Forbes.com
The Grammys have always known how to put on an exciting night, but the moments that tend to linger after the ceremony are the somber ones that ask viewers to reflect and remember those lost in 2025. This year’s ceremony includes several of those moments, woven throughout the night as tributes to artists whose absence is still being felt across the industry.
Reba McEntire will lead the show’s memoriam segment, joined by Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson. Reba’s voice carries decades of emotion, while Clark and Nelson come from a traditional country songwriting background. Together, they’ll honor members of the musical community lost in the past year, offering catharsis to watchers.
Ms. Lauryn Hill will take the stage to honor D’Angelo and Roberta Flack, two artists whose influence can’t be measured by accolades. Both reshaped the emotional essence of soul and R&B, choosing vulnerability over production. Hill is suited to carry that torch. Her own work has long lived in that same space, where every note feels deliberate and emotions shine through like the late soul and R&B artists.
The ceremony will also honor the heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne with a tribute. Featuring Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash, the performance reflects on Ozzy’s reach across generations and pop culture. The lineup alludes to something looser and more alive rather than rehearsed, acknowledging how his legacy is built on chaos and authenticity.
Set against a night packed with performances and awards, these tributes form the emotional segment of the show.
Broadcast live on CBS and Paramount＋, from Los Angeles with Trevor Noah hosting, the 2026 Grammys will move fast, as they always do. But these moments are designed to take a and to honor music that will live on even when an artist is gone.
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