The helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter occurred mere hours and miles away from the Staples Center, where the Grammys were set to be held on Sunday and where he played so many games as a Los Angeles Laker. The basketball legend was honored immediately during the broadcast.
Opening performer Lizzo started her set by shouting “Tonight is for Kobe,” then belted the poignant first lines of “Cuz I Love You.”
Lizzo kicks off the #GRAMMYs by dedicating the night to the memory of Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/xUht1o1h5L
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) January 27, 2020
Host Alicia Keys followed suit, dedicating her entire opening monologue to Bryant’s memory. “We are literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built,” she said.
"We are literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built." Host @aliciakeys pays tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter and their family during her opening monologue at the #Grammys https://t.co/0BNpfw9wWV pic.twitter.com/9VzWZa2M8S
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 27, 2020
Boyz II Men joined Keys on stage for an a cappella rendition of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye.”
Watch Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men Sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" in honor of Kobe Bryant at the #GRAMMYs https://t.co/02XQuLe0cB pic.twitter.com/yA1hohfbhy
— Variety (@Variety) January 27, 2020
A spotlight illuminated Bryant’s retired jerseys, hanging above the crowd.
Kobe Bryant's jerseys are illuminated inside the Staples Center tonight during the #Grammys pic.twitter.com/8sleNRp5zh
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 27, 2020