Stevie Wonder Leads Tributes at 66th Grammy Awards In Memoriam Segment
Music legend Stevie Wonder took center stage at the 66th Grammy Awards, leading heartfelt tributes to iconic figures the music world lost in the past year. The ceremony’s annual ‘In Memoriam’ segment commenced with Wonder paying homage to the late Tony Bennett, who passed away in July 2023 at the age of 96.
Recalling his admiration for Bennett, Stevie Wonder, 73, shared memories of hearing the legendary singer perform ‘For Once in My Life’ when he was a teenager. He emphasized Bennett’s not only incredible voice but also his dedication to art, peace, unity, and civil rights. Wonder expressed the everlasting impact of Bennett’s legacy, stating, “Tony, we’re gonna miss you forever.”
The ‘People’ magazine report details that Stevie Wonder began the emotional tributes with a posthumous duet, playing the piano and singing ‘For Once In My Life’ alongside a video clip of Bennett. Following another Bennett track, ‘The Best Is Yet to Come,’ Annie Lennox paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor, the legendary songwriter, and activist who passed away in July at the age of 56. Lennox delivered a touching rendition of O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U.’
Later in the ceremony, after an introduction by Lenny Kravitz, Jon Batiste took the stage to honor Clarence Avant, known as the “godfather” of Black entertainment. Batiste, along with singer Ann Nesby, performed a medley of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine,’ ‘Lean On Me,’ and ‘Optimistic.’
The tribute series concluded with a homage to Tina Turner, introduced by Oprah Winfrey. Fantasia Barrino delivered a high-energy performance of Turner’s hit ‘Proud Mary,’ paying homage to the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ who passed away last May at the age of 83. Barrino even engaged the audience, sharing a dance break with Dua Lipa and encouraging all women present to “move your feet for Tina Turner!”
The 65th annual Grammy Awards, celebrating the best recordings, compositions, and artists, took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Trevor Noah hosting the show.
