Cher’s Grammys 2026 chaos crowns Kendrick Lamar and SZA with Record of the Year

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 2, 2026 2:17 PM ET

chaos crowns Kendrick Lamar

Cher turned the final stretch of the Grammys into live-TV mayhem on Sunday, February 1, 2026, first accepting a surprise Lifetime Achievement Award on the main telecast, then stumbling through Record of the Year in a moment that instantly became the night’s most replayed clip. In the confusion, she briefly named Luther Vandross as the winner—before correcting herself and handing the trophy to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther.”

The mix-up landed as comedic rather than cruel, helped by Cher’s grin, the room’s laughter, and the winners’ gracious reaction onstage.

Cher at Grammys 2026: A legend in real time

Cher, 79, walked onstage expecting to present Record of the Year and instead got pulled into a two-part segment that veered off-script almost immediately. After taking in the Lifetime honor, she started to exit before finishing the presenting duties, then got called back to read nominees and reveal the winner.

The result was chaotic but oddly fitting: the kind of unscripted, slightly messy TV moment that reminds everyone why awards shows still create shared cultural flashpoints.

What did Cher say at the Grammys?

Cher’s short speech was motivational, breezy, and self-aware. The line most widely repeated afterward was her advice to keep going even when the payoff feels delayed:

“Never give up on your dream… if it’s not happening now, it will happen soon.”

It was a classic Cher sentiment—direct, upbeat, and delivered without trying to sound overly polished, which only made it land more warmly.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA take Record of the Year

Once Cher corrected the announcement, Kendrick Lamar and SZA accepted Record of the Year for “Luther,” a duet built around a sample connected to Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s “If This World Were Mine.” The win capped a huge night for Lamar, who also swept major rap categories and left as the ceremony’s top winner.

For SZA, the trophy added a new high point in a night where she entered with multiple nominations and walked away with one of the ceremony’s biggest prizes.

Who is Luther Vandross, and why his name came up

Luther Vandross was one of R&B’s defining vocalists—often praised for his smooth tone and precise phrasing—who built a career on both original hits and interpretation. He died in 2005, but his voice and songwriting influence are still deeply embedded in modern R&B.

That’s why “Luther” is such a loaded title: it’s not just a name drop. The recording is deliberately framed as a conversation with Vandross’ musical legacy, and Cher’s accidental “winner” announcement underlined how closely the track is associated with him in people’s minds.

What is Record of the Year?

Record of the Year honors a specific recording—the performed and produced version of a track. That means the award recognizes the performing artist and key production contributors (such as producers and engineers), not just the writing.

That’s different from Song of the Year, which focuses on the songwriting (lyrics and melody), and Album of the Year, which recognizes a full project rather than one track.

Grammys end time, plus the Sabrina Carpenter question

The 2026 Grammys telecast ran from 8:00 p.m. to about 11:30 p.m. ET, with Record of the Year arriving late in the show—making Cher’s moment feel like the last big jolt before the closing stretch.

As for the frequently searched question—has Sabrina Carpenter won a Grammy?—yes. She has two career Grammy wins (with 12 career nominations through the 2026 ceremony). This year, she was in the mix in several major categories, but “Luther” ultimately took Record of the Year.

What viewers will remember most