Most Shocking Grammy Award Moments — From Kanye Butting In To Madonna’s Bare Booty!
Jan. 28 2020, Updated 3:36 p.m. ET
Stars will hit the 62nd annual Grammy Awards this Sunday in the first big music show of the new decade.
The event has featured shocking moments for years, and this time will highlight such hot performers as Ariana Grande, Rosalia, Lizzo, and Billie Eilish.
A bizarre behind-the-scenes scandal has already marred the proceedings as the Recording Academy, which puts on the annual ceremony, announced its chief executive, Deborah Dugan, has been placed on administrative leave after a “formal allegation of misconduct by a senior female member” of the organization.
The first female chief executive and president was ousted just days ahead of the Jan. 26 ceremony.
Dugan responded with allegations of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unequal pay on the part of the academy. The organization's brass denied the allegations.
She then made the shocking charge that the Grammys are rigged!
Bill Freimuth, the chief awards officer at the Recording Academy, denied Dugan’s claims.
“Spurious allegations claiming members or committees use our process to push forward nominations for artists they have relationships with are categorically false, misleading and wrong,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
But according to Page Six, Taylor Swift canceled her planned surprise Grammys performance of her song "The Man" over the sexism talk. She reportedly won't even attend music's biggest night on Sunday.
In front of the cameras, the Grammy awards always find a way to shock and surprise.
Madonna wore a wacky Givenchy Couture matador costume to the 2015 event and suddenly lifted up her dress as she walked the red carpet, flashing her butt!
After Kanye West stunned the crowd at the VMAs in 2009 by rudely interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video to imply that Beyonce should have won, he nearly crashed the Grammys stage in 2015 to disrupt Beck's acceptance speech. But he played it off as a joke instead.
The show is also known for its dramatic fashion. J. Lo wore perhaps the most famous gown of all time, a sheer green low-cut Versace number, to the 2000 awards.
For last year's show, former First Lady Michelle Obama made a shock appearance. She joined host Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez on stage to talk about the important role music has played in their lives as the ceremony began.
What will viewers see during Sunday's ceremony?
Scroll through Radar's gallery for more!
Scandal
Milli Vanilli won Best New Artist in 1990, but there was one small problem — neither of them actually sang on their album "Girl You Know It's True". Their award was rescinded when it was revealed that the two lip-synced their performance.
Daring Dress
Jennifer Lopez nearly revealed all in what is arguably still fashion’s most famous dress. J. Lo sent temperatures high when she attended the 2000 awards in this dramatically low-cut and sheer Versace gown.
Odd Couple
In one of the most unlikely pairings of all-time, graphic rapper Eminem shocked Grammy viewers when he performed with Elton John at the 2001 ceremony. The two have been friends ever since.
Pregnant Performance
M.I.A. wouldn’t let a simple thing like her due date stop her from appearing at the 2009 Grammy ceremony. The singer squeezed into a skintight, polka-dot mini to perform "Swagga Like Us.” Just a few days later, she gave birth to a baby boy.
No Yolk
Lady Gaga got carried away when she went down the red carpet enclosed in an egg before the 2011 ceremony. When it came time for her to sing, Gaga emerged from the giant egg, wearing a yolk-colored latex bra and yellow skirt, and she gave a memorable performance of “Born This Way.”
Paying Tribute
Just a day after Whitney Houston's shocking death in 2012, megastar Jennifer Hudson brought tears to the eyes of her peer during an emotional rendition of "I Will Always Love You" at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.
Not Again!
It’s not really an awards show until Kanye West jumps on stage. Five years after crashing Taylor Swift's VMA win, West nearly repeated himself, walking onto the stage in 2015 after indie-rocker Beck beat out a number of talented artists, including Beyoncé, to win Album Of The Year for "Morning Phase".
Rear View
Leave it to Madonna to make her own cheeky statement. The Material Girl was the butt of many jokes when, at age 56, she dressed like a Matador dominatrix in 2015.
Making A Point
In 2016, it was finally time for Swift to clap back at Kanye. During her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, she made sure to point out: "There will be people along the way that will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame.”
First Lady Love
Michelle Obama led a group of female music superstars to the Grammys stage in 2019. She got a standing ovation from the crowd.
My Bad
While accepting his award for "Cry Me a River" at the 2004 Grammys, Justin Timberlake awkwardly apologized for his earlier role in the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl. "I know it's been a rough week on everybody," he said with a smirk. "What occurred was unintentional, completely regrettable, and I apologize if you guys were offended."
Brief Moment
Upon receiving their Grammy for Best Pop/Duo Performance for "Stressed Out" at the 2017 Grammys, Twenty One Pilots walked up onstage to accept the award in their underwear!
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Alicia Keys gave an emotional tribute to Kobe Bryant, who died only hours before the Grammys took place on Sunday, January 26, 2020. The NBA legends' two jerseys were illuminated all night at the Staples center as the award show took place. "Here we are. Together. On music's biggest night, celebrating the artists that do it best," Alicia said. "But to be honest with you, we're all feeling crazy sadness right now," she said. "Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built."
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Ariana Grande changed the lyrics to her song "Thank You, Next." While performing the song, the singer's original lyrics to the song were: "One day I'll walk down the aisle / Holding hands with mama / I'll be thanking my dad / 'Cause she grew from the drama."
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Nick Jonas performed his song, "What a Man Gotta Do," with something stuck in his teeth that caught the attention of everybody watching.
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Billie Eilish was the biggest winner of the night that night. But when came time to announce winner of the year, she was seen on camera mouthing the words "please don't let it be me," explaining later that she thought Ariana Grande should've won instead. The singer took home five Grammys that night including: best new artist, album of the year, song of the year, and record of the year.
