Cher sparks unexpected Grammys moment with 'And the Grammy goes to… Luther Vandross' mix-up
Cher was honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Image: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for The Recording Academy / AFP
Cher, the legendary music icon, commanded the spotlight at the 2026 Grammy Awards this past Sunday, proving that she remains an undeniable force even after nearly two decades away from the ceremony’s stage.
Honoured with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, the superstar took the microphone to share a powerful message of resilience with the room of young artists and industry veterans.
“Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it's not happening now, it will happen soon,” she declared to a thunderous standing ovation.
The evening took an unpredictable turn when Cher, assuming her duties were finished after her speech, casually began walking toward the back of the stage to exit.
Host Trevor Noah, who was standing in the audience at the time, had to call out to her, requesting that she stay to read out the Record of the Year nominees
“I could do it, but it’s not the same; I don’t have the track record,” Noah joked.
Once back at the mic, the unscripted energy continued as a long silence fell over the arena while Cher looked around in confusion.
"They told me it was going to be on the prompter!" she said before realising she had to manually open the envelope in her hand to find the result.
When the winner was finally revealed, Cher’s voice filled the room with an enthusiastic announcement: “And the Grammy goes to... Luther Vandross!”
The audience erupted in a mix of laughter and gasps as she quickly corrected herself, realising that while the winning song was titled "Luther", the actual trophy belonged to Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
Lamar was seen in the crowd laughing at the mix-up, clearly taking no offence at the slip-up.
The “Luther” track, which heavily samples Vandross’s classic “If This World Were Mine,” served as the perfect backdrop for Lamar’s historic night.
The artist officially made history by sweeping multiple categories, becoming the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history with a staggering career total of 27 wins.
Kendrick Lamar accepts the Best Rap Album award for 'GNX' onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards.
Image: Kevin Winter / Getty Images for The Recording Academy / AFP
However, the night’s most viral moments weren't limited to the musical awards, as Noah sparked a major political firestorm.
While celebrating a win for Billie Eilish, the former “The Daily Show” host quipped, “That is a Grammy that every artist wants, almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because, since Epstein's gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
The remark drew immediate fury from the President, who took to social media the following morning to label the host a “talentless dope” and threatened a massive lawsuit, saying, “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast.”
Donald Trump's response to Trevor Noah's comment at the Grammy Awards.
Image: X