Nothing compares to Annie’s Grammy song for Sinéad
ANNIE Lennox delivered an emotional tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor during the In Memoriam segment of the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Images of Sinéad, who passed away aged 56 in July last year, adorned the screen behind Annie, as did photos of Shane MacGowan, who died in December.
The Scottish singer-songwriter, 69, paid tribute to Sinéad with a stirring rendition of her 1990 smash hit Nothing Compares 2 U.
The singer paid further homage to O’Connor, donning a teardrop under her left eye in reference to the Nothing Compares 2 U video, which features the Glenageary singer shedding a tear.
The 66th Grammys was dubbed the ‘year of the women’ as female artists dominated the major categories.
Taylor Swift stole the show as she made history becoming the first artist to win Album of the Year four times. The Shake It Off singer, 34, took home the top honour for her tenth studio album, Midnights.
Miley Cyrus was another big winner, earning Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her hit track Flowers. She donned a metallic dress by Maison Margiela and Christian Louboutin heels for the event.
Meanwhile, Australian singer Kylie Minogue took the award for Best Pop Dance Recording for her global hit, Padam Padam – 20 years on from her first Grammy win.
Song of the Year went to Billie Eilish, 22, and her brother Finneas, 26. Their song What Was I Made For? featured on the soundtrack for Barbie – the top grossing film of 2023.
SZA, 34, was the most nominated artist this year, having been put forward in nine different categories. The singer took home three of the awards.
The biggest surprise of the night was the appearance by Celine Dion, amid her battle with incurable stiff person syndrome. The power ballad queen, 55, stepped away from her music career because of her health.
Ms Dion was emotional as she walked on stage to a standing ovation with the support of her son Rene-Charles Angelil, 23, to present Album of the Year – which she won 27 years ago.
Ms Dion said: ‘Thank you, all! I love you right back. When I say I’m happy to be here, I mean it from my heart.’
A frail Joni Mitchell, 80, reduced the audience to tears as she performed for the first time at the Grammys with a poignant rendition of Both Sides Now while sitting on a throne – nearly a decade after her brain aneurysm.
Tony Bennett, who died at the age of 96, was honored during the In Memoriam segment at Sunday’s event with Stevie Wonder paying tribute to Bennett. Wonder spoke about the influence the late singer had on him before singing For Once In My Life followed by The Best Is Yet to Come.
Oprah Winfrey then introduced a segment honoring Tina Turner – who died at 83 last May – with Fantasia Barrino performing Proud Mary.
Among the other late luminaries honored included Burt Bacharach, Harry Belafonte and Jimmy Buffett.
Photos of Shane MacGowan on screen