Grammys 2020: Recap of Memorable Moments

This year's Grammy awards will go down in history as one of the most memorable award shows.

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This year’s Grammy awards will go down in history as one of the most memorable award shows.

On January 26, Alicia Keys returned to host the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Dozens of artists walked down the red carpet and performed on stage, including Camila Cabello, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and more. With teary and excitable moments alike, here’s a recap of some memorable moments of Sunday evening.

Alicia Keys’s Heartfelt Kobe Bryant Tribute

The same day of the awards ceremony, former NBA star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were two of the nine people that died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Keys opened the Grammys ceremony by delivering a moving tribute to Bryant and his daughter, saying, “Because earlier today, Los Angeles, America, and the whole wide world lost a hero. And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.” Keys was then joined on stage by Boyz II Men. The four performed a tear-jerking rendition of their song, It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

Billie Eilish Makes History 

Along with her older brother, Finneas, 18-year-old Billie Eilish performed her hit song, When the Party’s Over, and by the end of the night, Eilish had swept all four major awards at the Grammy Awards—Best New Artist, Record of the Year for her single Bad Guy, Song of the Year for Bad Guy, and Album of the Year for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? In doing so, she became the second artist and first female artist to win all four of these awards in the same year—the first being Christopher Cross in 1981. In addition to the “Grand Four,” Eilish also won Best Pop Vocal Album, taking home five awards altogether. 

Old Town Road

Practically everyone went crazy when “Old Town Road” was first released by Lil Nas X, but he has truly outdone himself with his 2020 Grammys performance. He was joined on stage by Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey, Diplo, and BTS with their respective remixes, surprising everyone in the audience and everyone watching at home. The combination of their amazing vocals, sharp choreography, and moving set design made sure that this was a performance to remember. There was an additional hype for BTS, as they were the first K-Pop group to perform at the Grammys. Despite not being given a solo stage, the septet shook the stage with their remix, “Seoul Town Road” alongside Lil Nas X and the other performers. Later that night, Lil Nas X won the awards for Best Music Video and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Demi Lovato’s Anyone

Demi Lovato’s comeback performance was enough to make anyone cry. The singer performed her song, Anyone at the Grammys, marking her first live performance in almost two years after her drug overdose in 2018. Near the beginning of the song, Lovato became so overcome with emotion that she stopped in tears and restarted the song. Pouring her heart and soul into her words, “I feel stupid when I sing, nobody’s listening to me,” Lovato’s courageous performance was no doubt one of the most powerful performances of the evening.

All in all, people will be looking back on a lot of these moments from the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. As Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, BTS, Demi Lovato, and more artists make new music and become more successful in the future, people will still remember Eilish’s incredibly short acceptance speech, all of Ariana Grande’s outfit changes, Lewis Capaldi being mistaken as a seat filler, and more.