Sunday night’s Grammy Awards ceremony was an evening of celebration for artists young and old, but it was also an evening of solemn remembrance for those who have passed away. The In Memoriam segment of the 2024 Grammys saw touching tributes to Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor, music executive Clarence Avant, and Tina Turner.
The segment began with Stevie Wonder, who honored his close friend Tony Bennett. He began by reminiscing about the first time he heard Tony sing “For Once In My Life” when Wonder was still a teenager. Wonder would later record the song himself in 1968.
“What’s amazing is I was able to actually sing the song with someone that I admired for so long not just because of his voice, which was incredible, but of his art, his love for art, his love for peace, his love for unity, his love for civil rights,” Wonder said. “Yes, I remember as a little boy him being in places where most people would not even go to stand in the right of freedom for everyone. So Tony, I’m gonna miss you forever. I love you always and god bless that god allowed us to have you and have us in this time and space in our lives.”
Wonder then performed the same song “For Once In My Life” with accompaniment from Bennett himself via archival footage. Joined by a jazz band, Wonder also played “The Best is Yet to Come”, which became a signature song for the 25-time Grammy-winning crooner who passed away in July at the age of 96.
Stevie Wonder’s In-Memoriam performance at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/ImkVcHdTzp
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Scottish singer-songwriter and activist Annie Lennox then stole the show with her moving homage to the late Sinead O’Connor. She was joined by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, formerly of Prince‘s band The Revolution, for a cover of his “Nothing Compares 2 U”. Though the Purple One wrote and recorded it, the song became a staple for O’Connor and brought mainstream recognition and a Grammy. At the end of the performance, Lennox raised a fist in the air and proclaimed “Artists for ceasefire. Peace in the world,” a fitting tribute to O’Connor who famously used her voice as a platform to advocate for peace and justice.
Annie Lennox pide el “alto el fuego” después de interpretar “Nothing Compares 2 U” durante el In Memoriam de los Grammypic.twitter.com/93ObLoHzkf
— jesan (@jesanez) February 5, 2024
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Next, singer-guitarist Lenny Kravitz kicked off the tribute to music executive Clarence Avant, known as “The Black Godfather”.
“Throughout his remarkable life as an executive manager, producer, and force of nature, Clarence Avant was a trusted mentor and believer in the likes of Quincy Jones and Bill Withers to name just a few whose lives he changed forever,” Kravitz said. “As a musical family, we mourn the loss of our godfather and celebrate the inspiring life he shared with his wife, Jacqueline.”
Dynamic keyboardist and singer Jon Batiste then took over as he commanded a collection of Avant’s artists including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Ann Nesby, and a full choir. Batiste led them through a medley of Withers’ classics “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me”, finally arriving at Sounds of Blackness‘ “Optimistic”.
Jon Batiste performs during the In-Memoriam at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/vJXD4XGMfz
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
Finally, Oprah Winfrey began the big finale, a tribute to the Queen of Rock n’ Roll Tina Turner.
“She is our forever goddess of rock and roll who inspired millions, a moving symbol of grace and grit, soul and power,” Winfrey said. “Our love and respect for Tina grew as we witnessed her bravely reclaim her freedom. From the moment I met Tina, first as a fan, then later blessed to become her friend, she was a special kind of role model. She used to say to me: ‘Oprah, you should always dress up for dinner even if no one else is there, just so you feel beautiful, to you, for yourself.’ And as those big wheels of time keep on turning, Tina’s voice continues to speak to all of us.”
Winfrey, who produced the 2023 remake of The Color Purple along with Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones, then welcomed the star of the musical Fantasia Barrino. The singer commonly referred to as Fantasia first came to prominence as the winner of the third season of American Idol, during which she performed Ike & Tina Turner‘s “A Fool In Love”. Last night, Fantasia turned in an incendiary performance of Tina’s iconic reading of “Proud Mary”. At one point, she took her tribute into the crowd, evoking Turner’s signature dance moves as she looked for a “pretty lady that doesn’t mind moving her hips,” quickly picking out Dua Lipa as the two danced together before Barrino returned to the stage to belt out the rest of the song.
Fantasia Barrino performs Tina Turner’s song “Rolling On The River” at the 2024 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/sQdrDGJ1IQ
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 5, 2024
The post Stevie Wonder, Jon Batiste, Annie Lennox Lead In Memoriam Tributes At 2024 Grammys [Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
