LOS ANGELES (MEDIA GENERAL) — The Grammy Awards are music’s biggest night, full of jaw-dropping performances, touching tributes — and lots of politics.
Taylor Swift and “Uptown Funk” took home the biggest awards of the evening, but here are some of the other memorable moments to bring up at the water cooler.LIONEL RICHIE TRIBUTE – FEATURING LIONEL
With an incredibly stacked group of performers, there was no doubt the tribute to MusiCares Person of the Year Lionel Richie was going to be great.
John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor and Tyrese all delivered stunning performances — but when Richie himself jumped on stage, the performance hit another level.
TAYLOR SWIFT BEING SUPER SWEET
Everyone knows Taylor Swift defines #squadgoals on a daily basis. Her clique is beautiful, talented, and she seems to add new members every day.
Monday night, she took her sweetness to new levels when long-time friend Ed Sheeran won Song of the Year for his hit “Thinking Out Loud” – an award that Swift was also nominated for.
When Stevie Wonder finally announced the winner, she jumped out of her seat cheering and clapping, bear-hugging Sheeran before he went onstage to give his acceptance speech.
Props, Taylor. You’re the best friend we all wish we had.
HAMILTON’S BROADWAY BREAK OUT
A surprising highlight, the Grammy audience and social media blew up during a live telecast performance from the cast of “Hamilton,” a new hip-hip musical based on the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton.
The show also took home the award for Best Musical Theater Album.
KENDRICK LAMAR ON FIRE
With 11 nominations and one of the most innovative hip-hop albums of all time, Rap Album of the Year winner Kendrick Lamar was given ample time to showcase his amazing work on the Grammy stage.
And Lamar took full advantage of it – his performance was on fire, literally.GAGA’S FLAWLESS BOWIE TRIBUTE
Taking us on journey through the musical highlights of the late, great David Bowie’s catalog, Lady Gaga gave a touching tribute to Ziggy Stardust that won’t soon be forgotten.
The perfect artist for the job, Gaga delivered pomp and pageantry that would impress Bowie himself. She soared through nine of Bowie’s biggest hits, finishing off with “Hero.”
TAYLOR’S INSPIRING MESSAGE – OR DIS?
Now a two-time winner of Album of the Year (and 10 Grammys overall), Taylor Swift had a few important things to say when she accepted her esteemed award.
Swift delivered an empowering message about success to women in the industry –and a thinly-veiled jab at Kanye West for his latest offense, taking credit for her fame.
West, who dropped his new album The Life of Pablo last week, just can’t seem to let that Beyoncé had the greatest album of the year’ thing from 2010 rest—even after they famously made up at last year’s Grammys.
Like usual, West took it way too far on the new track, “Famous,” sounding off with an extremely denigrating statement about Swift — we’ll just leave it at that – that would no-doubt offend her as both an artist and a woman.
“Someday when you get where you’re going,” Swift said, “you’ll look around and know that it was you and the people who loved you who put you there.”
Sorry, Kanye, but this time Taylor gets the last word—and the big, shiny award.