Every year theGrammypresents awards to the world's greatest artists and honors the greatest offering of music over the last 12 months.
However, what excites us the most is the idea of A-list performances, with huge stars gracing the stage to deliver unforgettable, shocking, and sometimes outrageous renditions of their hits in hopes of being the most prominent star. pm
With tons of offerings to choose from, we've selected 33 of the acts that have accompanied us for decades and here they are, from oldest to newest...
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love for You (1986)
For many music fans, this 1986 Grammy performance will have been the first time they heard the band's distinctive and incomparable live vocalsWhitney Houston.
Not the most impressive performance he had ever given, of course, but it was a clear sign of how promising he was to come.
Whitney Houston - I'll Always Love You (1994)
Eight years later, Whitney had become one of the biggest stars in the world and was riding a huge wave of success after appearing in The Bodyguard.
By the time the 1994 Grammys were in circulation (and indeed for many years after), there was no escaping this song, but there was no escaping it in its pristine live form either.
Aretha Franklin - Sleepless (1998)
According to the story, Luciano Pavarotti was originally scheduled to perform but pulled out at the last minute on doctors' orders, leaving his friend behindAretha Franklinintervene in his place.
With limited rehearsal time, the soul singer surprised everyone with her talent that evening.
It's an interpretation that shouldn't work on any level, but who could seriously disagree with these voices?
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters (1999)
The film Evita and the album Ray Of Light helped get it startedVirgoAfter a few years, these projects were met with a lukewarm reception.
Ray Of Light earned critical acclaim and massive chart success, but the icing on the cake was that the Queen of Pop finally won her first Grammy and delivered this stunning and surprisingly haunting performance that night.
Eminem & Elton John – Stan (2001)
A collaboration no one saw comingEminemjElton Johnmade headlines around the world when the Your Song singer stepped in to replace Dido's roles in Stan.
The performance was seen by many as a response to critics who criticized Eminem's previous homophobic lyrics, particularly when the two ended up bonding in solidarity.
However, almost 20 years later, the rapperwould still receive criticism for his use of anti-LGBTQ language in his music...
Lady Marmalade (2002) starring Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott and Patti LaBelle
This performance by Lady Marmalade allowed each of the four performers on the track to enjoy their time in the spotlight, complete with all the sequins, feathers and long hair it has become synonymous with before they came together as a foursome.
As if there wasn't enough talent on stage already, they were joined first by Missy Elliott and then by her original cast member Patti LaBelle, who taught these younger cast members a thing or two about hitting the high notes.
The. An achievement.
Prince and Beyoncé - Purple Rain / Baby, I'm a Celebrity / Let's Go Crazy / Mad in Love (2004)
We all know that nobody had a better eye when it came to rising stars and new talentPrinz, so it is not surprising that right at the beginningBeyoncesolo career, he chose her to perform with him at the Grammys.
Needless to say, this isn't Beyoncé's last appearance on this list.
Gorillaz, De La Soul und Madonna – Feel Good Inc/Hung Up (2006)
Listen, we all know Madonna as a big pop star, but it's not unfair to say that her sense of humor is something she's... least associated with.
For that reason, it was great to see her interact with Gorillaz at the 2006 Grammys, when she first crashed her Feel Good Inc performance before kicking off with a high-energy version of her hit song Hung Up.
The Girls - They're Not Ready to Make Up (2007)
It was a difficult time for The Chicks, then known by their old nickname, ahead of their 2007 Grammy performance.
The group has been at the center of controversy when they have criticized then-President George W. Bush and the Iraq war, leading to rejection from the country music community and to verbal abuse and even death threats.
In their defiant performance at the 2007 Grammys, they responded to backlash with Not Ready To Make Nice, and the group became the night's big winners, taking home all five awards for which they had been nominated, including "the big three." “.
Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good / Rehab (2008)
By the timeamy vinoThe Grammys performance came, the sad truth was that while everyone was talking about her, it rarely had anything to do with her songwriting talent or her unparalleled vocal ability.
In fact, his Grammy performance was broadcast live via satellite link as he was not granted a visa to enter the United States for the ceremony.
Nonetheless, with this performance he managed to silence all his critics and remind everyone why he had become one of the most famous people in the world in the first place.
Beyoncé and Tina Turner - Déjà Vu/What Love Has To Do With It/Proud Mary (2008)
And as if the duet with Prince wasn't enough, four years later Beyoncé was hired to introduce the legendary Tina Turner, only for the two to perform the classic Proud Mary together.
Tina seemed super excited to share the stage with Beyoncé, while Queen Bey really held her own alongside one of her idols without outshining her.
The stuff legendary duos are made of. Also... what a brilliant introduction from Cher.
Lady Gaga and Elton John – Pokerface/Speechless/Your Song (2010)
When she made her Grammy debutLady GagaShe was already the biggest star in the world, so the stakes were high for her first appearance there.
did you manage it Alright, let's see.
Ridiculous introduction of OTT? Check over. giant sets? Check over. Some songs? Check over. Incredible outfit? Check over. Performing alongside a music legend and proving after only a few years of their career that they were already contemporaries? Check over.
We'd say that's a resounding yes.
Pink - Glitter in the Air (2010)
RosaFans had long known how much he invested in his live performances before his solo performance on the Grammy stage, but in 2010 he made sure the world knew about it.
Pink sang the haunting ballad Glitter In The Air, first making her way through the crowd before doing aerial aerobics while hanging from the ceiling as she sang along to the track.
Jennifer Hudson - I'll Always Love You (2012)
Throughout her life, Whitney made multiple appearances at the Grammys, each time bringing down the house with her powerful voice.
His death in 2012 came just 24 hours before this year's ceremony, and organizers would have been remiss if they hadn't put together a tribute.
it was so decidedjennifer hudsonShe was the star with the vocal ability to do Whitney justice, and with less than a day of preparation, we can't imagine how this moving performance could have been improved.
Nicki Minaj - Roman's Revenge / I Feel Pretty / Roman Holiday (2012)
Without a doubt one of the most impressive productions to grace the Grammy stage,Nicki MinajShe certainly caused a stir with her debut at the awards ceremony.
Having already arrived at the show on the arm of a man dressed as the Pope, he began his set with a bang on a confessional booth.
After a brief short film, he then staged a live exorcism on stage, culminating in his levitation to the ceiling, all in the persona of his alter ego Roman Zolanski.
Adele - Rolling Deep (2012)
Another performance that hits even harder when you know the context behind it was the Grammys in 2012Adela's first live performance after throat surgery.
The world hadn't heard her sing for a long time, and fears began to arise as to whether she would ever be able to repeat her earlier singing performance. We obviously shouldn't have worried.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z: Drunk on Love (2014)
The music world was still reeling from the shock release of their self-titled visual albumBeyoncetook the stage at the Grammys in 2014.
This time she wasn't a member of Destiny's Child, she wasn't promoting a song from a movie, and she wasn't anyone's special guest.
Standing on her own two feet, it felt like she had really cemented her place as a superstar after years as one of the world's most celebrated singers.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty, Madonna und Queen Latifah – Same Love/Open Your Heart (2014)
At a time when the debate about same-sex marriage was still raging in America, Macklemore decided to use her spot at the Grammys to make a bold statement.
With her song "Same Love," 33 couples of all sexes and genders gathered to be married on the spot (managed by Queen Latifah, of course) before Madonna appeared dressed as a cowgirl to sing "Open Your Heart" with a gospel choir .
While it sounds like a clumsy and possibly even disingenuous stunt on paper, every time we watch this clip again it has us fighting back tears.
Sia - Candelaber (2015)
If you're a singer who's known for never showing your face and standing in the corner during live performances, how do you make an impression at a public show like the Grammys?
They're bringing Maddie Ziegler, Kristen Wiig, some wigs and of course the set for a Hoarders episode.
Katy Perry - By the Grace of God (2015)
Best known for her polished, cartoonish acting style,Katy PerryShe took it off for her performance at the 2015 Grammys.
She performed the lesser-known ballad By The Grace Of God, which discusses the suicidal feelings she felt towards the end of her marriage.
The performance was in support of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, with a brief message from Barack Obama in support of the #ItsOnUs campaign played shortly before.
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry / Muy Bien (2016)
Speaking of making a statement on stage at the Grammys... wow.
During this year's decision to name Taylor Swift Album of the YearKendrick Lamarmay have been controversial in 2016,AreIt was the performance that got everyone talking that year.
Just take a look to see what we mean.
Lady Gaga – Space Oddity/Changes/Ziggy Stardust/Suffragette City/Rebel Rebel/Moda/Fama/Let’s Dance/Helden (2016)
Lady Gaga managed to squeeze out a whopping 10David Bowie's iconic hits in their tribute, a performance that divided opinions.
Some felt it reminded viewers of Bowie's size and influence on pop music, while others, including the late musician's son, were less impressed with the lavish performance (and the fact that it was heavily sponsored by Intel). ).
Beyoncé - Love Drought/Sandcastles (2017)
Adele may have even won all three of the biggest awards at the 2017 Grammysellaadmitted that the night really did belong to Beyoncé.
Bey's lavish and gorgeous renditions of "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles" followed the news that she and husband Jay-Z were expecting twins, and her 10-minute performance celebrated motherhood and provided the perfect glimpse into her stunning era.
Adele - Fast Love (2017)
A year after a rather shaky rendition of "All I Ask," Adele opened the 2017 Grammys with a flawless rendition of "Hello." Unfortunately, his second performance that night didn't go so smoothly.
Chosen to pay homage to himGeorge MichaelWith a rearranged version of Fastlove, Adele restarted the performance a minute later, declaring, "I'm sorry. Like last year, I can't do it again.
"Sorry for the swearing and sorry for the fresh start, can we start fresh? Sorry I can't spoil this [George]. I'm sorry."
Kesha, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper and Julia Michaels - Pray (2018)
The 2018 Grammys focused on the Time's Up movement, whose stars in attendance were honored by wearing black and white roses on the red carpet.
This emphasis on honoring survivors of sexual abuse, particularly in the workplace, made Kesha's stunning rendition of Praying, surrounded by fellow singers, all the more compelling.
Janelle Monáe - Make Me Feel / PYNK (2019)
Janelle MonaeThe 2018 Dirty Computer album was accompanied by a short film of the same name, which came to life on the Grammy stage the following year.
And while Janelle may have gone home empty-handed that night, this performance — complete with provocative choreography, tributes to Prince, and *those* vulva panties — certainly stood out.
Cardi B - Dinero (2019)
That performance was pretty much all we lovedcardi b. He was direct, strong, confident, totally extra, he was brilliant.
No, we're not 100% convinced that there isn't a little *um* help in the old vocal department, but who else in the industry right now is going to give us a perfectly executed routine on the grand piano, yelling at your little daughter and in strutting around in a leopard print peacock tail?
Ariana Grande - Imagine / My Favorite Things / 7 Rings / Thank You Next (2020)
A year after he snubbed the Grammys over a dispute with the organizers, that performance served as a victory lap forAriana Grandeat the end of their successful Thank U, Next era.
After delivering some powerful vocals on the Imagine album cut (and a brief blast of The Sound Of Music's My Favorite Things), Ari quickly changed her wardrobe and rocked the house with renditions of her songs 7 Rings and Thank U They surpassed charts. Next.
Tyler, The Creator, Boyz II Men und Charlie Wilson – EARFQUAKE/NEW MAGIC RAND (2020)
Tyler, The Creator brought his unique showmanship to the Grammy stage in 2020, the same year he would take home his first Academy of Music award.
Although Tyler took less than five minutes to complete, he took us on a wild ride with this performance that included a cameo by Boyz II Men, pyrotechnics, moshing and morequitemany bowl cuts.
Demi Lovato - Everyone (2020)
This 2020 achievement can't have been easy for Demi Lovato. Not only was it the first time they'd performed live in public since their near-fatal drug overdose two years ago, but they also presented a new song about their experience, written just days after her hospitalization.
Accompanied only by the piano, the very personal lyrics really shone, and although the singer had to start the number over just before the beginning due to being too swallowable, they totally nailed their performance by the end, and not a dry eye stayed.
Cardi B y Megan Thee Hengst – Body/Savage/WAP/Up (2021)
After dominating the charts in 2020 with their number one song WAP, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion were finally able to give their song the live debut it deserved at the following year's Grammys.
The two each performed a string of their solo hits that night, but when they teamed up for an outrageous, raunchy, full-length WAP-tastic routine for their much-discussed collaboration, they really stole the show.
Unfortunately, the full edition is not currently available on YouTube, so please enjoy Entertainment Tonight's previous highlights.
Taylor Swift – Rebecca/August/Sauce (2021)
On a slightly more moderate note, Taylor3Swift brought her folklore album to life as she created an entire world for her 2021 Grammys performance.
In addition to performing songs from Folklore and its follow-up Evermore, she was also named Album of the Year for the night, marking her third win in the prestigious category.
Harry Styles - Wassermelonenzucker (2021)
Shirtless and clad in a feather boa, Harry Styles certainly got the 2021 Grammys off to a special start when he opened the show with this performance. To be honest, we still haven't recovered.
The 2023 Grammys take place on Sunday February 5th.