Jennifer Lopez Performs Motown Tribute at 61st Annual GRAMMYs
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Jennifer Lopez (C) performs onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Jennifer Lopez gave a high-energy Motown tribute on the GRAMMYs stage Sunday, bringing the audience to its feet while founder Berry Gordy looked on.
After a touching introduction and tribute to his “best friend” Gordy, Smokey Robinson and Alicia Keys introduced Lopez for the medley.
Of being selected to perform the tribute, Lopez said she was “super excited” and “humbled.”
“I wanna dedicate this performance to my mom,” she told Ryan Seacrest during an interview with E! on the GRAMMY red carpet. “Because this is the music that we listened to our living room. I had three sisters so the three of us would like, be the Temptations, Supremes, everybody and my mom, this was her music and I grew up on it.”
“I think it’s made me the performer I am today,” she added.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 10: Jennifer Lopez and Smokey Robinson perform onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lopez kicked off the performance with a rendition of “Dancing in the Streets” and “Please Mr. Postman.” Next, Robinson joined JLo onstage to sing “My Girl,” before the singer donned a pink robe and fedora to perform the Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” with GRAMMYs host Alicia Keys.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Ne-Yo (L) and Jennifer Lopez perform onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Ne-Yo then joined the star-studded performance to sing Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star” while Lopez danced on the piano before closing out the incredible medley.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Jennifer Lopez (C) performs onstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
But in spite of the excitement during the performance, there was also quite a bit of skepticism and criticism of Lopez being chosen to perform at CBS’s upcoming Motown tribute, and on tonight’s show as well. For weeks, Twitter has been buzzing about the performance.
I have questions. https://t.co/UqkqAZzRV5
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) February 5, 2019
To all the non-black Latinos defending the Grammys decision to have Jennifer Lopez sing a Motown tribute: picture Ciara singing a Selena tribute. Okay then! #JenniferLopez #GRAMMYS pic.twitter.com/bqF2t5aRGF
— Jazmanian Devil (@Jaz_manianDevil) February 6, 2019
Robinson, however, defended the choice, saying “Motown music is for everybody.”
“I don’t think anyone who is intelligent is upset,” he told Variety. “I think anyone who is upset is stupid.”
