Cher seized the opportunity to shine during Sunday’s Grammys, turning a blunder into a memorable moment. According to an executive producer, the iconic entertainer had been given clear instructions to avoid such a mix-up.
Ben Winston, the show’s executive producer, assured Rolling Stone on Monday, “We had definitely briefed her, and what she needed to say was right there on the prompter.”
During her appearance, the 79-year-old legend mistakenly announced late singer Luther Vandross, who passed away in 2005, as the Record of the Year recipient.
The actual award was for a track titled “Luther,” a collaboration between Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
Cher initially proclaimed, “Luther; Luther Vandross – no, Kendrick Lamar!”
Winston humorously referenced one of Cher’s famous songs, expressing to the magazine, “If I could turn back time, I’d want that to happen again.”
Cher, 79, made the most of her viral moment at Sunday’s Grammys from LA, according to an executive producer who said she had been ‘briefed’ with instructions prior to her gaffe
Winston added that the gaffe made for a memorable and organic moment in the show, adding, ‘You want a bit of anarchy’ on the live broadcast.
Winston told the outlet that the Believe songstress – who was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys Sunday – was ‘happy with’ how everything went’ and ‘had a great time.’
SZA told Entertainment Tonight the gaffe was irrelevant amid Cher’s larger than life presence in the moment.
‘A legend was speaking – that’s what I understood,’ she said. ‘Cher was queening.’
‘She probably really knew Luther Vandross. Of course her brain and her energy is connecting that energy to the energy that we’re sharing.’
Cher’s appearance was marked by a bit of confusion, as she was initially presented with the Lifetime honor by host Trevor Noah.
Cher had been slated to receive the honors at a Saturday event but did not show up to it.
In a speech Sunday, Cher said of public speaking, ‘I don’t do this part very well. I mean, put a microphone in my hand and have some music – I’m great.’
She wrapped up, ‘I guess I’m supposed to walk off now.’
In the appearance, the 79-year-old entertainer accidentally named late vocalist Luther Vandross – who died in 2005 – as the winner for record of the year
(L-R) Jack Antonoff, Cher, Kendrick Lamar, Scott Bridgeway and Kamasi Washington at the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena
The gaffe made for a memorable and organic moment in the show, the producer said, adding, ‘You want a bit of anarchy’
Winston told Rolling Stone he told Noah in his earpiece, ‘You’ve just gotta get up and bring her back.’
Noah told Cher, ‘Before you go, could we get you to announce the nominees?’ who replied, ‘Oh! They told me it was going to be on a prompter.’
Noah said of the spontaneity of the award show broadcast, ‘I love live television.’
This year marked Noah’s last as host, and Winston said it will be a tough task to find someone to pull off the challenging hosting gig.
‘It’s really hard in that room to play comedy – it’s an arena,’ Winston said.
The lighthearted misstep was reminiscent of John Travolta’s famous flub at the 2014 Oscars, when he accidentally called Idina Menzel by the name Adele Dazeem.
She got him back at the following year’s event, introducing him to the crowd as Glom Gazingo.
