Overview
- Republic Records co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman received the 2026 Salute to Industry Icons, with tributes introduced by Stevie Wonder and UMG chief Lucian Grainge.
- Don Lemon, released a day earlier after federal charges tied to his coverage of a Minnesota church protest, stood to sustained applause after a shout-out from Davis.
- MGK and Jelly Roll opened with a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, performing “I Don’t Wanna Stop” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home” as Osbourne’s family looked on.
- Rising acts took center stage as Olivia Dean, Alex Warren and Sombr performed, and the Huntr/X trio behind K‑Pop Demon Hunters’ “Golden” drew one of the night’s liveliest responses.
- Art Garfunkel closed with a stripped-down “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” capping a program that also featured Bernie Taupin and Roberta Flack tributes ahead of tonight’s Grammys.