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Grammys 2020: Alicia Keys & Boyz II Men Perform Kobe Bryant Tribute
January 27, 2020

Grammys 2020: Alicia Keys & Boyz II Men Perform Kobe Bryant Tribute

Kobe Bryant, one the most accomplished basketball players in NBA history, died today at age 41 in a helicopter crash that also killed his 13-year-old daughter and seven others. Tributes to Bryant are pouring in, including many from the music world. That sentiment extended to today’s Grammys events, which are taking place at the Staples Center in LA, where Bryant played his home games with the Lakers.

As Billboard reports, during this afternoon’s Premiere Ceremony, during which most the awards were handed out, the Recording Academy’s interim CEO and board chair, Harvey Mason Jr., asked for a moment silence to honor Bryant — who, it’s worth mentioning, dabbled in music a bit himself. (Perhaps most notably, his 1998 Brian McKnight collaboration “Hold Me” peaked at #35 on the Hot 100.) “Since we are in his house I would ask you to join me in a moment silence,” Mason said. According to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, large crowds gathered to mourn outside the Staples Center, where seemingly every video screen memorialized Bryant.

The Grammys ceremony itself featured numerous tributes as well. Before launching into her opening performance “Cuz I Love You” and “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo’s first words were, “Tonight is for Kobe.” Then, host Alicia Keys began by saying, “To be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today Los Angeles, America, and the whole wide world lost a hero. And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.” She and Boyz II Men (who hail from Bryant’s hometown Philadelphia) then performed an a cappella “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday.”

Watch below.

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