Shock and sadness loomed over the Grammy Awards on Sunday at the arena in downtown Los Angeles where Kobe Bryant played for 20 years for the city’s NBA team.
Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash earlier in the day was acknowledged in the opening minutes of the broadcast of music’s biggest night.
Lizzo opened the show by dedicating her performance of Truth Hurts and Cuz I Love You to the late NBA star, declaring: ‘Tonight is for Kobe’.
Host Alicia Keys said she was feeling ‘crazy sad’ about Bryant. She was joined on stage at the Staples Centre with Boyz II Men, who collectively sang It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.
The 39-year-old singer gave an emotional monologue before the performance in front of the star-studded crowd, saying: ‘We’re standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built.’
There was also a spotlight on the LA Lakers star’s No. 8 and 24 jerseys in the rafters of the arena the entire night.
