The 2023 Grammy Awards honored the lives and careers misplaced within the music trade this previous yr in a touching In Memoriam phase, with performances by Kacey Musgraves, Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood, Bonnie Raitt and Quavo.
Host Trevor Noah launched the tribute, acknowledging the significance of how music can unite folks by way of their variations, whereas additionally acknowledging the affect of Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons in hip-hop through the years. “It’s Black youngsters and white youngsters rejecting segregation within the Nineteen Fifties, and as a substitute, mixing R&B, nation and even gospel into rock and roll,” Noah mentioned. “Within the Eighties, a younger Black rapper from Queens and a Jewish white child in his NYU dorm got here collectively to make among the best hip-hop of all time. They made a robust new sound collectively as a result of they have been totally different.”
He continued, “Music isn’t simply the concord of sound. It’s the concord of human beings of various races, genders, religions, identities, sexual orientations, understanding with distinction however rejecting division to search out moments of pleasure, and unity and concord. And that’s what music is all about.”
Surrounded by a backyard of roses and wearing pink, Kacey Musgraves carried out “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in tribute to the life and profession of Loretta Lynn, whereas enjoying the identical guitar that Lynn typically used along with her full title written throughout the neck.
Quavo honored his nephew and fellow Migos rapper Takeoff with a shifting efficiency of “With out You,” that includes worship music group Maverick Metropolis Music. The rapper launched the observe “With out You” final month, solely two months after Takeoff, 28, was shot and killed in November. After the efficiency, Quavo held up Takeoff’s chain to the sky. Maverick Metropolis Music can also be nominated for 4 awards at this yr’s ceremony.
In remembrance of Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, who additionally died in November, Crow, Fleetwood and Raitt closed out the phase to sing “Songbird,” one in all 4 songs written solely by McVie on the band’s 1977 album Rumours. Crow performed on the piano, whereas Fleetwood carried out on a handheld drum. McVie additionally posthumously gained a Grammy award for greatest association, devices and vocals for “Songbird (Orchestral Model)” by Vince Mendoza.
The tribute additionally remembered Olivia Newton-John, Lisa Marie Presley, David Crosby, Jeff Beck, Terry Corridor, Anita Pointer, King Crimson’s Ian MacDonald, Irene Cara, Yukihiro Takahashi, The Conflict’s Keith Levene, Coolio and Depeche Mode’s Andrew Fletcher.
The sixty fifth Grammy Awards are being held Sunday at Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles.
