But before the broadcast even began, Cee Lo stole the spotlight with his gold-plated get-up and smooth red carpet getaway — proving that if you can't win a Grammy, you may as well look like one.
why is cee lo green out there looking like a ferrero rocher?#GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/ujcMxpOUzY
— anna (@nutellaANDpizza) February 13, 2017
CeeLo Green left early coz he didn't win any #GRAMMYs 💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/9LQBX8RBGl
— Fαyme (@Fayme_K) February 13, 2017
Adele then kicked off the broadcast, appropriately enough welcoming the audience with a performance of "Hello."
The first televised award went to Chance the Rapper, who enthusiastically accepted the Best New Artist trophy with a speech that heard him thank God, his family and his hometown of Chicago. He also stuck it to the get-off-the-stage music, talking over it to declare that: "Independence means freedom."
It wasn't all straight-up love, though. A few political statements made their way beyond just the red carpet and into the night's introductions and acceptance speeches, too. Host James Corden worked a Donald Trump jab into his opening number, while presenter Paris Jackson offered her support for the Dakota Access Pipeline protestors before Daft Punk and the Weeknd went totally Darth Vader on the audience for a live rendition of "I Feel It Coming."
Beyoncé delivered another one of the show's most memorable performances, showcasing her newest family members with a glorious medley of Lemonade cuts "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles," while a proud-looking Jay Z and Blue Ivy cheered on from the crowd. She later returned to the stage to steal the stage with a poignant acceptance speech for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Also on the bill were pair-up performances from Alicia Keys and Maren Morris, Lady Gaga and Metallica (doing "Moth Into Flame" during which frontman James Hetfield's mic was mysteriously off) and a politically-charged punch-up courtesy of A Tribe Called Quest and Anderson .Paak. Watch those performances below.
Standing ovation for our own @MarenMorris and @aliciakeys! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/2grT19Ba2J
— Michelle Rodriguez (@michrod) February 13, 2017
Gaga + Metallica = 🔥 #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/oaJ4BjRoVj
— billboard (@billboard) February 13, 2017
Hip-hop legends A Tribe Called Quest bring the 🔥🔥🔥 and get political at the #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/fFEfJSnFYT
— Mashable (@mashable) February 13, 2017
You'll also find footage of Sturgill Simpson backed by the Dap Kings, and Chance the Rapper's gospel choir-assisted performance down below.
.@chancetherapper is a national treasure. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/pV1cETpGUv
— Mashable (@mashable) February 13, 2017
Furthermore, there were tributes to some of the music world's most dearly departed. Adele reclaimed the stage to honour George Michael with a rendition of "Fastlove" that heard her stop mid-song, swear and restart the the whole thing — a move that earned her all the more encouragement from the audience.
#GRAMMYs: @Adele starts her George Michael tribute over, says "I can't mess this up for him." https://t.co/g0DflCvEzK pic.twitter.com/ByvdZO7722
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 13, 2017
Bruno Mars, meanwhile, channelled his inner purpleness and performed a tribute to Prince with the Time.
Bruno Mars covers #Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/9GO7Ths3OS
— bmr (@bmrjp) February 13, 2017
The whole show came to a close with Album of the Year winner Adele basically offering up her Grammy to Beyoncé in a teary, heartfelt speech. Check out the award-sharing message below.
The moment Adele Kanye'd herself and said, Imma let myself finish but Beyonce had the Album of the Year #Grammys pic.twitter.com/8ohJemJOEk
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) February 13, 2017
For a recap of all the evening's winners head over here.