26 of the most shocking Grammy moments of all time

Victoria Montalti,Elana KleinFeb 1, 2024, 23:17 IST

Elton John and Eminem stand united after their performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 21, 2001.Hector Mata/Getty Images

The 66th Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 4.
We're looking back on the most surprising and iconic moments from the show throughout its history.

Known as music's biggest night, the Grammy Awards always deliver incredible performances and career-making wins.

Occasionally, the award show goes rogue with crashed acceptance speeches, impromptu performances, and technical difficulties.

Here are 26 jaw-dropping moments from the Grammy Awards through the years.

Long before Ariana Grande sang "God Is a Woman," Helen Reddy made that proclamation during her 1973 acceptance speech.

Helen Reddy giving her acceptance speech for best female song of the year at the 15th Grammy Awards on March 5, 1973.Associated Press/AP Images

There was a tie for song of the year between legend Barbra Streisand and newcomer Debby Boone in 1978.

Barbra Streisand (left) pictured with her award for best female pop vocal performance and Debby Boone (right) with her award for best new artist, both at the 20th Grammy Awards on February 23, 1978.Lennox McLendon/AP Images; Associated Press/AP Images

Annie Lennox fooled show producers and the audience while dressed in drag in 1984.

Eurythmics' members Annie Lennox in drag (left) and Dave Stewart (right) pictured after their performance at the 26th Grammy Awards on February 28, 1984.Barry King/Getty Images

In a true upset, rock/jazz band Jethro Tull beat Metallica for the Grammy's first award for best hard rock or heavy metal performance in 1987.

Jethro Tull performs live on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on February 11 1977.Ian Dickson/Getty Images

In 1994, Frank Sinatra's acceptance speech was cut off early, so Billy Joel paused his performance to purposely waste time.

Bono and Frank Sinatra pose after Bono presented Sinatra with the legend award at the 36th Grammy Awards on March 1, 1994.KMazur/Getty Images

Performance artist "Soy Bomb Guy" crashed Bob Dylan's set to make a statement in 1998.

Performance artist "Soy Bomb (Michael Portnoy) crashed Bob Dylan's performance at the 40th Grammy Awards on February 25, 1998.KMazur/Getty Images

After Luciano Pavarotti called out sick, Aretha Franklin gave an impromptu performance of his iconic song "Nessun Dorma" in Italian, also at the 1998 ceremony.

Aretha Franklin prior to giving a last-minute stand-in performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards on February 25, 1998.Steve Azzara/Getty Images

The 1998 Grammys again proved shocking when Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB crashed an acceptance speech for an award the group wasn't even nominated for.

Wu-Tang Clan member ODB crashes Shawn Colvin's acceptance speech for song of the year at the 40th Grammy Awards on February 25, 1998.Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez showed up to the 2000 Grammys in a daring dress that changed history, and the internet, for good.

Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs attend the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards on February 23, 2000.Jeffrey Mayer/Getty Images

Despite Eminem's homophobic lyrics, Elton John teamed up with the rapper for a surprising performance and embrace in 2001.

Elton John and Eminem stand united after their performance at the 43rd Grammy Awards on February 21, 2001.Hector Mata/Getty Images

50 Cent briefly crashed Evanescence's acceptance speech for best new artist after he lost in 2004.

50 Cent crashes Evanescence's acceptance speech for best new artist at the 46th Grammy Awards on February 8, 2004.Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images

For the first time since completing chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer, Melissa Etheridge performed on the 2005 Grammys stage totally bald.

Melissa Etheridge performed for the first time since completing chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer at the 47th Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005.Michael Caulfield Archive/Getty Images

After Chris Brown assaulted Rihanna after a pre-Grammys party in 2009, the two withdrew from performing, and other entertainers took their spots.

Rihanna and Chris Brown pictured at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills, California, on February 7, 2009.Lester Cohen/Getty Images

Pregnant rapper M.I.A. gave an amazing performance on her due date in 2009.

M.I.A performs pregnant at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009.John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images

Pink shocked the world with her aerial skills and performance at the 2010 Grammys.

Pink's performance included an aerial act at the 52nd Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010.Lester Cohen/Getty Images

In 2011, Lady Gaga proved how dedicated to her craft she is when she was carried into the awards in a giant egg, only emerging during her performance.

Lady Gaga being carried in an egg by performers on the red carpet (left) and emerging from it in her performance (right) at the 53rd Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011.Dan MacMedan/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

After Whitney Houston died the day before the Grammys in 2012, Jennifer Hudson sang an emotional tribute to the legend.

Jennifer Hudson giving a last-minute performance at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj was called sacrilegious when she was escorted on the red carpet by a fake Catholic bishop and later performed an "exorcism" during the 2012 show.

Nicki Minaj walking on the red carpet with a fake Catholic bishop (left) and being suspended into the air for the exorcism portion of her performance at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012.Steve Granitz/Getty Images; Robyn Beck/Getty Images

Queen Latifah surprised everyone by officiating 33 marriages onstage while Macklemore performed "Same Love" in 2014.

Macklemore, Mary Lambert, Madonna, Ryan Lewis, and Queen Latifah pose after performing at the 56th Grammy Awards on January 26, 2014.Michael Tran/Getty Images

After Kanye West crashed Taylor Swift's VMA acceptance speech in 2009, he did the same to Beck in 2015, once again because of Beyoncé's loss.

Kanye West crashes Beck's acceptance speech for best album of the year at the 57th Grammy Awards on February 8, 2015.Robert Gauthier/Getty Images

Adele sang off-key and off-time before her microphone cut out in a technical-difficulty disaster in 2016.

Adele performs onstage during the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Cardi B and Offset, who were thought to be broken up, made a surprising display of affection on the red carpet in 2019.

Cardi B and Offset at the 2019 Grammys.Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Alicia Keys played two pianos simultaneously at the 2019 Grammys, and the audience went wild.

Alicia Keys at the 2019 Grammys.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

In their first performance since overdosing in 2018, Demi Lovato had to restart their emotional performance at the 2020 ceremony.

Demi Lovato performing at the 62nd Annual Awards on January 26, 2020.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

In 2022, Doja Cat almost missed her chance to accept her award for best pop duo with SZA because she was using the restroom.

Doja Cat and SZA at the 2022 Grammys.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

In 2023, Harry Styles was criticized for his "As It Was" performance and his acceptance speech for album of the year.

Harry Styles accepts the award for album of the year at the 2023 Grammys.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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