2024 Grammy High!

    What a fantastic live event last night on TV! I enjoyed every moment of watching "The Grammys." The music, the stars in fancy dress, and the surprise winners made an entertaining evening. Older stars performed with new starlings as I sat at home watching from my living room. How did my favorite singers grow so old while I am still young...at heart! Stevie Wonder is now 73, Joni Mitchell is 80 and Billy Joel is 74 years old. They were still rocking it as they won awards, sang, and danced. Cilon Dion surprised everyone as a presenter, but did not sing. Stevie Wonder sang a duet with a hologram of Tony Bennet who would be 96 years old now. At the end of the song, Tony whispered, "Stevie Wonder." 
    Billie Eilish is now 23 years old and sat at a table with her 26-year-old songwriter brother Finneas and their parents. Billie performed her latest hit with neon red hair in a vintage school uniform. Finneas wrote the song and played the piano. I loved the words, "What was I made for?" Billie doesn't really need to wonder since she won her first Grammy at age 18 in all of the four main categories. 
     Miley Cyrus won her first Grammy tonight in her 18-year career. Taylor Swift won her first Grammy at age 20. Taylor and the newly slim Oprah Winfrey danced to Miley's song, "Flowers." Taylor won her 13th Grammy and then announced that her next album, "The Tortured Department" is coming out this April 13 because 13 is her favorite number, she was born on the 13th and turned 13 on Friday, the 13th.  The crowd cheered! She also writes 13 on her hand before every concert. Taylor was gracious and thanked her fans for their support. I read she had to ask permission from the Japanese government to fly to the Grammy Awards immediately after her Tokyo concert. She sat next to Ed Sheeran at the event who was also nominated, but he did not win a Grammy. 
     There were many funny 'off the script moments' that made the crowd laugh. A young, female singer arrived late on stage and said she was changing into her dress. Then she started crying and waved saying, "Hi Taylor" who laughed with her in return. Billy Joel asked the female Emcee how many times he had sold out shows in Madison Garden. She just laughed and shook her head with no reply. Actually, Billy sold it out 150 times! There was a unique duet with a hologram of Tony Bennet singing with a live Stevie Wonder on the piano. Tony even spoke at the end and said, "Stevie Wonder." Will this be the concerts of the future with our stars who live forever? 
     What were my favorite songs of the evening? The first was when Joni Mitchell sang "Both Sides Now" from a chair on stage. I bought her first album when I was in High School. I know so many of her songs by heart. I had tears in my eyes watching her sing. Annie Lennox sang a tribute song to Sinead O'Connor who passed away this year. Annie ended up in tears by the end of "Nothing Compares to You." Tina Turner's tribute song inspired the crowd to stand up and dance. Lionel Richie presented the award for "Song of Year" from the Barbie movie, "What Was I Made For?" to Billie Eilish and her brother. Billie had on her Barbie jacket and said, "This is stupid. It feels crazy and I am shocked out of my balls." She wrote the song with her brother and felt humbled. Her parents and brother just smiled at her from the table. It was a proud family moment. 
     Next, Lionel Richie played a song he recorded with Michael Jackson called "We Are the World" 38 years ago. Too many talented musicians are now gone from this planet, but their music lives on. There were still more surprises coming. It was a long show, but I never left the couch because it was LIVE and I didn't want to miss a thing! 
    A surprise song was performed live in The Sphere from Las Vegas. I can see the top of the Sphere from my home when I stand outside. My husband and I discovered this on New Year's Eve when we walked outside at midnight to watch the fireworks and saw the top of The Sphere instead. Anyways, back to the Grammy's and the U2 song performed inside the Sphere. Bono presented an award to the Grammy winner sitting back in the Los Angeles venue. Pretty cool! 
    Joni Mitchell sang a song at the age of 80 with her new, lower voice. I was choked up and fought back tears. I have a memory of hearing Joni singing in 1974 standing outside the University of Colorado basketball stadium with other fans who couldn't get a ticket. Joni won a Grammy for "Best Folk Album" last night. The crowd gave her a standing ovation as she teared up. The evening was full of musical moments that brought joy and left all of us with a Grammy High!

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