Hours after the sudden death of Kobe Bryant, the Recording Academy is planning a last-minute tribute for the Lakers star to air during tonight’s Grammys ceremony.

Bryant died early Sunday in a Calabasas helicopter crash that also killed his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others. With the Staples Center closed to the public for the Grammys, Angelenos gathered outside to build a memorial for the Lakers legend.

According to Billboard, producers for tonight’s show are “working quickly” to pull together a salute to the basketball icon. Bryant will be honored during the event along with beloved L.A. rapper Nipsey Hussle, who died in a shooting last year and won his first posthumous Grammy moments ago at the pre-show ceremony.


Interim Recording Academy chief and board chair Harvey Mason also held a moment of silence for Bryant at the premiere ceremony.

