Grammys kick off with tribute to late NBA star Kobe Bryant

The 2020 Grammys kicked off Sunday with an emotional tribute to the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, whose sudden death in a helicopter crash left Los Angeles in tears on music's marquee night.

Before the star-studded event's top nominee Lizzo owned the stage at the Staples Center with a show-stopping medley of her top hits - where Bryant made NBA history as a championship-winning Laker - she laid down the evening's overarching theme: "Tonight is for Kobe."

The twerking flautist then handed the torch to host Alicia Keys, who offered another love letter to Bryant's memory: "We're all feeling crazy sadness right now. Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero." "And we're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Keys, before launching into a soulful rendition of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" with the group Boyz II Men.

"He would want us to keep the vibrations high," Keys later said, before singing a humorous yet soothing opening monologue at the piano.

Lizzo took home the first broadcast award of the night for best pop solo performance, having already won two awards in the pre-gala event. "This is really... sick," the 31-year-old superstar said through tears, before alluding to Bryant's death. "This whole week I'd be lost in my problems, stressed out - and then in an instant all of that can go away and your priorities really shift," she said. "Let's continue to reach out, hold each other down and lift each other up."

In the pre-gala event, Eilish won for Best Pop Vocal Album. "I feel like I'm not supposed to be here," Eilish, 18, wearing Gucci, said on the red carpet after winning her first award of the night. "Life is weird." She then bested a packed field to win the Grammy for Song of the Year - which honors songwriters - for her hit "Bad Guy."

Lil Nas X - wearing a shocking pink cowboy-style suit featuring dominatrix accents like studs and harnesses - was all smiles over his early wins for the pop culture phenomenon "Old Town Road." "You just work hard at whatever you're doing and it's gonna happen for you," the 20-year-old said.

Lady Gaga won two Grammys for her soundtrack for the hit film "A Star Is Born".

Beyonce nabbed the prize for best music film for "Homecoming".

Lil' Nas X and Billy Rae Cyrus perform with South Korea's BTS.

US singer-songwriter Steven Tyler (C) of Aerosmith performs during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020, in Los Angeles.

62nd Grammy Awards - Show - Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 26, 2020 - Tyler, The Creator embraces his mother as he accepts the award for Best Rap Album for "Igor."

US singer-songwriter Ariana Grande started her performance with an orchestrated version of her song 'Imagine' and then slid into the rendition of 'My Favourite Things' from 'The Sound Of Music'. Without missing a single beat, the singer later ended her performance with the title track of her hit album 'Thank U, Next' for which has also received a Grammy nod this year.

US rapper Lil Nas X performs onstage during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020, in Los Angeles.

FKA twigs, left, and Usher perform during a Prince tribute at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Priyanka Chopra paid tribute to the late Bryant; she wrote the number "24" on her index finger, reports eonline.com. That number belonged to Bryant, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years before he retired in 2016. "RIP Mamba," Priyanka shared on Instagram Story with a purple heart emoji, alongside an image of her tribute. While attending the 2020 Grammys, she walked arm-in-arm with her husband and singer Nick Jonas. She wore a custom Ralph & Russo design, which featured a plunging neckline and also included diamond-adorned pieces, fringe sleeves and intricate embroidery.

The 18-year-old Eilish won the Grammy for Album of the Year over other mainstream newcomers including Lizzo and Lil Nas X, as well as a slate of veteran alternative acts including Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver and Lana Del Rey. The goth-leaning artist was among this year's most-nominated artists with six nods, and became the youngest person nominated in all of the top four categories. It was her fourth Grammy of the night.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama won a Grammy for the best spoken word album for "Becoming", her best-selling memoir, during the awards ceremony's pre-show. "Becoming" was read by Obama in the audiobook. She was nominated alongside artistes including Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz, reports Hollywood Reporter.