Grammy Awards host Keys asks the audience to remember the basketball legend, who died in a helicopter crash just hours earlier, before singing 'It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday' with Boyz II Men.

AceShowbiz - Alicia Keys led a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the 2020 Grammy Awards. Moments after Lizzo kicked off the show with her performance of "Cuz I Love You" and "Truth Hurts", the R&B star took the stage to deliver a somber opening monologue.

"Here we are together on Music's Biggest Night," she started off. "But to be honest with you, we're all feeling crazy sad right now because earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero, and we're literally standing in here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built."

She continued remembering the former Lakers player, "Right now Kobe and his daughter Gianna, and all of those that have been tragically lost today are in our spirits. They're in our hearts. They're in our prayers. They're in this building. I would like to ask everybody to take a moment and just hold them inside of you... and share our strength and our support with their families. We never imagined in a million years we'd have to start the show like this. Never, never, never, never. So we wanted to do something that would describe, just a tiny bit, how we all feel right now."

Keys then began singing an a capella version of Boyz II Men's single "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye To Yesterday", with the group joining her onstage for a surprise performance. "We love you Kobe," Keys said at the end of the song.

Lizzo also dedicated her performance to Bryant earlier on the show. "This one's for Kobe, she shouted before launching into a powerhouse performance of "Cuz I Love You".

Ryan Seacrest, who hosted E!'s "Live From the Red Carpet" with Giuliana Rancic, opened the live coverage by talking about the NBA legend. "We are starting the show on a very somber note," he said. "We want to take a moment to say we are deeply saddened by the passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the others aboard the helicopter which tragically crashed today in Calabasas, California."

"Kobe was 41 years old and was one of the greatest basketball players and greatest athletes to ever live," he added. "His loss will be felt even more deeply tonight at a place he considered home. This is the Staples Center. We're sending our heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife and the family he left behind. His absence will be felt by so many people that he touched."

Rancic chimed in, "My heart is so heavy today, like so many people watching...as a mother, as a wife, as a human, my heart goes out to Vanessa and her family tonight." Seacrest went on sharing his memory of Bryant, "This is a man we have gotten to know over the years. 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."

Bryant and his daughter Gianna were on their way to Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California when the helicopter they boarded on crashed on Sunday, January 26 in Calabasas, California. The duo and seven others on board were killed.

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