Lizzo Opens Grammys With a Big Win and Message of Love

The eight-time Grammy nominee opened the show with a performance she dedicated to Kobe Bryant.

Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.

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Tracy E. Gilchrist

January 26 2020 4:09 PM EST

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Lizzo opened the Grammys with a pitch-perfect mash-up of her hits that she dedicated to Kobe Bryant. Then, she picked up the first award handed out at the ceremony for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Truth Hurts" in a category that included Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish.

When Lizzo took the stage to open the show with "Cuz I Love You" and "Truth Hurts" she said, "Tonight is for Kobe," who died tragically in a helicopter crash with his daughter just hours before the show.

\u201cImportant to note that @lizzo\u2019s rise to the top of the charts has been years in the making. #GRAMMYs #JMC305 https://t.co/n86GiQI9Pz\u201d
— Alejandro De La Cerda (@Alejandro De La Cerda) 1580089038

In her speech, she hearkened to Bryant's sudden death and to the fragility of life and she spoke of getting back to making music that resonates and matters.

"We need to get back to making music that moves people again, making music that [bleeped out] liberates people," she said.

Lizzo then spoke of the power of reaching out to others. "If I hadn't reached out, I wouldn't have met my best friends. I don't know where I would be right now -- sleeping in my car," she said.

"Let's continue to reach out and hold each other down," she said to close her speech.

\u201c"Let's continue to reach out and hold each other down." @Lizzo accepts her #Grammys win for best pop solo performance with an emotional speech https://t.co/uKUpaz8cwl\u201d
— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter) 1580089301

Lizzo is nominated for a total of eight Grammys including for song, album, and new artist.