Celebrities are paying tribute toKobe Bryantat the 2020Grammy Awardshours after he and his daughter Gianna, 13,died in a helicopter crash.
Rancic also expressed her condolences: “As a mother, as a wife, as a human, my heart goes out to Vanessa and their family tonight, first and foremost.”
Be sure to check out PEOPLE’sfull Grammy Awards coverageto get the latest news on music’s biggest night.
Gianna Bryant, Kobe Bryant.Allen Berezovsky/Getty
Seacrest then said he and Rancic received the “unthinkable” news this morning. “This is a man in a family that we’ve gotten to know over the years. We’ve seen him play here before. He was on the phone with me a few months ago talking about the love of being a father, talking about his daughters so pridefully, and I think that so many artists here tonight will be thinking about this, and wanting to share their stories.”
Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
DJ Khaledwalked the red carpet in a black tuxedo while holding a t-shirt from 1996, the year that Bryant decided to skip playing basketball in high school and enter the NBA draft, that showed a photo of him holding his first-ever Los Angeles Lakers Jersey. The “Just Us” singer revealed toE!that the tribute he and John Legend had planned for the late rapper Nipsey Hussle during the awards show would also be paying “homage” to Bryant and his daughter.
“God is greatness, a blessing, but you know, we’re doing a tribute for Nipsey Hussle,” he said on the red carpet. “We also want to pay homage and show love to Kobe Bryant, and his daughter, Gianna. The news is devastating. It’s hard to even celebrate, but what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna lift the spirits and pay homage and show love because, like Nipsey would say, the marathon continues.”
DJ Khaled at the Grammys on Jan. 26.Lester Cohen/Getty
While speaking with PEOPLE on the red carpet ahead of the Grammys, Wycleff Jean said he was still trying to “process” the news.
“You feel like a hammer hit your heart. This is someone personally I’ve known and spoken to on the phone. You meet this guy and he’s the most incredible, nicest teddy bear. An example to all of us — an idea of how you’re supposed to be with your family and how you’re supposed to be with your kids,” he said. “There’s really no words for it.”
RELATED VIDEO: Wycleff Jean Calls Kobe Bryant The ‘Most Incredible, Nicest Teddy Bear’ and An ‘Example To All Of Us’
Diploalso told E! he “didn’t believe” the news at first.
“He was so young,” the singer said. “My age, 41. And he had so much more to do. To be here at Staples right now, and to look up. We see his jersey up there. Just feel the energy because we do the Grammys right here but you know, 82 games a year they’re playing in the stadium. Kobe brought this energy to Los Angeles for 20 years.”
Kobe Bryant.Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty
Smokey Robinsongave Seacrest a hug on the red carpet before discussing his feelings about Bryant’s death, adding that it was a “very solemn day,” but he hoped people will still celebrate music through the evening.
“I hate that it had to happen on a day when we are celebrating music and all of that,” Robinson said. “It’s horrible. I know it’s going to be somber, but I just want us to celebrate. that’s what we had planned before any of this happened and this kind of put a damper on it.”
“I just feel like as a true champion, the champion Kobe was, I believe he would want us to celebrate his legacy, starting with the night, and whoever get on that stage, whoever bring one of those home, they gotta hold it up for the black mamba,” Ross continued.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Rapper YBN Cordaeopened up to PEOPLEabout learning of the NBA superstar’s passing, calling his death “a complete tragedy.”
“It’s just a complete tragedy, man. That’s all you can use to describe it,” he said. “Rest in peace to his daughter. It’s a complete tragedy.”
Actress Priyanka Chopra shared a photo of her manicured nails on her Instagram story, which displayed the number 24 written in what appears to be Sharpie on her index finger. “#RIPMamba” she captioned the photo on her Instagram story.
RapperCommontoldE!that he is turning to God to help him get through the news and think positively.
“In these situations I’m doing my best to just give it to the creator and try to spread the joy, think about the positive things and send as much love to his family,” he said. “We all feel it in our own way, but his family and his loved ones feel it in another way. I am just giving it to God and hopefully, today we can celebrate through music and different things. But there’s nothing that can take away from what life is. I just want to say ‘God bless his soul and his daughter, and everyone who was on that helicopter.”
At the end of their performance, DJ Khaled said “RIP Nipsey Hussle, RIP Kobe Bryant, RIP Gianna, Long Live Nip.”
H.E.R. also paid her respects to the late athlete and how he “inspires” her.
“Honestly, Kobe inspires me and gives me motivation because of his drive and how hard he works,” the “Could’ve Been” singer said. “Everybody knows Kobe for how hard he works. I want to channel that same energy. I look up to that. He is a legend.”
“Tonight is for Kobe,” she said.
“Here we are together on music’s biggest night celebrating the artists that do it best,” Keys said. “But to be honest with you, we’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today, Los Angeles, America, and the whole wide world lost a hero. We’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”
After her performance, while sitting at a piano, Keys said she was going to continue with the show because “Kobe would want us to keep the vibrations high.”
Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men honor Kobe Bryant at the 2020 Grammy Awards.Kevin Winter/Getty
Aerosmith also paid tribute to Bryant’s legacy during their performance alongside Run-DMC. While they rocked out, they held up Bryant’s #24 jersey from his time as a shooting guard on the Lakers.
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevork Djansezian/Getty
Tyler the Creator told PEOPLE during the show that he had mixed emotions throughout the night after winning the Grammy for best rap album.
“That news was heavy, especially being in LA and just being here at the Staples Center within a short period of time between him and NIpsey,” he said. “If you’re from Los Angeles, depending on the sector you’re in that shit is really, really heavy. We took an L tonight. RIP to Kobe — that hurt — but also we took a win just being from Los Angeles and taking it home. It’s mixed emotions.”
TMZ first reported that Bryant and his daughter werekilled in a helicopter crashin Calabasas, California, on Sunday morning. They had reportedly been headed to a youth basketball game.
Allen Berezovsky/Getty
Throughout the day,stars mourned the lossof the five-time NBA champion and his daughter on social media.
Ahead of the awards show, singerJohn Legendtweeted: “I’m so sad and stunned right now. In Staples Arena, where Kobe created so many memories for all of us, preparing to pay tribute to another brilliant man we lost too soon, [slain rapper]Nipsey Hussle. Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes. Hold on to your loved ones. We miss you, Kobe.”
“This can’t be real ???? there’s no way!!! My heart hurts,”Khloé Kardashianshared on Twitter.
“Nooooooooooo God please No!,” fellow retired basketball playerDwyane Wadeshared after hearing the news.
RapperA$AP Rockytweeted, “RIP KOBE , SO SAD , SUCH A SAD DAY N SAD NEWS , WE LOVE U,” while NFL star JJ Watt shared, “Can’t be true. Just can’t be. Truly truly horrific. Rest In Peace Kobe.”
Tune into the 62nd annualGrammy Awardsat 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.
source: people.com
