Photo by Freddy Kearney on Unsplash
The 62nd Grammy Awards were Sunday night and the mood was somber to say the least. Because it was announced NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and 7 others were killed in a helicopter crash earlier in the day.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a sad awards shows. And not sad like the content of the show was bad, but like, the vibe of everyone in attendance.
The only thing that comes close is when Whitney Houston died the day before the 2012 Grammys. But even then, we had a night to process things. In this instance, everyone seemed to be processing together.
But that’s the thing about life. We never truly know from day-to-day what will happen. And on Sunday, January 26, the morning of the 62nd Grammys, we lost a legend.
Kobe was loved by so many and the number of tributes during the show was so heartwarming. The accident occurred around 12 pm and within hours, an entire program came together to honor a legend in his home court. I don’t think they really had a choice. Not only was the show held in Los Angeles, a place Kobe called home but the awards were held at The Staples Center, an arena where Kobe built his legacy.
The performers, host Alicia Keys and everyone involved did such a wonderful job of refocusing the program to honor Kobe in a room full of people grieving and in shock. Because whether you knew him or not, his loss, and the loss of all of those innocent lives, was felt across the world.
I’m not sure what The Grammys had planned originally and I’m sure they scrambled to put these new ideas together so quickly but it flowed so seamlessly that it almost felt like all the Kobe tributes were rehearsed in the original content.
It reflected everything I felt as an audience member and reminded me that music is the most healing remedy and truly brings everyone together. Because I was grieving for Kobe, praying for his family but also really excited to see how everyone would come together to celebrate his life through the music from the past year.
Alicia Keys
It was a tough night for everyone but can we take a moment of appreciation for the host, Alicia Keys? I’m not sure what she had planned but everything she did last night flowed so seamlessly and she just perfectly balanced Kobe’s passing and her job as Grammys host. Brava, girl. Brava!
Camila Cabello
One moment that absolutely did it for me was the performance of Camilla Cabello. Her eyes were smiling and she had a huge grin on her face the whole performance as though she was singing directly to someone in the audience. And turns out she was. As she belted out the lyrics to “First Man”, a song detailing how her father was the first man to love her, we learn as she walks down the steps, her father is sitting front and center. She cried, he cried. They embraced.
I don’t think there was one dry eye in the house. One — because it was a wonderfully heartfelt performance. Two — because it reminded us of the bond between Kobe and his daughter, what it must have been like in their final moments together and the lasting impact his death will have on the three girls he’s survived by.
DJ Khaled, Roddy Rich, Kirk Franklin, Meek Mill, John Legend and YG
In what was supposed to be a Nipsey Hussle tribute, DJ Khaled, Roddy Rich, Kirk Franklin, Meek Mill, John Legend and YG performed one of Nip’s last songs. At the end they pointed to a photo of Nipsey and next to it was a photo of Kobe Bryant. Their tribute was beautiful and I loved how even though they were there for Nipsey, they felt equally obligated to honor Kobe.
Lizzo
Lizzo opened the show with a performance of “Cuz I Love You”, in which she exclaimed, “Tonight is for Kobe”. And that it was.
Demi Lovato
Of course, there were other moments that stuck out. Mainly, a performance from Demi Lovato. It was her first since her overdose 2 years ago. She performed a ballad titled “Anyone” with lyrics like, ” I talk to shooting stars / But they always get it wrong / I feel stupid when I pray / So, why am I praying anyway? / If nobody’s listening.”
Those lyrics were so fitting for a night like this. We question God and why He does what He does because literally nothing makes sense at that moment. And nothing made sense on Sunday.
The news of all 9 lives lost was so shocking and a reminder that life is short. We truly never know how much time we have left on earth so it’s important to use our time wisely to make a difference. Kobe did that. And The Grammys did such a great job at honoring his legacy.
There is no amount words any of us can say to console any of the loved affected by this incident. All we can do is pray. Pray for peace, comfort and some sort of understanding for all of this. So, I ask you to join me in lifting these families up as they navigate a new life.