Pop legend Cher created a moment of delightful chaos at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony, when she mistakenly declared the late R&B icon Luther Vandross as the winner of the prestigious Record of the Year award. In a humorous and slightly bewildering sequence, the 79-year-old singer, who had earlier received a Lifetime Achievement Award, was meant to present the night's top prize but instead announced Vandross's name, leaving the audience and nominees in a mix of confusion and amusement.
A Priceless Presentation Mishap
The incident unfolded as Cher, seemingly unsure of her role, attempted to walk offstage after receiving her lifetime honour, prompting host Trevor Noah to call her back. "I guess I'm supposed to walk off now," she told the glittering crowd, before a backstage crew member intervened to clarify that she needed to present the Record of the Year category. Noah lightened the mood with a quip, saying, "I could do it but it's not the same, I don't have the track record."
Confusion Over the Teleprompter
Upon returning, Cher appeared slightly irked, believing she was reading from a teleprompter rather than the envelope. "And the Grammy goes to, oh they told me it was going to be on the prompter, oh and the Grammy goes to..." she said, pausing briefly before announcing, "Luther Vandross." Cameras quickly cut to the actual winners, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, who were seen laughing as they realised the mistake and stood up to accept their award for the song "Luther," which samples Vandross's 1982 collaboration with Cheryl Lynn on "If This World Were Mine."
Cher promptly corrected herself, exclaiming, "No, Kendrick Lamar!" but the moment had already become a viral highlight of the evening. In his acceptance speech, Lamar expressed his deep appreciation, stating, "This is what music is about. Luther Vandross. This is special for me, I gotta take my time, because it's one of my favourite artists of all time." He went on to thank SZA and reflect on the emotional significance of being granted clearance to sample Vandross's work.
Viewers Applaud Cher's Unscripted Charm
Audiences watching from home praised Cher for bringing a dose of good-natured fun to the formal proceedings. One fan tweeted, "[Cher] just proved she still does whatever she wants including being underwhelmed by her Grammy lifetime achievement award, bragging she was the first to use autotune and forgetting to name award nominees and walking off stage. ICON." Another added, "That's the hardest I've laughed in 2026. Cher is perfect."
SZA also shared heartfelt words during her acceptance, urging people not to fall into despair amid challenging times. "We need each other, we need to trust each other, trust ourselves, trust your heart," she said, emphasising a message of unity and resilience.
Lamar's Dominant Night at the Grammys
Beyond this memorable moment, Kendrick Lamar was the most nominated artist of the ceremony, with nine nods, and secured multiple wins including Best Rap Album for "GNX," Best Rap Song for "TV Off" featuring Lefty Gunplay, Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Luther," and Best Rap Performance for "Chains And Whips" with Clipse, Pusha T, Malice, and Pharrell Williams. The full list of 2026 Grammy winners showcases a diverse array of talent across the music industry.
Cher's gaffe, while a slip-up, ultimately added a layer of human warmth and spontaneity to the Grammys, reminding viewers that even icons can have unscripted moments that become cherished memories. Her ability to laugh it off and the winners' gracious responses highlighted the celebratory spirit of the event.
