a performance of "Walk This Way" two days after the rock band was honored as the 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year. MusiCares is the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' non-profit organization that benefits musical artists in need.
Earlier in the evening, Lizzo picked up her first Grammy Award, Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit "Truth Hurts" -- the first award of the night. She led the award show in nominations with eight, and also picked up Best Urban Contemporary Album for Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) and Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Jerome" in awards handed out before the televised portion of the show.
Dan + Shay's "Speechless" won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Dave Chapelle won Best Comedy Album.
Opening the show, Lizzo, Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men had Kobe Bryant on their minds as they performed in what Keys described as "the house that Kobe Bryant built."
"We're all feeling crazy sadness right now," Keys said.
Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, died along with seven others in a helicopter crash earlier Sunday. The Lakers have played home games at the Staples Center since its construction in 1999.
Lizzo opened the performances with renditions of her hits "Cuz I Love You" and "Truth Hurts." Before she began singing, though, she told the audience, "Tonight is for Kobe."
Keys and Boyz II Men followed up with an a cappella version of the latter's hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday."
Country star Blake Shelton and pop singer Gwen Stefani performed their hit duet "Nobody But You."
Host Keys welcomed the audience with a take on Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved," replacing the lyrics with mentions of Beyonce, Billie EIlish, the Jonas Brothers and even the ongoing impeachment trial.
The Jonas Brothers made their return to the Grammy stage with "What a Man Gotta Do" and Tyler the Creator joined with Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men for "Earfquake" and "New Magic Wand."
Usher paid tribute to Prince with a medley of the late rocker's biggest hits -- "Little Red Corvette," "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss."
Camila Cabello serenaded her father with "First Man," and Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlile paired up for "Bring My Flowers Now."
Awards announced earlier in the evening went to Finneas for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical; Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? for Best Pop Vocal Album; Elvis Costello & The Imposters' Look Now for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album; "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance; Keb' Mo's Oklahoma for Best Americana Album; Sara Bareilles' "Saint Honesty" for Best American Roots Performance; Vampire Weekend's Father of the Bride for Best Alternative Music Album; Tool's "7empest" for Best Metal Performance; Cage the Elephant's Social Cues for Best Rock Album; and Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy's "Racks in the Middle" for Best Rap Performance.
