Music3 min(s) read
Cher accidentally announces artist who is dead as Record of the Year winner at Grammys
Cher’s surprising night at the Grammys ended with confusion and laughter when the pop icon mistakenly announced the wrong winner while presenting one of music’s top honours.
The 79‑year‑old artist first took the stage to receive her lifetime award and delivered a spirited speech encouraging persistence in the pursuit of dreams. After completing her remarks and leaving the stage, she was soon called back by host Trevor Noah to present record of the year.
Once back onstage, her duel duties led to a memorable slip up that left many viewers in stitches.
Cher mistakenly called out the name of an R&B legend who has been gone for two decades in place of the current artist actually due to receive the prize.
Before acknowledging the real winners, she froze momentarily and said: "And the Grammy goes to.... Oh! They told me it was gonna be on the prompter." After opening the envelope she declared: "Luther Gandross [sic]!" before correcting herself with: "Oh, no, Kendrick Lamar!"
Despite the blunder, Kendrick Lamar and SZA made their way to the stage as the audience reacted with amusement.
Performances and reactions throughout the night
Several moments from the awards show became instant talking points across social media and live broadcasts. Justin Bieber drew attention during Trevor Noah’s opening comedy segment with a stiff smile and later performed in a standout moment wearing only his boxers while strumming his guitar. Later, his approach to the song Yukon drew mixed reactions from viewers online.
Sabrina Carpenter also made waves with a themed performance for her track Manchild, complete with a bold costume choice. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga’s dynamic stage return featured an eye catching headpiece and a powerful rendition of her song Abracadabra. Upon winning her award, she shared her feelings on her career with candid emotion and said: "I've been making music since I was a little girl and every time I'm here I still feel like I need to pinch myself."
Lola Young also grabbed attention during her acceptance speech for best solo pop performance, adding unscripted language in her remarks. Her raw moment added to the night’s unpredictable energy.
Highlights from the winners list
The ceremony recognised a wide range of artists across genres. Bad Bunny took home album of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, marking a historic achievement with a largely Spanish‑language project. Billie Eilish won song of the year for Wildflower, and Olivia Dean was named best new artist, during which she shared a personal tribute to her grandmother’s Windrush generation roots, saying: "I guess I want to say I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn't be here. Yeah, I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated. So yeah, we are nothing without each other."
Other winners included Jelly Roll for best contemporary country album and Clipse, Pusha T and Malice for best rap performance. The evening also featured emotional tributes, including a performance honouring the late Ozzy Osbourne that visibly moved his family in the audience.