36 Jaw-Dropping Grammys Performances That Got The Whole World Talking

Music legends like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Madonna and Whitney Houston have given iconic performances over the years.

Click Here to read in detail

Every year, the Grammys gathers the biggest musicians in the world gather under one roof to find out whether they’ve been honoured with the industry’s most prestigious accolade.

For the rest of us, though, what gets people tuning in year after year are the incredible A-list performances, with huge stars gracing the stage to deliver memorable, impactful and, at times, outrageous renditions of their big hits, in the hopes of being the stand-out star of the evening.

Advertisement

With countless offerings to choose from, we’ve put together a timeline of 35 of the performances that have stuck with us over the decades, beginning back in the 1980s...

Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You (1986)

For a lot of people, this 1986 Grammys performance will have been their first time hearing the unmistakeable and incomparable live vocals of Whitney Houston.

Advertisement

While this is far from the best awe-inspiring performance she’d give in her lifetime, this Grammys rendition of early hit Saving All My Love was a sign of promising things to come.

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You (1994)

Fast-forward to eight years later, and Whitney had become one of the biggest stars on the planet, and was riding a huge wave of success after her appearance in The Bodyguard.

Advertisement

By the time the Grammys rolled around in 1994 (and, actually, for many years following) there was no escaping I Will Always Love You – but even its loudest critics can’t deny that there’s no beating Whitney’s song in its flawless live form.

Aretha Franklin – Nessun Dorma (1998)

The story goes that Luciano Pavarotti had initially been scheduled to perform at the 1998 Grammys, but pulled out at the last minute on doctors’ orders, leaving his friend Aretha Franklin to step in instead.

Advertisement

With limited time to rehearse, the soul singer completely floored everyone with her vocals on the night.

It’s a rendition that – at least on paper – shouldn’t work on any level, but who could honestly argue with that voice?

Madonna – Nothing Really Matters (1999)

Advertisement

The Evita film and Ray Of Light album had helped breathe new life into Madonna’s career after a string of projects that had been met with a lukewarm reception in the early 90s.

Ray Of Light went on to gain critical acclaim and huge chart success, but the cherry on top was the Queen of Pop finally winning her first ever Grammy, and delivering this stunning and surprisingly haunting performance on the same night.

Eminem and Elton John – Stan (2001)

Advertisement

A collaboration that no one saw coming, Eminem and Elton John made headlines the world over when the Your Song singer stepped in to replace Dido’s parts on the song Stan.

This performance was considered by many to be a response to critics who panned Eminem’s past homophobic lyrics, particularly as the two stood together in solidarity at the end.

However, almost 20 years later, the rapper was still receiving criticism for his use of anti-LGBTQ+ language in his music...

Advertisement

Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott and Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade (2002)

This Lady Marmalade performance allowed each of the track’s four performers to enjoy their time in the spotlight – complete with all the sequins, feathers and big hair it’s become synonymous with – before coming together as a four-piece.

As if there wasn’t enough talent on stage already, they were joined on stage first by its producer, Missy Elliott, and its original performer, Patti LaBelle, who showed those younger viewers (and, indeed, artists) a thing or two about high notes.

Advertisement

Prince and Beyoncé - Purple Rain/Baby, I’m A Star/Let’s Go Crazy/Crazy In Love (2004)

We all know that when it came to rising stars and new talent, no one had a better eye than Prince, so it’s no surprise that right at the beginning of Beyoncé’s solo career, he chose her to perform with him at the Grammys.

And no, in case you’re wondering, this is not Beyoncé’s last appearance on this list.

Gorillaz, De La Soul and Madonna – Feel Good Inc/Hung Up (2006)

Advertisement

Listen, we all know Madonna as a great pop star, but it’s not unfair to say that her sense of humour is something she’s... less associated with.

So, it was so great to see her interacting with the Gorillaz at the Grammys in 2006, first crashing their performance of Feel Good Inc before launching into an energetic version of her own hit, Hung Up.

The Chicks – Not Ready To Make Nice (2007)

The Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” (Dixie Chicks Era) Grammys 2007 #country #rock #singersongwriter #thechicks #grammys #y2k #notreadytomakenice #singing #2007 #alternative #texans

Advertisement

It had been a tough time for The Chicks – then still known by their old moniker – in the lead-up to their performance at the 2007 Grammys.

The group had been at the centre of a controversy when they criticised then-president George W Bush over the Iraq war, leading to them being shunned by the country music scene and receiving abuse and even death threats.

Their defiant appearance at the 2007 Grammys saw them address the backlash head-on in Not Ready To Make Nice, and the group wound up becoming the night’s big winners, taking home all five of the awards they’d been nominated for, including “the big three”.

Advertisement

For some reason, this performance is incredibly hard to come by online, so enjoy a snippet in the TikTok above.

Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m No Good/Rehab (2008)

By the time Amy Winehouse’s Grammys performance came around, the sad truth was that while everyone was talking about her, it was rarely in conjunction with her songwriting talents or incomparable vocal abilities.

Advertisement

In fact, her Grammys performance was aired live over satellite link, as she wasn’t granted a visa to travel to the US for the ceremony.

Still, with this performance, she managed to silence all of her critics, and remind everyone why she had become one of the world’s most famous people in the first place.

Beyoncé and Tina Turner – Déjà Vu/What’s Love Got To Do With It/Proud Mary (2008)

Advertisement

And as if duetting with Prince wasn’t enough, four years later Beyoncé was tasked with introducing the legendary Tina Turner, only for the two of them to perform the classic Proud Mary together.

Tina looked totally thrilled to be sharing the stage with Beyoncé, while the Queen Bey truly held her own next to one of her idols, while managing not to outshine her.

The stuff legendary duets are made of. Also... what a brilliant intro from Cher.

Lady Gaga and Elton John – Poker Face/Speechless/Your Song (2010)

Advertisement

Lady Gaga had already become the biggest pop star in the world when she made her Grammys debut, so the stakes were pretty high for her first ever performance at the ceremony.

Did she manage to pull it off? Well, let’s see, shall we?

Ridiculous OTT introduction? Check. Giant sets? Check. Multiple songs? Check. Amazing outfit? Check. Casually performing with a musical legend, proving just a couple of years into her career that they were already contemporaries? Check.

We’d say that’s an emphatic yes.

Pink – Glitter In The Air (2010)

Advertisement

Pink’s fans had long been aware of quite how much she put into her live performances prior to her solo appearance on the Grammys stage, but in 2010, she made sure the world knew about it.

Singing the haunting ballad, Glitter In The Air, Pink first walked out into the crowd, before performing air aerobics while hanging from the ceiling, all while belting along with the track.

Jennifer Hudson – I Will Always Love You (2012)

Advertisement

In her lifetime, Whitney performed at the Grammys on multiple occasions, each time bringing the house down with her powerhouse vocals.

Her death in 2012 came just 24 hours before that year’s ceremony, and it was would have been remiss for organisers not to pull together a tribute.

It was decided that Jennifer Hudson was the star with the vocal capabilities of doing Whitney justice, and with less than a day to prepare, we can’t imagine how she could possibly have bettered this stirring performance.

Advertisement

Nicki Minaj – Roman’s Revenge/I Feel Pretty/Roman Holiday (2012)

Undeniably one of the most shocking productions to ever grace the Grammys stage, Nicki Minaj certainly raised eyebrows with her debut performance at the awards show.

Having already arrived at the show on the arm of a man dressed as the pope, she began her set with a rap in a confessional booth.

Advertisement

After a brief short film, she then staged an exorcism live on stage, culminating in her levitating to the roof, all in character as alter-ego, Roman Zolanski.

Adele – Rolling In The Deep (2012)

Another performance that hits even harder when you know the context behind it, the Grammys in 2012 marked Adele’s first live performance after undergoing throat surgery.

Advertisement

The world hadn’t heard her sing in a long time, and fears began to rise about whether she’d ever be able to match her old vocal offerings. Clearly, we needn’t have worried.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z – Drunk In Love (2014)

The music world was still reeling from the shock release of her self-titled visual album when Beyoncé took to the stage at the Grammys in 2014.

Advertisement

This time, she wasn’t there as a member of Destiny’s Child, she wasn’t promoting a song from a film, and she wasn’t anyone’s special guest.

She was standing on her own two feet, and it felt like after years of being one of the world’s most famous singers, she’d really cemented her place as a superstar.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty, Madonna and Queen Latifah – Same Love/Open Your Heart (2014)

At a time when the debate around equal marriage was still raging on in America, Macklemore decided to use his slot at the Grammys to make a bold statement.

Performing his song Same Love, 33 couples of all different genders and sexualities gathered to tie the knot there and then (with Queen Latifah officiating, natch), before Madonna appeared in full cowboy attire to sing Open Your Heart with a gospel choir.

Advertisement

While on paper it sounds like a clunky and even arguably insincere stunt, we struggle to hold back tears every time we we re-watch this clip.

Sia – Chandelier (2015)

When you’re a singer who’s become known for never showing your face and standing in a corner when you perform live, how do you make an impact at a public spectacle like Grammys?

Advertisement

You bring in Maddie Ziegler, Kristen Wiig, a load of wigs and what appears to be the set of an episode of Hoarders, of course.

Katy Perry – By The Grace Of God (2015)

Best known for her elaborate and cartoonish performance style, Katy Perry stripped it right back for her Grammys performance in 2015.

Advertisement

She performed the lesser-known ballad By The Grace Of God, which discusses the suicidal feelings she felt towards the end of her marriage.

The performance was in support of victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, with a short message from Barack Obama in support of the #ItsOnUs campaign playing shortly beforehand.

Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker The Berry/Alright (2016)

Advertisement

And talking about making a statement on the Grammys stage... wow.

While that year’s decision to award Taylor Swift Album Of The Year over Kendrick Lamar may have been controversial in 2016, his was the performance that had everyone talking that year.

Just watch it to see what we mean.

Lady Gaga – Space Oddity/Changes/Ziggy Stardust/Suffragette City/Rebel Rebel/Fashion/Fame/Let’s Dance/Heroes (2016)

Advertisement

Lady Gaga managed to squeeze in a whopping 10 of David Bowie’s iconic hits into her tribute, a performance that divided opinion.

Some felt it reminded viewers of Bowie’s greatness and influence on pop music, while others – including the late musician’s son – were less impressed by the elaborate performance (and the fact it was so heavily sponsored by Intel).

Beyoncé – Love Drought/Sandcastles (2017)

Advertisement

Adele may have won the three biggest awards at the 2017 Grammys, even she admitted that the night really belonged to Beyoncé.

Bey’s elaborate and beautiful rendition of Love Drought and Sandcastles came shortly after the news that she and husband Jay-Z were expecting twins, and her 10-minute performance celebrated motherhood, serving as the perfect closer to her stunning Lemonade era.

Adele – Fastlove (2017)

Advertisement

A year after a rather shaky version of All I Ask, Adele opened the 2017 Grammys with a flawless rendition of Hello. Sadly, her second performance of the night didn’t go quite as smoothly.

Having been chosen to pay tribute to George Michael with a rearranged version of Fastlove, Adele restarted the performance a minute in, declaring: “I’m sorry. I can’t do it again like last year.

“I’m sorry for swearing and sorry for starting again, can we please start it again? I’m sorry, I can’t mess this up for [George]. I’m sorry.”

Advertisement

Kesha, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper and Julia Michaels – Praying (2018)

At the 2018 Grammys, the Time’s Up movement was a major talking point, which the stars in attendance honoured by wearing black and holding white roses on the red carpet.

This emphasis on honouring the survivors of sexual abuse, particularly in the work-place, made Kesha’s stunning version of Praying – surrounded by other female singers – all the more striking.

Advertisement

Janelle Monáe – Make Me Feel/PYNK (2019)

Janelle Monáe’s 2018 album Dirty Computer was accompanied by a short film of the same name, which was brought to life on the Grammys stage the following year.

And while Janelle may have gone home empty-handed on the night, this performance – which included provocative choreography, homages to Prince and *those* vulva trousers – was undoubtedly a stand-out.

Advertisement

Cardi B – Money (2019)

This performance was pretty much everything we love about Cardi B. It was in-your-face, it was loud, it was confident, it was totally extra, it was brilliant.

No, we’re not 100% convinced there wasn’t a bit of *ahem* help in the ol’ vocal department, but who else in the industry right now is going to give us a perfectly-executed routine on top of a grand piano, before giving a shout out to her infant daughter and strutting about in a leopard-print peacock tail?

Advertisement

Ariana Grande – Imagine/My Favourite Things/7 Rings/Thank U, Next (2020)

A year after snubbing the Grammys due to a dispute with organisers, this performance served as a victory lap for Ariana Grande at the end of her hugely successful Thank U, Next era.

After delivering some powerful vocals on album cut Imagine (and a quick blast of My Favourite Things from The Sound Of Music), Ari served a quick costume change and brought the house down with renditions of her chart-topping tunes 7 Rings and Thank U, Next.

Advertisement

Tyler, The Creator, Boyz II Men And Charlie Wilson – EARFQUAKE/NEW MAGIC WAND (2020)

Tyler, The Creator brought his unique brand of showmanship to the Grammys stage in 2020, the same year he’d take home his first award from the Music Academy.

Despite clocking in at under five minutes, Tyler took us on a wild ride with this performance, which included a Boyz II Men cameo, pyrotechnics, moshing and a whole lot of bowl cuts.

Advertisement

Demi Lovato – Anyone (2020)

This 2020 performance can’t have been an easy one for Demi Lovato.

Not only was it the first time they’d sung live in public since their near-fatal overdose two years earlier, they were also debuting a brand new song about their experiences written just days after they were hospitalised.

Accompanied by just a piano, the extremely personal lyrics really shone, and although the singer had to begin the number again near the beginning due to being too choked up, they ended up completely nailing their performance, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Advertisement

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion – Body/Savage/WAP/Up (2021)

After dominating the charts with their number one song WAP in 2020, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion were finally able to give their track the live debut it deserved a the following year’s Grammys.

The pair each performed a string of their solo hits on the night, but it was when they came together for an outrageous, raunchy and all-round WAP-tastic routine to their much-discussed collab that they really stole the show.

Advertisement

Taylor Swift – Cardigan/August/Willow (2021)

On a somewhat more subdued note, Taylor Swift brought her Folklore album to life when she created a whole world for her 2021 Grammys performance.

As well as performing tracks from Folklore and its follow-up Evermore, she also scooped Album Of The Year on the night, marking her third win in the prestigious category.

Advertisement

Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar (2021)

Bare-chested and wrapped up in a feather boa, Harry Styles certainly got the Grammys off to a special start in 2021 when he opened the show with this performance.

Frankly, we’ve still not recovered.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras – Unholy (2023)

Advertisement

If you cast your mind back to some of Sam Smith’s more subdued awards show appearances in the early years of their career, there was no indication a few years later they’d be dominating the conversation with a Grammys performance complete with choreography, pyrotechnics and a whooole lot of backlash from conservative critics.

Sam and collaborator Kim Petras gave their chart-topping hit Unholy its inaugural live performance at the 2023 Grammys – and it’s fair to say it got a few people talking.

Miley Cyrus – Flowers (2024)

Advertisement

To say that Miley Cyrus played the long game when it came to waiting for a Grammy would be something of an understatement.

The former Disney star finally won her first Grammy in 2024 – a full 17 years after releasing her first single – so when the time came to perform she was ready to perform.

First, she chastised the audience for not getting up and dancing with her (“why are you acting like you don’t know this song?” she demanded during the first chorus), and then jubilantly declared “I just won my first Grammy!” towards the end of the performance.

Advertisement

And the fact it was all done in Bob Mackie with some of the biggest hair to grace awards season in recent years was just the cherry on top.

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now (2024)

Despite being an 11-time Grammy recipient, Joni Mitchell had somehow never actually performed at the ceremony until as recently as 2024.

Advertisement

At 80 years old, Joni proved to everyone watching why she’s still considered such a legendary force within the music scene, with a star-studded backing band for this rendition of her signature tune, Both Sides Now.

The 2025 Grammys will take place on Sunday 2 February, with performances from the likes of Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii and Benson Boone to look forward to.

Miatamil

Listed here the latest Trending News

Trending Tag : Hollywood

Emily in Paris star Lily Collins welcomes first child as she shares sweet name

Hollywood's Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell announced the birth of their first child online as they shared their unique name and special meaning.

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Revealed

Revealed: The five most expensive streets in Darlington last year

The five most expensive streets in Darlington in 2024 have been revealed by HM Land Registry.

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Split

Ainsley Harriott's life off-screen from split to dark web 'assassination' bid

The Ready Steady Cook host is a beloved TV star

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : reveal

EFCC exposes Ex-AGF's multi-account scheme to loot public funds

A witness in the trial of former Acting AGF, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has revealed how the ex-AGF opened multiple bank accounts

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : sara davies

Dragon's Den star Sara Davies devastated over reaction on hit BBC show

Entrepreneur and former Strictly star Sara Davies has been in business since she was at university, but the mum of two admits there's one part of filming the hit BBC show that she finds devastating

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : sara davies

BBC Dragon's Den star Sara Davies says one part of show is 'devastating'

Savvy entrepreneur Sara Davies is a well-respected Dragon on the BBC series, but admits there's still one part of the show that she finds 'devastating'

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Villa

Quaint cottage for sale in Cambs village would make 'stunning family home'

The home is in a beautiful village just a short drive from Cambridge

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Villa

'Disappointed' - Emery shares true feelings about Duran after £65m transfer

Jhon Duran completed his big-money move to Al-Nassr from Aston Villa on Friday

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Jessica Chastain

Celebrity Secret Babies: Jessica Chastain, Kylie Jenner and More

Drake, Sandra Bullock and more celebs welcomed babies in secret, publicly revealing the happy news after the fact — see pics

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇

Trending Tag : Actor

Stanley Ontop Calls Out Naira Marley Over Lil Smart’s Disappearance

Nollywood actor and producer, Stanley Ontop has Called Out Naira Marley Over Lil Smart’s Disappearance

Read more >> : Cick here

Share on : 👇