On Tuesday night (April 21st), CBS aired Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince, the all-star musical special filmed following this year’s Grammy Awards in January. The broadcast coincided with the fourth anniversary of Prince‘s passing.
Watch amazing performances by @st_vincent and more honoring @Prince on Let’s Go Crazy: #GRAMMYSalutePrince TONIGHT at 9/8c on CBS & @CBSAllAccess. pic.twitter.com/3UYjJIjx7i
— CBS (@CBS) April 21, 2020
The two-hour broadcast, hosted by Prince superfan and actress Maya Rudolph, saw a host of stars from across the musical spectrum perform a mix of songs from throughout the artist’s lauded catalog led by musical director/percussionist/longtime Prince collaborator, Sheila E.
Thank you, family. Thank you, Prince. We love you. 💜#GRAMMYSalutePrince @RecordingAcad @CBS pic.twitter.com/c7YHIpWBxV
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) April 22, 2020
After an intro from Rudolph, the show got started with a rendition of “Let’s Go Crazy” led by Gary Clark Jr. and H.E.R. Next, Miguel took the spotlight for a steamy rendition of “I Would Die 4 U”.
#GRAMMYSalutePrince First we got Babyface and Teddy Riley and now this long overdue Prince tribute. Come through excellence! Miguel and Sheila E are killing it. 👏🏾👏🏾💜💜☔. #Prince #PrinceDay #BlackExcellence pic.twitter.com/SfamxUNH6u
— None Ya (@whtabtprmblne) April 22, 2020
John Legend took the stage next—sporting a suit-with-no-shirt look that Prince would surely have dug—to say a few words and perform “Nothing Compares 2 U”. A lavishly dressed St. Vincent took the stage next (with the sparkly, purple jumpsuit-clad Sheila E moving to guitar) for a brooding “Controversy” before supermodel/longtime Prince friend Naomi Campbell introduced Latin superstar Juanes for a rendition of “1999”.
St. Vincent – Controversy @ Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Tribute to Prince pic.twitter.com/0FAlo4GBjQ
— gaycowboycore (@annieclork) April 22, 2020
From there, H.E.R. returned to the stage—this time, swapping her guitar for a piano—for a powerful rendition of “The Beautiful Ones” accompanied by lauded ballerina Misty Copeland, who famously performed as a featured dancer with Prince on various occasions.
H.E.R. & Misty Copeland. Prince & ballet. I’m in love. 💟 pic.twitter.com/s9wuN2QpMA
— Sarah French (@SarahHeartsNYC) April 22, 2020
Alicia Keys appeared on screen next to introduce a special medley led by Usher and Sheila E with help from another famous featured dancer, FKA twigs. The lavish segment began with Usher leading the way through “Little Red Corvette”. As the band changed gears and started into “When Doves Cry”, FKA twigs emerged for a stunning pole dance routine clad in a white, avian neglige. A Grammy-nominated singer in her own right, FKA twigs stuck to dancing for this performance. Her movement, however, undeniably stole the show as Usher and the band closed out the medley with “Kiss”.
#GRAMMYSalutePrince This performance really made me miss old school Usher. #Prince #Princeday pic.twitter.com/iZKh7vSrcj
— None Ya (@whtabtprmblne) April 22, 2020
The tone shifted from “dance party” to “dimly lit lounge” next as The Bangles‘ Susanna Hoffs took the stage with Coldplay‘s Chris Martin on piano for a duet on The Bangles’ PRince-penned 1986 smash, “Manic Monday”.
H.E.R. & Misty Copeland. Prince & ballet. I’m in love. 💟 pic.twitter.com/s9wuN2QpMA
— Sarah French (@SarahHeartsNYC) April 22, 2020
Next, “perhaps Prince’s greatest creation,” Morris Day and The Time, hit the stage (mirror and all) for joyous runs through signature songs “Jungle Love” and “The Bird” that easily ranked as some of the biggest highlights of the broadcast.
Thank God Morris Day is here to save the show #GRAMMYSalutePrince pic.twitter.com/TnPuupOfFP
— After5ivePod (@After5ivePod) April 22, 2020
Foo Fighters stepped in next to offer up the grunge-inflected reading of “Darling Nikki” they recorded for their 2011 album, Medium Rare, but not before Dave Grohl joked that he was pretty sure Prince never liked very much. Of note, Prince was no stranger to covering Foo Fighters himself, as he notably worked a cover of “Best of You” into his iconic Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2007.
I’ve always loved the @foofighters cover of Darling Nikki #GRAMMYSalutePrince pic.twitter.com/HacnRoHoeW
— Amanda T 🌸 (@antwardoski) April 22, 2020
From there, one of Prince’s biggest influences, Earth, Wind & Fire, stepped in for a powerful performance of “Adore”. Common spoke next about receiving his Golden Globe award from Prince in 2015 before joining Sheila E during a snarling “Sign ‘O’ the Times” for a topical rap verse.
#GRAMMYSalutePrince #letsgocrazy #Prince
Earth Wind and Fire performing Adore is everything!! pic.twitter.com/MWhAaQAvO1— Tamika👑 (@hotsiptee) April 22, 2020
Beck, another Grammy-winning Prince superfan, followed that with a sing-along jaunt through “Raspberry Beret” before Gary Clark Jr. once again took the stage to tear off a solo with Sheila E on “The Cross”.
Sh🎶She wore a Raspberry beret! 🎶🕺@beck #GRAMMYSalutePrince pic.twitter.com/eoeoZyP4VG
— CBS (@CBS) April 22, 2020
After an introduction from Fred Armisen, Sheila took the spotlight to lead the band through “America” before ceding the stage to host Maya Rudolph and her friend/singer Gretchen Lieberum, otherwise known as the tribute act, Princess. In an exciting moment for the Princess girls, they were backed by Prince’s own band, The Revolution.
Our host with the Princess and the Revolution! @MayaRudolph #GRAMMYSalutePrince pic.twitter.com/v8e8kI14fW
— CBS (@CBS) April 22, 2020
With time for just a couple more, the legendary Mavis Staples joined The Revolution onstage for a powerful “Purple Rain”—featuring a hair-raising guitar solo by Wendy Melvoin—before a smattering of artists from throughout the show took the stage for a “Baby I’m A Star” finale as the credits rolled.
Chicago’s own Mavis Staples singing Purple Rain is glorious.#Prince pic.twitter.com/OglLQYtZPG
— Billy Krumb (@ClubhouseCancer) April 22, 2020
#GRAMMYSalutePrince Go head WENDY! #lisaandwendy #therevolution pic.twitter.com/z1NTGo2cYK
— The2ndRound (@The2ndround1) April 22, 2020