Grammys In Memoriam pays tribute to Sinead O'Connor, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, and more

Fantasia Barrino, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, and Jon Batiste all raised their voices to honor the stars we've lost over the last year at the 2024 Grammy Awards on Sunday.

The ceremony’s In Memoriam segment opened with Wonder celebrating the life of his close friend, Tony Bennett. He began by sharing a sweet anecdote about the first time he heard Bennett sing “For Once in My Life” as a young teen, a song which Wonder would later record himself in 1968.

“What’s amazing is I was able to actually sing the song with someone that I admired for so long not just because of his voice, which was incredible, but of his art, his love for art, his love for peace, his love for unity, his love for civil rights,” Wonder explained. “Yes, I remember as a little boy him being in places where most people would not even go to stand in the right of freedom for everyone. So Tony, I’m gonna miss you forever. I love you always and god bless that god allowed us to have you and have us in this time and space in our lives.”

Wonder was joined in his performance by Bennett himself using archival video footage of the late crooner singing the track. The 25-time Grammy winner then performed “The Best Is Yet to Come,” which was often sung by Bennett, as images of Harry Belafonte, Astrid Gilberto, Robbie Robertson, Wayne Shorter, Bill Lee, Jerry Moss, Les McCann, Peter Schickele, Tommy Smothers, Carla Bley, André Watts, Denny Laine, Dick Waterman, and Chita Rivera were displayed onscreen behind him.

Lennox then took to the stage — accompanied by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, who previously performed in Prince’s band, The Revolution, to perform “Nothing Compares 2 U” in honor of Sinead O’Connor. Although originally written by Prince, the song has become synonymous with O'Connor after her 1990 rendition of the track, which garnered her mainstream success and a Grammy award.

With a silver teardrop adorning her cheek, Lennox became visibly emotional as she performed while Shane MacGowan, Mary Weiss, Jane Birkin, Wayne Kramer, Jim Ladd, Andy Rourke, David Lindley, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Trugoy the Dove, Randy Meisner, Charlie Robison, Michael Rhodes, Gary Rossington, Maria Jimenez, Melinda Wilson, Gary Wright, and O’Connor were each individually honored onscreen. At the end, Lennox raised her fist in the air and declared, “Artists for ceasefire. Peace in the world.”

In between performances, footage of Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Buffett, Cynthia Weil, Seymour Stein, Terry Kirkman, Phil Quartararo, George Winston, Jaquelyne Ledent-Vilain, Charlie Monk, Menahem Pressler, Melanie, and Ahmad Jamal were projected onscreen. Then, the camera cut over to Lenny Kravitz as he paid his respects to late music executive, Clarence Avant.

“Throughout his remarkable life as an executive manager, producer, and force of nature, Clarence avant was a trusted mentor and believer in the likes of Quincy Jones and Bill Withers to name just a few whose lives he changed forever,” Kravitz said. “As a musical family, we mourn the loss of our godfather and celebrate the inspiring life he shared with his wife, Jacqueline.”

Alongside a live band, Avant's proteges Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Ann Nesby, and a full choir, Batiste led an onstage celebration as he performed a medley of songs including Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean On Me," and Sounds of Blackness’ “Optimistic." Meanwhile, Rudolph Isley, Jean Knight, Rodriguez, Marlena Shaw, Jerry Bradley, Russell Batiste Jr., Jeffrey Foskett, Rita Lee, Royal Blakeman, Bobby Caldwell, Aaron Spears, DJ Mark the 45 King, Gangsta Boo, Chris Stratchwitz, Kris L. Claver, Magoo, Kendall A. Minter, Gordon Lightfoot were featured onscreen.

And last, but certainly not least, Oprah Winfrey honored to the goddess of rock and roll herself, Tina Turner.

“She is our forever goddess of rock and roll who inspired millions, a moving symbol of grace and grit, soul and power,” Winfrey said. “Our love and respect for Tina grew as we witnessed her bravely reclaim her freedom. From the moment I met Tina, first as a fan, then later blessed to become her friend, she was a special kind of role model. She used to say to me: ‘Oprah, you should always dress up for dinner even if no one else is there, just so you feel beautiful, to you, for yourself.’ And as those big wheels of time keep on turning, Tina voice continues to speak to all of us.”

The Color Purple producer then welcomed the film's star Fantasia Barrino to the stage, who performed Turner's legendary hit, "Proud Mary." Accompanied by Adam Blackstone, Barrino encouraged the Grammys crowd to get up on her feet as she dance Turner's signature choreography before wading into the audience to find a "pretty lady that doesn't mind moving her hips" to join her. She quickly tapped Dua Lipa to dance with her, and the pair shared a cute moment before Barrino moved to the stage to belt out the remainder of the song.

A one-of-a-kind crooner, Bennett died at 96 on July 21. The "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" singer, who studied singing through the GI bill, released a steady stream of hits throughout the 1950s, but gained a second win in the '90s following his MTV Unplugged performance. In addition to his illustrious solo career, Bennett would often collaborate with artists that he revered on several Duets albums and, later, worked extensively as a duo with Lady Gaga. He won 19 Grammy awards throughout his lifetime, most recently for he and Gaga's 2021 album, Love For Sale.

Legendary Irish singer-songwriter O’Connor, known for her celebrated cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," died at 56 on July 26. Her first album, 1987's The Lion and the Cobra, may have earned O’Connor her first Grammy nomination, but it wasn’t until the release of her second album, the influential I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, that she became an international superstar and received the award for Best Alternative Music Performance. She continued to release new music — and, at times, court controversy — throughout her career. 

Avant, often described as the "Black Godfather" of entertainment, died at 92 on Aug. 14. The music executive is credited with guiding and supporting several artists including Quincy Jones, Jay Z, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, Pharell Williams, and more. Avant was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, and also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

An unforgettable pop icon, Turner died at 83 on May 24 after a long illness. The Tennessee native rose to fame performing hits like “A Fool in Love,” “Proud Mary,” and “River Deep, Mountain High” as part of a duo with her ex-husband, Ike Turner. Turner later embarked on her own successful solo career that reached a fever pitch following the release of 1984 multiplatinum-selling album, Private Dancer. She earned eight Grammy awards throughout her decades-long career. 

The 66th Grammy Awards aired live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night. 

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