The 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most eventful in recent years, with performances by Beyonce, Chance The Rapper, A Tribe Called Quest and Adele already confirmed for the evening. Today (Feb. 8) it was announced that tributes to Prince and George Michael will also take place during the ceremony.
President and CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow said in a statement that Prince and Michael “were pop icons who showcased rare musical genius and otherworldly charisma. While each possessed a distinct style and sound, they were both adored by audiences worldwide.”
Rolling Stone reports that while no artists performing during the tributes have been announced, John Legend and The Color Purple’s Cynthia Erivo were previously announced to perform during the show’s “In Memoriam” segment.
Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, while George Michael passed away on Christmas Day 2016.
The #GRAMMYs will dedicate tributes to honor two music legends, #GeorgeMichael and #Prince. https://t.co/WJfE0Vg5xQ pic.twitter.com/eTrfeSzIhg
— CBS Television (@CBS) February 8, 2017