Iconic singer Diana Ross was introduced on Sunday night by none other than her nine-year-old grandson — who adorably paved the way for his “grandmommy, Diana Ross.”
The boy was a sweet surprise, to be sure.
He delighted most of the people in the audience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, from the looks of it.
Best introduction of the night! Diana Ross' grandson is seriously the cutest "little guy" ever! #Grammys pic.twitter.com/eWmpouS6BH
— Access (@accessonline) February 11, 2019
But the audience on Sunday night was then treated to an almost embarrassingly over-the-top and self-involved celebration of the singer as she sang some of her biggest hits.
People on Twitter almost immediately pointed out that at the end of her performance, she said, “Happy birthday to me!”
She turns 75 this year in five weeks — on March 26. (Guess that’s close enough …)
diana ross wishing herself happy birthday like a true self involved aries? pic.twitter.com/WbkpAtpxMG
— big mama cocoa (@finegodmother) February 11, 2019
Wait. Diana Ross’ Birthday ain’t until March? I’m SCREAMING pic.twitter.com/Wh4z09WUM2
— Food. (@ocbuckner) February 11, 2019
I love that Diana Ross thinks this is a birthday party for her.
— ?️GIRL! THE KILLER IS IN THE HOUSE! (@Kevunn) February 11, 2019
Diana Ross doing a tribute to herself at the Grammys and wishing herself happy birthday 5 weeks in advance is something I’ll be reminding you all of very regularly.
— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) February 11, 2019
When they asked Diana Ross who they should have sing her tribute pic.twitter.com/mZvBDMoDC9
— No Relation, Esq. (@TheCosby) February 11, 2019
Diana Ross performs at the #GRAMMYs in honor of her 75th birthday: "Happy birthday to me!" pic.twitter.com/4uDS0j9nvN
— Vox (@voxdotcom) February 11, 2019
The star, as so many people know, came of age in Detroit, Michigan, began singing with friends as a teen, and eventually led the 1960s trio the Supremes, who had such hits as “Come See About Me” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.”
And yes, Berry Gordy — the founder of Motown — was shown in the audience on Sunday night.
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Ross began her solo career in the late ’60s, reaching No. 1 with such hits as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Love Hangover.”
She also earned an Oscar nomination for her role in “Lady Sings the Blues.”
With the exception of a few standout performances on Sunday night — especially by the legendary Dolly Parton — the Grammy Awards felt like one big giant “aren’t we great” congratulatory hug by the industry, for the industry, as is typical of these all-too-frequent awards shows that have little or nothing to do with the lives of most everyday Americans (the people who buy the music, by the way).
And to see the speech that former first lady Michelle Obama made early on in the evening when host Alicia Keys shamelessly introduced her, check out this video:
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