The 62nd Grammy Awards had a lot to contend with Sunday night when the ceremony kicked off at Staples Center just hours after Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash in the hills above Calabasas along with seven other people.
“We’re literally standing here, heartbroken, in the house that Kobe Bryant built,” said cool and collected host Alicia Keys, who had the impossible job of creating a celebratory mood inside the Lakers venue, where the late player’s retired jerseys hung illuminated above the star-studded audience and crowds mourned outside.
The tragedy, however, wasn’t the only catastrophic hurdle Keys faced during the three-plus-hour CBS telecast.
Scandal erupted days before music’s biggest night when the Recording Academy was accused of systemic sexism, voting irregularities and covering for its former president and chief executive, Neil Portnow, when he was accused of rape by a female music artist. (Portnow denies the accusation.)
The bombshell was dropped by his replacement, Deborah Dugan, after she was recently placed on “administrative leave” amid allegations of misconduct. The irony is that the organization hired Dugan, and formed a task force headed by Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, Tina Tchen, to help remedy its women issues.
The organization has been was widely criticized for sidelining women in its nominations process. A recent study showed that only 10.4% of Grammy nominees between 2013 and 2019 were women, despite the preponderance of strong female talent at the forefront of popular music.
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Sunday night was supposed to mark a change. But the scandal, coupled with the spectacle on stage, poked holes in the facade that the Grammys, or the Recording Academy, had changed an age-old music-industry standard of discounting female artists while simultaneously objectifying them.
FKA twigs did not sing but instead pole-danced during Usher’s Prince tribute; she tweeted later in the ceremony that she would have loved to sing, but the Grammys did not ask her. Ariana Grande’s medley performance looked like it was ripped from an old Aerosmith video — dozens of girls sashaying in lingerie, rolling around on a bed together.
Host Alicia Keys performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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The honors handed out did signal some progress. Billie Eilish won five awards, including a sweep of the four major categories: album, song, record and new artist. A majority of nominees for best album — five of eight — were women. Lizzo led going into Sunday’s awards with eight nominations, winning three, while an openly gay rap artist, Lil Nas X, was up for six awards, winning two.
But while there’s been progress in the diversity of the Grammy nominees, in particular women, the academy needed to address the recent blowup rather than hiding behind the gowns of women on stage.
No one save for Dua Lipa, who called for more women to be hired in behind-the-scenes roles in the music industry, said much of anything about the Recording Academy-sized elephant in the room. Except maybe Keys.
“Let me be honest with y’all. It’s been a hell of a week,” she said in her opening piano number. “It’s time for newness. We refuse the negative energy. We refuse the old system. We want to be respected and safe in our diversity. We want to be shifting to [more] inclusivity.” Then, as if signaled from offstage, she switched gears to remind the room they were there “to celebrate the artists.”
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A tribute to Nipsey Hussle and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is displayed as YG, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch and Kirk Franklin stand during the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell accept the Grammy award for album of the year at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell accept the Grammy award for album of the year at the Grammys as host Alicia Keys applauds. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Keys smiles as Billie Eilish hugs Dua Lipa at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Misty Copeland performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards during a tribute to longtime Grammys executive producer Ken Ehrlich, and acknowledged the importance of music education in schools. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter of The War and Treaty, Ben Platt, Common, Misty Copeland, Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper and Gary Clark Jr. perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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DJ Khaled and John Legend accept an award on stage, dedicating it to L.A. rapper Nipsey Hussle at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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YG and DJ Khaled perform a tribute to Nipsey Hussle at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Meek Mill performs during a tribute to Nipsey Hussle at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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John Legend and DJ Khaled perform during a tribute to Nipsey Hussle at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tyler, The Creator and his mom accept an award at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Grammy nominee H.E.R. performs on stage at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Rosalía performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rosalía performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rosalía performs at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Demi Lovato performs “Anyone” at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Matt Sayles / Invision/AP)
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Anderson .Paak is joined by his son Soul Rasheed as he accepts the best R&B performance award for “Come Home [ft. Andre 3000]” at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Anaïs Mitchell, Mara Isaacs, Rachel Hauck, Todd Sickafoose and David Lai accept the best musical theater album award for “Hadestown” during the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X and Diplo perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X and Nas perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mason Ramsey and BTS perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Steven Tyler and his band Aerosmith perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Joseph Simmons of Run-D.M.C., Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Darryl McDaniels of of Run-D.M.C. and Joe Perry of Aerosmith perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Billie Eilish performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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One of the night’s winners, Gary Clark Jr. performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Ariana Grande performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ariana Grande performs a medley of her recent hits at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Steve Pamon and Erinn Williams accept the best music film award for “Homecoming.” (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlile at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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FKA twigs and Usher perform a Prince tribute at the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Usher performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Gary Clark Jr. accepts the award for best rock song for “This Land” during the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Tyler, The Creator with Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tyler, The Creator performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tyler, The Creator performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Camila Cabello performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Camila Cabello performs at the 62nd Grammy Awards, honoring her father. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Camila Cabello hugs her father after performing at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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A photo of conductor and composer Andre Previn is displayed during the In Memoriam section of the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Ava DuVernay speaks at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of music group Dan + Shay accept the best country duo/group performance award for “Speechless” at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men pay tribute to the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lizzo accepts the pop solo performance award at the 62nd Grammy Awards, held at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Jonas Brothers perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Jonas Brothers perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton perform at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton onstage at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Keys performs a tribute to Kobe Bryant with Boyz II Men. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Keys performs as part of her hosting duties at the 62nd Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lizzo kicks off the 62nd Grammy Awards, held at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lizzo performs at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Finneas O’Connell accepts the producer of the year, non-classical award at the Grammys. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
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Delbert McClinton, second from left, Bob Britt, Kevin McKendree and Dana Robbins of Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana accept the best traditional blues album award for “Tall, Dark, & Handsome” during the Grammy Awards premiere ceremony. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lil Nas X during the pre-televised ceremony at the 62nd Grammy Awards premiere ceremony. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Nicola Benedetti performs during the 62nd Grammy Awards premiere ceremony. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Ranky Tanky accepts the regional roots music album award for “Good Time.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Recording engineer Morten Lindberg, Grammy winner for immersive audio album for “Lux,” finally accepts an award at the 62nd Grammy Awards, ending a record-setting string of 27 losses. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Angelique Kidjo performs during Grammys premiere ceremony at the Microsoft Theater. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Lizzo too had one of the harder jobs of the evening. She opened the ceremony, dedicating the show to Kobe, then launched into a medley that was emotional but not morose. She rallied the subdued crowd, pulling it in with a rousing, full-throated, downright fierce set.
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As the Grammys telecast showed, music is brimming with performers who exemplify the progress the academy seems prepared to leave to a hired committee to implement. Some of the show’s best moments came when Lil Nas X took the stage with Billy Ray Cyrus, K-Pop boy band BTS, YouTube yodeling sensation Mason Ramsey, EDM star Diplo and respected rappers Young Thug and Nas for a rendition of “Old Town Road.”
But as the camera swept repeatedly over the star power in the audience, including Trevor Noah, Gwen Stefani, Smokey Robinson, LL Cool J and Ellen DeGeneres, among numerous others, they looked preoccupied. Likely it was with the sad news outside the door. But perhaps it was also a response to a show that felt like window dressing for an institution stuck in another era, when diminishing women’s contributions to popular music wasn’t a scandal — it was business as usual.
Lorraine Ali is news and culture critic of the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she was television critic for The Times covering media, breaking news and the onslaught of content across streaming, cable and network TV. Ali is an award-winning journalist and Los Angeles native who has written in publications ranging from the New York Times to Rolling Stone and GQ. She was formerly senior writer for The Times’ Calendar section where she covered entertainment, culture, and American Arab and Muslim issues. Ali started at The Times in 2011 as music editor after leaving her post as a senior writer and music critic at Newsweek Magazine.
