At the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Stevie Wonder paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Tony Bennett during the annual “In Memoriam” segment. Bennett, who passed away in July at the age of 96, was honored by Wonder through a moving duet performance. Seated at his piano, Wonder began by singing “For Once in My Life” alongside an archival video of Bennett singing. He then continued with a rendition of Bennett’s iconic song, “The Best Is Yet to Come.”
Recalling his first encounter with Bennett’s “For Once in My Life” as a 13 or 14-year-old, Wonder shared his journey of releasing his own version of the song in 1968 when he was just 18. He humorously recounted the initial shock of the song’s co-writer, Ron Miller, when Wonder and Bennett later performed it as a duet for Bennett’s 2006 album “Duets,” which subsequently won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2007.
Expressing deep admiration for Bennett, Wonder emotionally spoke about the late icon’s love for art, peace, unity, and civil rights. He emphasized the significance of being able to sing with someone he had admired for so long, not only for his incredible voice but also for his commitment to important values. In a poignant conclusion, Wonder declared, “Tony, I’m going to miss you forever. I love you always, and God bless that God allowed us to have you and have us in this time and space in our life.”
Following Stevie Wonder’s tribute, the “In Memoriam” segment continued with a video snippet of Jimmy Buffett singing “Come Monday,” after which Annie Lennox took the stage to deliver a tearful rendition of Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares to U.” Lennox, visibly moved, concluded with a message of unity and peace, declaring, “Artists for ceasefire, peace in the world!”
The tribute segment continued with Jon Batiste, who performed a medley of songs – “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Stand by Me,” and “Optimistic” – in honor of Clarence Avant. Avant, a renowned music executive and manager known as the “Black Godfather of Music,” played a pivotal role in the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, and other artists.
The culmination of the “In Memoriam” segment featured Oprah Winfrey paying homage to Tina Turner. Describing Turner as the “forever goddess of rock and roll” and a symbol of grace, grit, soul, and power, Winfrey shared personal anecdotes about Turner’s advice on self-confidence and dressing up for oneself. The tribute concluded with Fantasia Barrino, star of “The Color Purple,” delivering a spirited cover of Turner’s classic hit, “Proud Mary.”
In these heartfelt tributes, the Grammy Awards honored the legacies of iconic figures in the music industry, celebrating their contributions and impact on generations of music lovers.