Last night was one of the biggest nights of the year for music, with 2019's Grammy Awards giving us a slew of awards, nominations, speeches, and a few memorable performances to go with it.
Alongside the (perhaps unsurprisingly) weird performance of Shallow by award-winner Lady Gaga, numerous other guests took to the stage, some more surprising than others. During host-for-the-night Alicia Keys' opening monologue, she was also joined by Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett-Smith... and Michelle Obama.
The former first lady took some time out of her tour promoting her best-selling book, Becoming, to speak with the other women about the power of music. When she arrived, the crowd were so delighted to see the group, their cheers meant she had to restart her speech. That's when, as a group, they revealed the ways in which music had helped them become their true selves.
Obama said:
“From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the ‘Who Run the World’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story. And I know that’s true for everybody here.
"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 each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters, every story within every voice, every note within every song.”
Following the appearance she made during the awards ceremony, Michelle tweeted about why she chose to appear, and why it was important to be alongside Keys during her big night hosting the awards.
“A big part of friendship is showing up for your girls—that’s why I was thrilled to be there for the one and only @aliciakeys,” she wrote. “She is one of the most genuine and thoughtful people I know—there’s no one better to help us all celebrate the unifying power of music!”
Obama did something similar during her book tour, as she spent the opening of each stop on the arena tour by inviting a group of women to the stage to talk about who they are becoming (just like the title of her memoir, Becoming). This group usually included some celebrities, as well as some public servants, veterans, and young women such as girl scouts.
In December, she visited the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and was joined by Keys on stage. During this show the now-Grammys host said:
“I am becoming more myself, unapologetically myself, with no desire for outside approval. I am deepening. I am blossoming. We are the greatest we have ever been, and we won’t dim our light for anybody! I am becoming more in love with my brothers and sisters in the world. I love you! New York City! We are becoming!”
Keys and Obama clearly have a close relationship, which means they can support each other during their individual big moments. Hopefully they both go on to see even more successes in the world.
