Spotlight Returns
The Grammys In Memoriam performances will anchor this year’s ceremony with a carefully curated slate of tributes. The Recording Academy confirmed Ms. Lauryn Hill, Post Malone with an all-star rock unit, and Reba McEntire among the artists honoring those we lost.
Lauryn Hill’s Reverence
Hill will salute both D’Angelo, who died in October at 51, and Roberta Flack, who died last February at 88. The choice carries deep lineage. Fugees’ Grammy-winning 1996 remake of Flack’s Killing Me Softly tightened hip-hop’s embrace of classic soul. Flack joined Fugees that year at the MTV Movie Awards, sealing a cross-generational moment that still resonates.
Heavy-Rock Farewell
A powerhouse band—Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Slash—will honor Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July at 76. Malone’s 2019 hit Take What You Want with Osbourne and Travis Scott proved the metal icon’s modern reach. Expect a muscular, radio-savvy salute bridging hard rock and contemporary pop.
Country’s Quiet Grace
Reba McEntire, joined by Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, will pay tribute to “others” recently lost across the creative community. The Academy has not confirmed whether dedicated nods will extend to Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, or Bob Weir, all Lifetime Achievement honorees like Flack and Osbourne. That suspense often shapes the night’s emotional apex.
Grammys In Memoriam
The ceremony has steadily elevated the segment, sometimes building full showcases beyond the montage. Last year brought a six-song salute to Quincy Jones, while 2024 focused on Tony Bennett, Sinéad O’Connor, Clarence Avant and Tina Turner. The pattern continued in prior years, spotlighting Loretta Lynn, Takeoff, Christine McVie, Stephen Sondheim, Little Richard, Kenny Rogers, John Prine and Gerry Marsden. In 2020, Boyz II Men’s tribute to Kobe Bryant added a poignant cultural dimension as the segment emphasized Nipsey Hussle and Dr. John.
Wider Awards Echoes
Other shows have already framed tributes. Andra Day delivered Killing Me Softly at the BET Awards on June 9. Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt staged a three-song Ozzy salute at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 7. The Grammys’ approach, however, tends to synthesize pop memory with canon-building gravitas.
New Voices, Same Stage
This year’s live slate balances remembrance with discovery. Sabrina Carpenter was first announced, followed by all eight best new artist nominees: Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr and The Marías. Clipse and Pharrell Williams join with three nominations, and Justin Bieber has been added to the performer lineup.
Closing Note
Grammys In Memoriam performances remind viewers how music threads eras together. This year’s lineup promises reverence, range and resonance, stitching legacy to the present in front of a global audience.
