LOS ANGELES – “Tonight is for Kobe.”
That’s how GRAMMY Award winner Lizzo kicked off music’s biggest night at the 62nd annual GRAMMY Awards, which took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, just hours after news of the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Bryant was one of nine people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas Sunday. The victims also included his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.
Tributes from devastated fans have been pouring in all day.
The pre-televised ceremony began with a moment of silence for Bryant, with Recording Academy interim CEO and board chair Harvey Mason Jr. saying “we are in his house,” referring to the fact that the Staples Center is the home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant played for the team for 20 years and retired in 2016.
Second-time GRAMMY host Alicia Keys kicked off the show with a touching rendition of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” – during which she was joined by Boyz II Men – in honor of Bryant.
When Aerosmith and Run-DMC reunited decades later to perform their 80s rap-rock hit “Walk This Way,” Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons held up the Black Mamba’s jersey.
The jersey also made an appearance at the beginning of Lil Nas X’s star-studded set. It was briefly seen draped over a chair while the musician gently strummed his guitar.
Related: Photos from the 62nd annual GRAMMY Awards
The Recording Academy said the musical tribute to Nipsey Hussle featuring DJ Khaled, John Legend, Meek Mill, Kirk Franklin, YG and Roddy Ricch “took on an even more retrospective and powerful resonance” after Bryant’s passing. Side-by-side photos of Hussle and Bryant ended the performance.
“Remembering Kobe Bryant tonight while we honor music in the house that he built,” the academy tweeted early on in the show.
Both of Bryant’s retired jerseys – Nos. 8 and 24 – were illuminated during the entire show. According to BuzzFeed, the jerseys were retired in 2017 and were hung in the rafters as part of the ceremony.
Click here for our full coverage on the death of Kobe Bryant.
