Lizzo Opens Grammys With Dedication to Kobe

The Grammy Awards opened with a performance by Lizzo—and Lizzo opened her performance with a fitting dedication. "Tonight is for Kobe," she said before launching into the music. Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were killed in a helicopter crash hours before the ceremony began at the Staples Center, where Bryant played with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2016. "We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," host Alicia Keys said as she took the stage following the performance. She then launched into "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" as Boyz II Men came onstage to join her in the a cappella performance.

Dozens of Grammys were actually handed out before the televised ceremony began, in the pre-telecast ceremony, the New York Times reports. That ceremony began with a moment of silence for Bryant. Vulture has a list of the awards handed out there. (Keep checking our story here to see the awards and performances of the telecast.)