With what felt like about 800 performances in the space of three and a half hours, with a couple of awards dished out every 45 minutes or so, it’s fair to say that this year’s Grammys were a jam-packed affair.
Because there was so much to take in, we’ve done a helpful guide to the night’s most important, silliest and at times cringiest moments, just in case you had better things to do on a Sunday night than watching the show live.
Y’know, like sleeping for example.
Here are our 21 biggest moments of this year’s Grammys…
1. Camila Cabello’s star-studded opening number
Opening the biggest show in the music calendar is a daunting task for any artist, but fortunately Camila Cabello had a full production to get the night off with a bang.
Starting with a performance of her chart-topping hit Havana, performed against an elaborate and colourful backdrop, she was joined by a host of all-star guests, including singers J Balvin and Ricky Martin, musician Arturo Sandoval and rapper Young Thug.
2. The introduction of the all-star girl group we really deserve in 2019
As presenter Alicia Keys assured Grammy viewers she had every intention of “taking care” of us, she swiftly delivered by an amazing handful of powerful women, including Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez and, oh yeah, the literal former First Lady, Michelle Obama.
Reminding everyone what the night was really about, each of the women revealed what music meant to them, with Michelle saying: ““Music has always helped me tell my story… whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another. To invite one another in.”
Alicia said it best as she asked the crowd: “Who run the world?”
3. Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus perform a duet
The Grammys are renowned for their big-name collaborations, and this year saw Miley Cyrus joining Shawn Mendes on stage to help him beef up an already-powerful rendition of his recent hit In My Blood.
They also both went sleeveless, which we weren’t mad about, either.
4. Janelle Monáe completely steals the show
There was just no question that Janelle Monáe delivered the performance of the night.
She sang, she served choreography, she gave us looks, she played guitar, she made statements about feminism and sexuality – and she made it look absolutely effortless.
Janelle Monáe is quite simply a top-notch talent, and even at her best like she was during the Grammys, there’s an exciting feeling that the best is yet to come. A real capital “m” Moment.
5. John Mayer and Alicia Keys come full circle
Ahead of the Song Of The Year result, Grammys host Alicia Keys was joined on stage by musician John Mayer, and recalled the year they were both up in that same category.
“When hero Stevie Wonder opened up that card,” she recalled. “And started reading in Braille… I knew he was going to feel my name.”
A clip from that night then revealed that John Mayer was its actual winner, but Alicia revealed that after the show, he split his Grammy in two so they could share it, as he felt she deserved it as much as he did.
The two then revealed that Childish Gambino – one of several nominees not in attendance – was this year’s recipient, for his critically-acclaimed track This Is America, which also won Best Music Video and Record Of The Year.
6. An absolutely killer tribute to Dolly Parton
What could be better than stars like Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Maren Morris and Kacey Musgraves coming together to pay homage to the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton?
Why, the woman herself joining them on stage for a group performance of 9 To 5, of course.
Dolly also gave a solo rendition of her recent track Red Shoes, reminding everyone that she’s a force to be reckoned with, and there’s a reason she’s lasted so long in the music industry.
8. Cardi B slays everyone with Money performance
This performance was pretty much everything we love about Cardi B. It was in-your-face, it was loud, it was confident, it was totally extra, it was brilliant.
No, we’re not 100% convinced there wasn’t a bit of *ahem* help in the ol’ vocal department, but who else in the industry right now is going to give us a perfectly-executed twerking routine on top of a grand piano, before giving a shout out to her infant daughter and strutting about in a leopard-print peacock tail?
9. Although we probably could have done without this red carpet moment
Wow.
10. …and this one, come to think of it
*sigh*
11. Alicia Keys couldn’t resist performing herself
And this was no “James Corden and Kylie Minogue at the Brit Awards” moment, Alicia Keys’ performance was one of our faves of the night.
Sitting down to not one but two pianos (a single piano performance is so passé, don’t you think), she went through some of the songs she “wishes she’d written”, covering artists like Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, Ella Mai, Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack and Nat King Cole.
Obviously, it wouldn’t be an Alicia Keys set without a bit of Empire State Of Mind, which she ended on a powerful rendition of, even though this year’s Grammys were actually held in LA.
12. Was that… Drake?!
Yeah, despite leaving everyone under the impression he wouldn’t be showing up to the Grammys this year (even swerving the red carpet completely), Drake made a surprise appearance when God’s Plan was named Best Rap Song.
During his acceptance speech, he began musing about how unimportant awards shows actually are, only for Grammys bosses to suddenly pull the plug on him, which we’re sure was a total coincidence.
13. Diana Ross’ grandson, Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick
“Did she say little guy? I’m almost four foot nine.”
Absolutely adorable.
14. Diana Ross’ performance was all kinds of iconic
We’re not sure where to even start with this one. Diana Ross was invited to perform to commemorate her upcoming 75th birthday, and after a cute introduction from her aforementioned adorable grandson, she gave an enthusiastic rendition of The Best Years Of My Life.
She then moved on to Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand), urging everyone to put up their hands and “move the energy of the room”. She then moved into the audience, began putting her microphone into people’s faces and inviting them to sing along, before remind them not to “be lazy” and continue moving their hands.
Miss Ross ended by wishing herself a happy birthday (“happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me”), despite the fact that her birthday isn’t actually until the end of last month.
There was nothing we didn’t love about it.
15. Lady Gaga’s performance of Shallow was… energetic
With Bradley Cooper in the UK for the Baftas, Gaga was left flying solo for this performance of their Grammy-winning duet, and she was fully ready to rock out.
Unfortunately, the song she was performing didn’t really allow for this, meaning she was left head-banging, hair-flipping and doing jerking dance moves to an emotional low-tempo ballad.
Still, she gets full points for that growl midway through, which we’re never not in the mood for.
16. Smokey Robinson and Alicia Keys do an impromptu duet
Live awards show moments like this always have the potential to be toe-curling and uncomfortable, but the mutual respect from this pair as they traded lines on Tracks Of My Tears actually just made for an impressive a capella rendition.
17. Cardi B has a rare speechless moment as she wins Best Rap Album
And yes, Offset obviously joined her on stage for her speech…
18. But not everyone was impressed with Cardi’s win
Ariana Grande has since insisted she wasn’t calling Cardi “trash”, but was actually upset that the Grammys invited Mac Miller’s family to the awards show despite the fact he didn’t win anything.
19. Dua Lipa’s acceptance speech was our favourite of the night
Immediately after performing a duet with fellow singer/songwriter St Vincent, Dua Lipa was awarded Best New Artist, taking the opportunity to throw shade at Grammys boss Neil Portnow over his comments about women in music last year.
She also told viewers: “I have one thing that I really want to say… for anyone that hasn’t realised how special they are to have a different story, a different background, or a name that honours their roots because they just want to be norma – whatever the hell that means – just know that no matter where you’re from or your background or what you believe in, never let that get in the way of your dreams because you deserve it.
“And I’m proof that you can do whatever you put your mind to.”
Regrettably, by that stage of the night, time was really getting on, and producers pulled the plug before she had the chance to finish up.
Still, a good speech all the same.
20. This remarkable tribute to Aretha Franklin
If you’re going to put together a tribute performance to Aretha Franklin, then you are going to have to bring vocals. Luckily, Fantasia, Andra Day and Yolanda Adams nailed it, delivering a version of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman that the Queen Of Soul would be proud of.
21. Kacey Musgraves wins Album Of The Year
This year’s top award went to country singer Kacey Musgraves, who won four awards over the course of the evening including Best Album, Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album.
She beat stiff competition from Cardi B, Janelle Monáe, Post Malone and Drake, and dedicated the victory to her husband.
