A selection of iconic Grammys performances from over the years

Every year, the Grammys gathers the biggest musicians in the world gather under one roof to find out whether they’ve been honoured with the industry’s most prestigious accolade.

For the rest of us, though, what gets people tuning in year after year are the incredible A-list performances, with huge stars gracing the stage to deliver memorable, impactful and, at times, outrageous renditions of their big hits, in the hopes of being the stand-out star of the evening.

With countless offerings to choose from, we’ve put together a timeline of 35 of the performances that have stuck with us over the decades, beginning back in the 1980s...

Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You (1986)

For a lot of people, this 1986 Grammys performance will have been their first time hearing the unmistakeable and incomparable live vocals of Whitney Houston.

While this is far from the best awe-inspiring performance she’d give in her lifetime, this Grammys rendition of early hit Saving All My Love was a sign of promising things to come.

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You (1994)

Fast-forward to eight years later, and Whitney had become one of the biggest stars on the planet, and was riding a huge wave of success after her appearance in The Bodyguard.

By the time the Grammys rolled around in 1994 (and, actually, for many years following) there was no escaping I Will Always Love You – but even its loudest critics can’t deny that there’s no beating Whitney’s song in its flawless live form.

Aretha Franklin – Nessun Dorma (1998)

The story goes that Luciano Pavarotti had initially been scheduled to perform at the 1998 Grammys, but pulled out at the last minute on doctors’ orders, leaving his friend Aretha Franklin to step in instead.

With limited time to rehearse, the soul singer completely floored everyone with her vocals on the night.

It’s a rendition that – at least on paper – shouldn’t work on any level, but who could honestly argue with that voice?

Madonna – Nothing Really Matters (1999)

The Evita film and Ray Of Light album had helped breathe new life into Madonna’s career after a string of projects that had been met with a lukewarm reception in the early 90s.

Ray Of Light went on to gain critical acclaim and huge chart success, but the cherry on top was the Queen of Pop finally winning her first ever Grammy, and delivering this stunning and surprisingly haunting performance on the same night.

Eminem and Elton John – Stan (2001)

A collaboration that no one saw coming, Eminem and Elton John made headlines the world over when the Your Song singer stepped in to replace Dido’s parts on the song Stan.

This performance was considered by many to be a response to critics who panned Eminem’s past homophobic lyrics, particularly as the two stood together in solidarity at the end.

However, almost 20 years later, the rapper was still receiving criticism for his use of anti-LGBTQ language in his music...

Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott and Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade (2002)

This Lady Marmalade performance allowed each of the track’s four performers to enjoy their time in the spotlight – complete with all the sequins, feathers and big hair it’s become synonymous with – before coming together as a four-piece.

As if there wasn’t enough talent on stage already, they were joined on stage first by its producer, Missy Elliott, and its original performer, Patti LaBelle, who showed those younger viewers (and, indeed, artists) a thing or two about high notes.

Prince and Beyoncé - Purple Rain/Baby, I’m A Star/Let’s Go Crazy/Crazy In Love (2004)

We all know that when it came to rising stars and new talent, no one had a better eye than Prince, so it’s no surprise that right at the beginning of Beyoncé’s solo career, he chose her to perform with him at the Grammys.

And no, in case you’re wondering, this is not Beyoncé’s last appearance on this list.

Gorillaz, De La Soul and Madonna – Feel Good Inc/Hung Up (2006)

Listen, we all know Madonna as a great pop star, but it’s not unfair to say that her sense of humour is something she’s... less associated with.

So, it was so great to see her interacting with the Gorillaz at the Grammys in 2006, first crashing their performance of Feel Good Inc before launching into an energetic version of her own hit, Hung Up.

The Chicks – Not Ready To Make Nice (2007)

The Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” (Dixie Chicks Era) Grammys 2007 #country#rock#singersongwriter

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