Today’s Grammys at Staples Centre becomes tribute to Kobe Bryant

The Grammys have wrapped at Kobe Bryant’s home stadium the Staples Centre, where the ceremony became a tribute to the NBA star.

Alicia Keys opened the Grammys with a heart-rending tribute to Kobe Bryant, following news of his tragic death in a helicopter crash.

The death of the 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers legend has dominated the 62nd annual awards ceremony, only hours after it was reported he had died alongside his daughter, Gianna Maria, 13, and seven others who are yet to be identified.

The 62nd annual awards is currently under way at Bryant’s home stadium, the Staples Centre in downtown LA.

“Here we are are together, on music’s biggest night. But to be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now,” Keys said.

Alicia Keys was visibly heartbroken talking about the tragedy.

“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.

“We never imagined in a million years we’d have to start the show like this. Never never never... So we wanted to do something that could describe a tiny bit how we all feel right now.”

Keys was then joined by Boys II Men for an acapella rendition of their hit Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.

Not a dry eye in the Staples Center as Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men open the #Grammys with a dedication to Kobe Bryant. #TwentyFourever pic.twitter.com/BaUWaRgq8c

— E! News (@enews) January 27, 2020

DJ Khaled and John Legend took to the stage with a powerful show of their song Higher in honour of Bryant as they projected his picture on the screen, as well as murdered rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot in LA March last year.

DK Khaled and John Legend performed as Kobe and Nupsey Hussle's photos appeared on screen.

Lil Nas X sang his record-breaking hit Old Town Road and honoured the NBA great, bringing an LA Lakers jersey on stage with him with Bryant’s number ‘24’.

Rock band Aerosmith and hip hop hroup Run DMC brought the same tribute to their high-energy combined set, holding up Bryant’s jersey.

Lil Nas X with the Kobe jersey on set at the #Grammys 🙏🏾 #RIPMAMBA pic.twitter.com/KN3459tmd4

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) January 27, 2020

That part #GRAMMYs #RunDMC #Aerosmith pic.twitter.com/PADOhJ15WE

— Jen Contreras (@JSeibContreras) January 27, 2020

Lizzo first kicked things off with a medley of her famous songs, declaring, “tonight is for Kobe”.

After winning Best Pop Solo Performance, the sassy singer gave an inspiring speech about how news of Bryant’s death had shifted her perspective.

“Today, all my little problems I thought were big as the world were gone,” she said.

“My priorities shifted. I realised, people are really hurting right now.

“We need to continue to make music that feels f**king good and liberates people.”

Lizzo kicks of the Grammys.

Several celebrities have paid homage to Bryant, with Nick Jonas wearing a purple ribbon on his suit and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, donning the number 24 on her nails.

Red carpet hosts Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic opened their coverage discussing their devastation over the news, with Seacrest saying Bryant spoke to him over the phone recently about his love of fatherhood.

“It’s unthinkable,” Seacrest said.

“He was on the phone with me a few months ago talking about his love of being a father and talking about his daughters, so many artists will be thinking about this today.”

Rancic added, “My heart is so heavy today. As a mother, as a wife, as a human, my heart goes out to Vanessa and their family tonight, first and foremost.”

Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic opened the red carpet coverage talking about the tragic news of Kobe Bryant's death.

The premiere ceremony, which happens before the main televised ceremony, kicked off two hours ago, where the Recording Academy’s interim chief Harvey Mason Jr. paid tribute to the athlete.

“As most of you may know, we lost Kobe Bryant in a tragic helicopter crash earlier today,” he said. “Since we are in his house, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence.”

the grammys honoring kobe bryant at the premiere show pic.twitter.com/W3WBR8NQyN

— mike (@mikeyswrld) January 26, 2020

Hundreds of fans have gathered at the Staples Centre in downtown LA to pay their respects to the NBA star.

There were a string of calls for officials to cancel the show after news of Bryant’s death rocked the world when it broke a few hours ago, but it is currently going ahead.

Hours before the Grammys are set to begin at the Staples Center, fans gather to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/9LonIAIUUj

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) January 26, 2020

The fact that everyone has to sit in Staples and go through an entire Grammys right now is...

— Camilla Blackett (@camillard) January 26, 2020

Streets shut down around Staples Center for the Grammys. People trying to get close are being turned away. Grown men in tears on the street in downtown LA. #KobeBryant

— Robert Faturechi (@RobertFaturechi) January 26, 2020

It is not the first time the Grammys have been rocked by the shock death of an icon.

Less than 24 hours before the 2012 Grammys, news broke that pop star Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills, aged 48.

The Grammys turned into a wake for Houston and opened with a prayer for the fallen star.

Singer Jennifer Hudson reduced the audience to tears with a chilling performance of a cover of Houston’s famous song, I Will Always Love You.