Next to being nominated for and winning a GRAMMY, leaving a lasting impression is an artist’s dream.
On Dec. 29, CBS and Paramount+ aired "GRAMMY Greats: The Most Memorable Moments," a special dedicated to the show’s rich history. The televised special featured events such as Beyoncé and Prince’s electrifying opening at the 2004 GRAMMYs, to Dua Lipa and St. Vincent’s steamy mashup of their respective songs "One Kiss" and "Masseduction" in 2019.
Hosted by Gayle King and Jimmy Jam, "GRAMMY Greats" put a spotlight on the artists who left it all on the stage at Music's Biggest Night. Among the many memorable acts highlighted was the time when Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, and Boyz II Men joined forces at the 2009 GRAMMYs. The top-notch ensemble performed Green’s classic "Let’s Stay Together," and proved that magic happens when musical worlds collide.
"I went, ‘OK, I can probably die now. I’m good,’" Urban recalled during the special, joking about receiving praise from Paul McCartney about his guitar solo.
The Recording Academy’s "GRAMMY Greats: The Most Memorable Moments" also reminded viewers that the most memorable moments are sometimes somber. On the day of the 2020 GRAMMYs, the news of Kobe Bryant and eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, dying in a helicopter crash shocked the world. Host Alicia Keys opened the show by inviting Boyz II Men to the stage to sing a snippet of their 1991 hit "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" to honor Bryant.
Other moments from the special were as celebratory as they are powerful. Take Melissa Etheridge's return to the GRAMMYs in 2005 after undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, for instance. Other artists have made history onstage: In 2014, Queen Latifah married 33 gay and straight couples during Macklemore and Mary Lambert's "Same Love" performance with the help of Madonna. Joni Mitchell made her debut on the GRAMMYs stage in 2024 at 80 years old.
"GRAMMY Greats: The Most Memorable Moments" celebrated the past, present and future of Music's Biggest Night, and featured a variety of artists reflecting on their performances from years past. Below are five highlights from the telecast, which aired Sunday Dec. 29 on CBS Television Network, and is available on demand on Paramount+.
Ricky Martin Ignites The "Latin Explosion"
At the forefront of 1999’s "Latin explosion" was none other than Ricky Martin, who brought the house down with a celebratory performance of "La Copa de la Vida" ("The Cup of Life") at the 41st GRAMMY Awards.
Martin’s swiveling hips and unmistakable showmanship were complemented by a full-on band, streamers, and dancers on stilts. The performance was met with a standing ovation from the audience that included Madonna, Celine Dion, Will Smith, and Jennifer Lopez.
"I think it hit me like 48 hours later in another continent the magnitude of that performance, of what it did to my career," Martin said in the special.
That landmark moment paved the way for a generation of Latin artists on the GRAMMYs stage. Among them: Camilla Cabello, who recruited Martin, J Balvin, and Arturo Sandoval for her opening GRAMMYs performance of "Havana" in 2019. The same can be said for Bad Bunny’s 2023 "El Apagón" performance.
On the night of his electrifying "La Copa de la Vida" performance, Martin took home his first GRAMMY for Best Latin Pop Performance. Arriving two months later, "Livin’ la Vida Loca" was inescapable, topping the charts in over 15 countries and taking Latin music to unprecedented heights.
Annie Lennox's Gender-Bending Performance Causes A Stir
The Eurythmics’ breakthrough hit "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" came with a side of controversy in 1983. Many people assumed that lead singer Annie Lennox was a lesbian or a man due to her androgynous style.
Instead of running away from the speculation, Lennox leaned all the way into it by performing "Sweet Dreams" while dressed in drag at the 1984 GRAMMYs. Lennox recalled that even the show's production staff didn't recognize her for the longest time.
"We had a very quiet conversation about how are we going to do this, how are we going to present ourselves and a thought came to my mind: ‘Why don’t you just be a man?’" Lennox recalled. "Speculation is all around. Let’s just deliver everybody what they’ve been talking about."
Though 1984 marked the Eurythmics’ first and last GRAMMYs performance, Lennox returned to the stage in 2015 with Hozier to perform his multi-platinum debut single "Take Me to Church" and again in 2024 with a moving tribute to the late Sinead O'Connor.
Jennifer Hudson Honors Whitney Houston
When "The Voice" Whitney Houston died on the eve of Music's Biggest Night in 2012, the Recording Academy had the challenge of delivering a tribute fit for a queen in just a few hours.
Host LL Cool J comforted viewers at the top of the show with honesty. "There is no way around this. We've had a death in our family," he said before leading the audience into a heartfelt prayer.
Jennifer Hudson — who'd built a repertoire of show-stopping vocal performances like "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from 2006’s Dreamgirls — was the obvious pick for a musical tribute honoring Houston’s legacy.
"[Executive producer] Ken [Ehrlich] came over and said, ‘It’s not a performance, you’re singing to Whitney,’ and I knew exactly what he meant," Hudson said about the dress rehearsal. "The second time around singing it, I could not get through the song."
On the night of the GRAMMYs, Hudson fought back tears but ultimately delivered a flawless rendition of Houston's 1992 megahit "I Will Always Love You" from The Bodyguard soundtrack.
Eminem Taps Elton John For A Duet, Showing Solidarity For The Queer Community
In the early 2000s, Eminem received constant criticism over his lyrics, particularly his repeated use of homophobic slurs. GLAAD even protested the Detroit rapper’s then-upcoming performance at the 2001 GRAMMYs performance on the night of the ceremony.
Elton John defended Eminem from the start, sparking Slim Shady’s idea to invite the openly gay legend to perform "Stan" as a duet on the GRAMMYs stage as a way to refute the allegations while making a bold statement.
"I listened to the Marshall Mathers album, and I didn't think there was anything homophobic about it. He was just talking about life," John said.
Birthing a lifelong friendship, Eminem and John ended their performance by sharing a hug before raising their hands together in solidarity. In a 2010 interview with The New York Times Magazine, Eminem shared his support for gay marriage.
Luke Combs Gives Tracy Chapman Her Flowers
Luke Combs — who covered Tracy Chapman’s beloved "Fast Car" for his Gettin’ Old album in 2023 — pitched the idea of sharing the 2024 GRAMMYs stage with Chapman to producers, not knowing whether it would actually happen. Spoiler alert: it did.
"It was my favorite song before I even knew what a favorite song was," Combs said, recalling how his dad introduced him to Chapman's self-titled debut album, which includes the GRAMMY-winning "Fast Car."
@cbs The #GRAMMYs is always filled with such surprising, special moments like @Luke Combs and @Tracy Chapman Online’s #FastCar duet this year. What’s your favorite GRAMMYs performance? #GRAMMYAwards #lukecombs #tracychapman #performance #duet #special #tv #whattowatch
Combs and Chapman singing "Fast Car" together was among the most talked-about moments of the night. Chapman hadn’t performed live in years, so her return to the GRAMMYs stage was particularly meaningful.
"Tracy Chapman coming out with Luke on ‘Fast Car’ this year was just jarringly cool," Brandi Carlile said during the special. "Nobody had seen Tracy in that context in a long time and she was just transcendent."
Combs and Chapman traded verses before coming together in perfect harmony for the wrenching chorus that had awe-struck audience members, including Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey, singing along to every word.