The 2020Grammy Awardsare reportedly quickly planning a tribute toKobe Bryant, hours after the basketball legend was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday morning.
A representative for the Recording Academy, the organization that puts on the Grammys, confirmed toBillboardthat a tribute to Bryant is being planned for Sunday night’s awards ceremony. The outlet reports that producers are “working quickly” on the tribute.
Many stars on the Grammys red carpethave paid tribute to the athleteas well, includingBJ the Chicago Kid, Wycleff Jean andDiplo.
“He was so young,” Diplo told E! on the red carpet Sunday night. “My age, 41. And he had so much more to do. To be here at Staples right now, and to look up. We see his jersey up there. Just feel the energy because we do the Grammys right here but you know, 82 games a year they’re playing in the stadium. Kobe brought this energy to Los Angeles for 20 years.”
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Ryan SeacrestandGiuliana Rancicalsohonored the retired NBA playerat the beginning of E!’s red carpet pre-show, saying, “His loss will be felt even more deeply tonight at a place he considered home — this, the Staples Center.”
Seacrest then said he and Rancic received the “unthinkable” news this morning. “This is a man in a family that we’ve gotten to know over the years. We’ve seen him play here before. He was on the phone with me a few months ago talking about the love of being a father, talking about his daughters so pridefully, and I think that so many artists here tonight will be thinking about this, and wanting to share their stories.”
Bryant, 41, died Sunday morning alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and an additional seven other people when their helicopter went down in Calabasas, California,authorities said at a press conference.
Tune into the 62nd annualGrammy Awardsat 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.
source: people.com
