LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Grammys got under way on Sunday, with the Recording Academy trying to focus on music’s biggest night after of the death of one of music’s biggest names _ Whitney Houston.
Houston died on the eve of the Grammys at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she was preparing to attend a pre-Grammy party. Her death cast a huge shadow over the event, and after Bruce Springsteen opened the show, host LL Cool J said: “There is no way around this. We’ve had a death in our family.”
The actor-rapper then said a prayer for Houston as stars like Lady Gaga and Miranda Lambert bowed their heads in silence.
Then, LL Cool J introduced a clip of a glowing Houston singing one of her best-known songs, “I Will Always Love You.”
LL Cool J then said: “Whitney, we will always love you.”
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Online: http://www.grammys.com
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Nekesa Mumbi Moody is the AP’s Music Editor. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/nekesamumbi
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
The Grammys got under way on Sunday, with the Recording Academy trying to focus on music’s biggest night after of the death of one of music’s biggest names _ Whitney Houston.
Houston died on the eve of the Grammys at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she was preparing to attend a pre-Grammy party. Her death cast a huge shadow over the event. As the pre-telecast awards ceremony began, co-host Dave Koz acknowledged the tragedy, noting the “great legacy of Miss Whitney Houston. She’s in our hearts and our minds.”
Presenter Jimmy Jam, a friend and producer of Houston‘s, said it’s “a bittersweet occasion tonight with the passing of Whitney.”
“Anytime someone passes away, the thing you do is you gather your family together, tell stories,” he said. “A little bit of mourning, little bit of celebrating _ this is our family tonight and we’re going to do it the best that we can do it.”
Melanie Fiona, who won best traditional R&B vocal performance and best R&B song with Cee-Lo for the song “Fool for You,” also gave tribute to the fallen star: “Whitney Houston I would not be standing up here if it were not for you, thank you so much.”
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