USA TODAY International Edition
FOR MUSIC’S STARS, IT’S TIME TO SHINE
Adele had us at ‘ Hello,’ Chance the Rapper has ‘ No Problem,’ and the party goes on
Sunday was music’s day in the spotlight, with the 59th Grammy Awards honoring the best in music from folk to pop. The party started early, with the first trophies given out during the afternoon. Later, the biggest names hit the red carpet and still later, the stage at the ceremony — hosted by James Corden — broadcast live from Staples Center in Los Angeles. Some highlights: 11: 39: “Hi, everyone.” Adele returns to the stage to accept the award for album of the year for
25. “It took an army to make me strong and willing again,” she says. She pays tribute to Beyoncé, calling Lemonade “monumental” and the singer “the artist of my life.” Addressing Beyoncé, Adele says, “You are our light and the way you make me and my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel, is empowering and you make them stand up for themselves. I love you and I always will.” With that, the show is over.
11: 35: Record of the year goes to Adele for Hello. She calls Beyoncé “her idol,” adding “I want you to be my mommy.” Adele picks up the award for Album of the Year for 25. Minutes earlier, she accepted the award for Record of the Year for Hello. 11: 23: John Legend and Cynthia Erivo duet on the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows for the Grammys “In Memoriam” segment.
11: 20: Backstage, Maren Morris is still basking in her Grammy win: “I’m still processing, but it feels amazing. To walk away with this is really validating.”
11: 09: Chance the Rapper joins gospel musicians Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann for a choir-driven medley of How Great and All We Got. 11: 06: Pentatonix channels the Jackson 5 for ABC.
10: 52: The Prince tribute kicks off with The Time getting the crowd on its feet with Jungle
Love and The Bird, then Bruno Mars, clad in full purple Prince regalia, takes over with Let’s Go Crazy.
10: 39: A Tribe Called Quest unleashes a politically charged performance with Busta Rhymes and Anderson Paak. 10: 37: Adele bests Beyoncé for song of the year and wins for Hello, which she calls “my favorite song I’ve ever done.”
10: 24: Millennials in the crowd get a lesson in ’ 70s disco with an all- star tribute to the Bee Gees.
10: 13: Sturgill Simpson brings a brassy gospel touch to his tune All Around You with the help of the Dap- Kings. 10: 07: Metallica joins a headbanging Lady Gaga for a rendi- tion of Moth Into Flame.
10: 04: Chance the Rapper makes it three- for- three, winning rap album for Coloring Book. “I didn’t think we were going to get this one so I don’t have anything to say this time.”
9: 50: The Grammys pay tribute to George Michael with Adele doing a slowed- down arrangement of Fastlove. After a snafu, Adele stops the performance and starts again to get it right: “I’m sorry, I can’t mess this up for him.”
9: 45: Maren Morris joins Alicia Keys on a performance of Once.
9: 36: Beyoncé’s Lemonade is awarded best urban contemporary album, and the singer says “My intention for the film and album was to create a body of work that would give a voice to our pain, our struggles, our darkness and our history ( and) to confront issues that make us uncomfortable.”
9: 33: Ace blues men William Bell and Gary Clark Jr. share the stage for a cover of Albert King’s Born Under a Bad Sign.
9: 25: Little Big Town does an a cappella version of Teenage Dream to present Katy Perry, who performs Chained to the Rhythm with dancers and a large fence that explodes and forms a large wall with an unsubtle “We the People” message.
9: 13: Corden breaks out a faux car for “Cardboard Karaoke.” Song of choice? Sweet Caroline.
9: 11: Country solo goes to rookie Maren Morris and My Church.
8: 54: Beyoncé’s mom introduces her performance. The pregnant singer looks shimmering and regal for her medley of Love Drought and Sandcastles.
8: 52: Lukas Graham and Kelsea Ballerini perform a mashup of their hits 7 Years and Peter Pan.
8: 44: Rock song goes to David Bowie’s Blackstar. That makes five total posthumous Grammys.
8: 38: Corden channels Twenty One Pilots — in his underwear — to introduce Ed Sheeran.
8: 31: Twenty One Pilots wins best pop duo/ group and come up without their pants, the result of a promise made years ago.
8: 25: John Travolta introduces Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood doing The Fighter.
8: 16: Paris Jackson introduces The Weeknd, who performs with Daft Punk.
8: 13: Chance the Rapper is named best new artist — his second Grammy of the day.
8: 06: Corden comes out for hosting duties but gets “stuck” and then falls down a number of steps. “This is a disaster!” Corden says.
8: 00: Time for the main event. Adele kicks off simply by belting her hit Hello.