Malcolm-Jamal Warner, renowned for 'The Cosby Show' and a talented poet and musician, tragically died in a drowning accident in Costa Rica. He was celebrated for his performance at the Minnesota Orchestra's 2023 Juneteenth concert, where he shared an original poem and engaged warmly with fans. Warner's legacy as an actor, poet, and musician was deeply appreciated, with colleagues recalling his warmth and brilliance.
The 2024 CMA Awards honored George Strait with a tribute performance featuring artists like Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson, celebrating his illustrious career in country music. Strait received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant impact on the genre. Despite his long career, Strait continues to release music and break records, including a recent record for the largest ticketed concert in the U.S. The awards show will be available to stream on Hulu.
At the 66th GRAMMY Awards, Fantasia Barrino delivered a show-stopping tribute to Tina Turner with a powerful cover of "Proud Mary," while Stevie Wonder honored Tony Bennett and performed a duet with a video of Bennett. The "In Memoriam" segment also featured Annie Lennox's emotional rendition of Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" and Jon Batiste's gospel-infused tribute to Clarence Avant. The awards show was held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+.
Charlie Puth and The War and Treaty paid tribute to the late Matthew Perry during the 2023 Emmy Awards' In Memoriam segment by performing "See You Again" and the Friends theme song "I'll Be There for You." The performance included a special tribute to Perry, who passed away in October, and concluded with a statement from the Friends cast expressing their devastation over his loss.
Lady Gaga paid tribute to the late Tony Bennett during her Las Vegas residency show by performing his song "Fly Me to the Moon." Gaga addressed Bennett's widow, Susan Crow, and expressed her love for the late collaborator. She dedicated the entire show to Bennett's memory and performed in his honor. Gaga resumed her Jazz & Piano residency after a break and will continue performing until October 5th.
Patti LaBelle's tribute performance to Tina Turner at the 2023 BET Awards went viral on social media after she struggled with the lyrics of Turner's famous single "The Best." Despite the missteps, LaBelle's performance was still praised for her perseverance and dedication to honoring Turner's legacy. This is not the first time LaBelle has had a flub during a performance, as a video from the 1996 National Christmas Tree Lighting also went viral for her rendition of "This Christmas." The 2023 BET Awards celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with tributes to the genre's earliest voices, late legends, and new talent.
