Michelle Obama kicked off the 2019 Grammy Awards with a bang.

The former first lady made a surprise appearance on the telecast, appearing alongside Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez during host Alicia Keys’ opening remarks.

Obama barely got three words into her speech celebrating the power of music before the audience erupted into an applause, greeting her with a standing ovation.

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“From the Motown records I wore out on the southside to the ‘Who Run the World’ songs that fueled me through the last decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know that’s true for everybody here,” said Obama once the audience calmed down. “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,” she continued. “Music shows us that all of us matters. Every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right, ladies?”

Lady Gaga, left, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez at the 61st Grammy Awards (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Viewers on social media also cheered Obama’s appearance. See some reactions below.


Michelle Obama better take home a Grammy. #GRAMMYs — amber ruffin (@ambermruffin) February 11, 2019

There are world famous pop stars in the audience hyperventilating over Michelle Obama. That really says it all.#GRAMMYs — Charlotte Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) February 11, 2019

Okay. Michelle Obama spoke and I legit teared up. 😭😭😭 Obama was not perfect but the Obama era feels so far away. #GRAMMYs — Jenny Yang stands w the WGA (@jennyyangtv) February 11, 2019


When Michelle Obama walks on to the #Grammys stage... pic.twitter.com/syuoNlv8qJ — Brittany Bailey (@BrittBaileyTV) February 11, 2019

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown