Grammys executive producer Ben Winston has placed responsibility for the chaotic Record of the Year announcement squarely on Cher, contradicting the singer's claims that teleprompter issues caused the mishap. The "Believe" icon, 79, mistakenly announced the late R&B legend Luther Vandross as the winner during Sunday's ceremony, creating a moment of confusion before Kendrick Lamar and SZA were correctly revealed as victors for their collaborative track "Luther."
Production Team Insists Proper Briefing Occurred
Speaking on Rolling Stone's Music Now podcast, Winston firmly stated that production had adequately prepared Cher for her presenting duties. "I promise you, we had briefed her, and I promise you, what she had to do was in the prompter," the executive producer emphasised. Despite the on-stage confusion that unfolded, Winston expressed no regrets about the situation, noting that such spontaneous moments contribute to memorable television.
"I'd want that to happen again," Winston declared. "Cher's happy with it. She had a great time. You want a bit of anarchy." This perspective highlights the delicate balance between meticulous planning and embracing the unpredictable nature of live award ceremonies.
Ceremony Confusion Unfolds in Real Time
The evening had begun triumphantly for Cher, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award earlier in the ceremony. During her acceptance speech, she offered inspirational advice to the audience, stating, "Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it's not happening now, it will happen soon."
However, confusion emerged when she returned to present Record of the Year. After initially beginning to walk off stage, saying "I guess I'm supposed to walk off now," host Trevor Noah had to call her back to read the nominees. Backstage crew members could be seen attempting to clarify the procedure to the singer during this awkward transition.
Noah lightened the moment with humour, joking, "I could do it, but it's not the same; I don't have the track record," referencing Cher's legendary status in the music industry.
The Moment of Mistaken Identity
When Cher finally returned to the podium, she appeared slightly irritated, commenting, "And the Grammy goes to, oh, they told me it was going to be on the prompter, oh, and the Grammy goes to..." After a brief, confused pause, she announced "Luther Vandross" instead of the actual winners.
Cameras captured SZA and Lamar laughing as they realised the error and stood to accept their award. Cher quickly corrected herself, exclaiming, "No, Kendrick Lamar!" The winning song "Luther" samples Vandross's 1982 collaboration with Cheryl Lynn on "If This World Were Mine," which may have contributed to the confusion when Cher read the winner's card.
Winners Embrace the Unusual Moment
Accepting the award, a smiling Lamar acknowledged the connection to the late R&B star, 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 favorite artists of all time, and they granted us the privilege to do our version of it."
The incident highlights how even the most carefully planned live broadcasts can veer into unexpected territory, creating moments that become talking points long after the ceremony concludes. While producers maintain their preparations were thorough, the spontaneous nature of Cher's presentation ultimately created a memorable, if chaotic, Grammys moment that blended confusion with celebration.
