In a bittersweet somber opening to the annual Grammy Awards 2020 ceremony, which saw Black gay musician Lil Nas X winning two out of his six nominations and lesbian Tracy Young being the first woman to win in the category of Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the Grammy Awards- artist and multiple Grammy winner host Alicia Keys paid a touching tribute to the retired basketball superstar Kobe Bryant who was killed hours before the ceremony began.

Bryant died at about 10 AM Sunday morning in a helicopter crash near Calabasas in northern suburban Los Angeles County. Eight other people, including his 13 year old daughter Gianna, died in the crash.

“Here we are, together, on music’s biggest night, celebrating the artists that do it best. But to be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today…. Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero,” Keys told the audience “We’re literally standing here, heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built. Right now, Kobe and his daughter Gianna, and all of those who have been tragically lost today, are in our spirits, in our hearts, in our prayers, and in this building.”

She broke into song, singing the first lines of Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday,” as members of that storied group joined her on stage.

“I know that we’re going to all join together and do what what we do in happy times. We’re going to sing together, we’re going to laugh together. We’re going to dance together. We’re going to cry together. We’re going to bring it all together,” Keys said.

“We’re going to love together and we’re going to make sure that we are celebrating the most powerful energy, the most beautiful thing in the world, the one thing that has the power to bring all of us together. And that’s music.”

The show was opened by eight time Grammy Nominee Lizzo who dedicated her performance telling the packed crowd at LA’s Staples Center home to the Lakers where Bryant spent the 20 years of his award winning basketball career, “Tonight is for Kobe.” She was given the first award handed out of the evening in the category of Best Pop Solo Performance for “Truth Hurts” which included nominees Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish.

Eilish was named best new artist at the 2020 Grammys. The 18-year-old is the second youngest artist ever to capture that award and the Los Angeles native also won, with her brother Finneas, the Grammy song of the year award. She is only the second artist thus far in Grammy history to win awards for song, record, album and best new artist in the same year.

One of the funniest moments came when Billy Porter introduced the Jonas Brothers, using a line from Kinky Boots promotions, said “Ladies and Gentlemen and those who haven’t decided yet.”

The 2020 Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year

“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish

Album of the Year

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish

Song of The Year

Billie Eilish

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Truth Hurts,” Lizzo

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Look Now, Elvis Costello & The Imposters

Best Pop Vocal Album

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish

Best Dance Recording

“Got to Keep On,” The Chemical Brothers

Best Dance/Electronic Album

No Geography, The Chemical Brothers

Best Rock Performance

“This Land,” Gary Clark Jr.

Best Metal Performance

“7empest,” Tool

Best Rock Song

“This Land,” Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)

Best Rock Album

Social Cues, Cage The Elephant

Best Alternative Music Album

Father of the Bride, Vampire Weekend

Best R&B Performance

“Come Home,” Anderson .Paak Featuring André 3000

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Jerome,” Lizzo

Best R&B Song

“Sayso,” PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring JoJo)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Cuz I Love You (Deluxe), Lizzo

Best R&B Album

Ventura, Anderson .Paak

Best Rap Performance

“Racks in the Middle,” Nipsey Hussle Featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy

Best Rap/Sung Performance

“Higher,” DJ Khaled Featuring Nipsey Hussle & John Legend

Best Rap Song

“A Lot,” Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White, songwriters (21 Savage Featuring J. Cole)

Best Rap Album

Igor, Tyler, The Creator

Best Country Solo Performance

“Ride Me Back Home,” Willie Nelson

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Speechless,” Dan + Shay

Best Country Song

“Bring My Flowers Now,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)

Best Country Album

While I’m Livin’, Tanya Tucker

Best Latin Pop Album

#ELDISCO, Alejandro Sanz

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

El Mal Querer, Rosalia

Best Children’s Music Album

Ageless Songs for the Child Archetype, Jon Samson

Best Spoken Word Album

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Best Comedy Album

Sticks & Stones, Dave Chappelle

Best Musical Theater Album

Hadestown

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

A Star Is Born

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Chernobyl

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Finneas

Best Music Video

“Old Town Road (Official Movie),” Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus

Best Music Film

Homecoming