every year theGrammyawards the best artists in the world and recognizes the most important musical achievements of the last 12 months.
But what excites us most is the idea of A-list performances, when big stars grace the stage to deliver unforgettable, shocking and sometimes outrageous versions of their hits in hopes of being the star of the night.
With countless offerings to choose from, we've curated 33 of the acts that have been with us over the decades and here they are, oldest to newest...
Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love for You (1986)
For many music fans, this performance at the 1986 Grammys will mark the first time they heard the unmistakable, incomparable singing ofWhitney Houston.
It wasn't the most impressive performance he's ever given, of course, but it was a definite sign of the promise to come.
Whitney Houston - I'll Always Love You (1994)
Eight years later, Whitney had become one of the biggest stars in the world and was riding a massive wave of success after appearing in The Bodyguard.
When the 1994 Grammys took the stage (and for years to come, really), there was no escaping this song, but even in its original live form, it's unbeatable.
Aretha Franklin - Insone (1998)
As the story goes, Luciano Pavarotti was originally scheduled to perform, but pulled out at the last minute on doctors' orders, leaving his friend behind.Aretha Franklinplace-se not place.
With little time to rehearse, the soul singer wowed everyone with her talent that night.
It's an interpretation that shouldn't work on any level, but who could seriously disagree with those voices?
Madonna - Nothing Really Matters (1999)
The film Evita and the album Ray Of Light helped to kick things off.Virginher career after a few years of lukewarmly received projects.
Ray Of Light continued to receive critical acclaim and massive chart success, but the icing on the cake was that the Queen of Pop finally won her first Grammy and delivered a stunning and astonishing performance tonight.
Eminem e Elton John - Stan (2001)
A collaboration no one saw comingEminemYElton Johnmade headlines around the world when the "Your Song" singer stepped in to replace the role of Dido in Stan.
The performance was seen by many as a response to critics who had criticized Eminem's past homophobic lyrics, mainly because the two ended up supporting each other.
However, nearly 20 years later, the rapperwould still receive criticism for using anti-LGBTQ language in her music...
Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Lil Kim, Missy Elliott e Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade (2002)
This performance by Lady Marmalade allowed each of the four performers on the runway to enjoy their time in the spotlight, complete with all the sequins, feathers and long hair that have become synonymous, before coming together as a quartet. .
As if there wasn't enough talent on stage already, they were first pushed onto the stage by Missy Elliott and then by original cast member Patti LaBelle, who taught these young performers a thing or two about hitting high notes.
What. An achievement.
Prince e Beyoncé - Purple Rain / Baby, ich bin ein Star / Let's Go Crazy / Crazy In Love (2004)
We all know that nobody had a better eye when it came to rising stars and new talent.Prince, so it is not surprising that early onBeyoncéDue to her solo career, he chose her to perform with him at the Grammys.
Needless to say, this isn't Beyoncé's last appearance on this list.
Gorillaz, De La Soul e Madonna – Feel Good Inc/Hung Up (2006)
Listen, we all know Madonna as a huge pop star, but it's not unfair to say that her sense of humor is something she's... least associated with.
Which is why it was great to see her interact with the Gorillaz at the 2006 Grammys, first with her performance of Feel Good Inc before kicking off with an energetic rendition of her hit Hung Up.
The Girls - They Aren't Ready to Make Up (2007)
It was a difficult time for The Chicks, then known by their old nickname, ahead of their performance at the 2007 Grammys.
The group was at the center of controversy when they criticized then-President George W. Bush and the Iraq war, which led to them being shunned by the country music scene and subjected to verbal abuse and even death threats.
Their defiant performance at the 2007 Grammys saw them face backlash on Not Ready To Make Nice, and the group ended up becoming the night's big winners, taking home all five awards they were nominated for, including "the three big ones". .
Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good / Rehab (2008)
by the timeamy wineThe Grammy performance, the sad truth is that while everyone talked about her, it was rarely related to her songwriting talents or unparalleled vocal ability.
In fact, his Grammy performance was broadcast live via satellite link, as he was not granted a visa to enter the United States for the ceremony.
However, with this performance he managed to silence all of his critics and remind everyone why he became one of the most famous people in the world in the first place.
Beyoncé and Tina Turner – Déjà Vu/What's Love Got to Do with It/Proud Mary (2008)
And as if the duet with Prince wasn't enough, four years later Beyoncé was hired to introduce the legendary Tina Turner, only for the two to interpret the classic Proud Mary together.
Tina looked absolutely thrilled to be sharing the stage with Beyoncé, while Queen Bey really held her own with one of her idols and managed not to upstage her.
The stuff that legendary duos are made of. Also... what a brilliant introduction by Cher.
Lady Gaga e Elton John – Pokerface/Speechless/Your Song (2010)
When she made her Grammy debut,Lady Gagashe had already become the biggest star in the world, so the stakes were high for her first appearance there.
Did you manage to remove it? Okay, let's check.
Ridiculous OTT intro? Analysis. giant sets? Analysis. Some musics? Analysis. great outfit? Analysis. Play alongside a music legend and prove in a few years of career that they were already contemporaries? Analysis.
We'd say it's a resounding yes.
Rosa - Glitter in the Air (2010)
rosasFans have long known how much he invested in his live performances ahead of his solo performance on the Grammys stage, but in 2010 he made sure the world knew.
Pink sang the haunting ballad "Glitter In The Air", walking through the crowd first before doing aerial aerobics while hanging from the ceiling while singing along the side of the runway.
Jennifer Hudson - I'll Always Love You (2012)
During her lifetime, Whitney performed at the Grammys several times, each time bringing the house down with her powerful singing.
His 2012 death came just 24 hours before this year's ceremony, and he would have been remiss if organizers hadn't paid tribute.
that was decidedJennifer Hudsonshe was the star with the vocal prowess to do Whitney justice, and with less than a day of prep, we can't imagine how she could top that rousing performance.
Nicki Minaj – Roman's Revenge/I Feel Pretty/Roman Holiday (2012)
Possibly one of the most impressive productions on the Grammy stage,Nicki MinajShe certainly raised eyebrows with her awards debut.
After arriving at the show already arm in arm with a man dressed as the Pope, he started his presentation with a blow in a confessional.
After a short film, he staged an exorcism live on stage, culminating in him floating up to the ceiling as his alter ego Roman Zolanski.
Adele - Rolling Deep (2012)
Another performance that hits even harder when you know the context behind it was the Grammys in 2012.adelafirst live performance after throat surgery.
The world had not heard her sing for a long time, and fears began to arise that she might repeat her former singing performances. Of course, we shouldn't have worried.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z: Drunk in Love (2014)
The music world was still reeling from the shock release of their self-titled visual album.Beyoncétook the Grammy stage in 2014.
This time, she wasn't a member of Destiny's Child, she wasn't promoting a song from a movie, and she wasn't anyone's special guest.
Standing on her own two feet, she felt like she had truly cemented her place as a superstar after years as one of the world's most famous singers.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Trombone Shorty, Madonna e Queen Latifah – Same Love/Open Your Heart (2014)
At a time when the same-sex marriage debate was still raging in the United States, Macklemore decided to use her spot at the Grammys to make a bold statement.
With her song Same Love, 33 couples of all genders and genders came together to get married on the spot (led by Queen Latifah, of course) before Madonna appeared dressed as a cowgirl for Open Your Heart with a gospel choir.
While it seems like a clumsy and even possibly insincere gimmick on paper, we fight back tears every time we watch this clip again.
Sia - Candelabrum (2015)
If you're a singer known for never showing your face and staying in the corner during live performances, how do you impress at a public show like the Grammys?
They're bringing Maddie Ziegler, Kristen Wiig, lots of wigs and, of course, a set from an episode of Hoarders.
Katy Perry - By the Grace of God (2015)
Best known for her elaborate and cartoonish acting style,Katy Perryhe immediately took it to his 2015 Grammy performance.
She sang the lesser-known ballad By The Grace Of God, which discusses the suicidal feelings she felt towards the end of her marriage.
The performance was in support of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, with a short message from Barack Obama in support of the #ItsOnUs campaign played shortly beforehand.
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry / In Ordnung (2016)
And speaking of making a statement onstage at the Grammys… wow.
While this year's decision to name Taylor Swift Album of the Year is overKendrick Lamarmay have been controversial in 2016,to beit was the performance that got everyone talking that year.
Just take a look to see what we mean.
Lady Gaga - Space Oddity/Changes/Ziggy Stardust/Suffragette City/Rebel Rebel/Moda/Fama/Let's Dance/Heroes (2016)
Lady Gaga managed to squeeze a whopping 10 of theseDavid BowieThe iconic hits of In Her Homage, a performance that divided opinion.
Some felt it reminded viewers of Bowie's size and influence in pop music, while others, including the late musician's son, were less impressed by the lavish performance (and the fact that he was heavily sponsored by Intel).
Beyoncé – Falling in Love/Sand Castles (2017)
Adele may have even won all three major awards at the 2017 Grammys.sheadmitted that the night truly belonged to Beyoncé.
Bey's gorgeous renditions of "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles" came on the heels of the news that she and husband Jay-Z were expecting twins, and her 10-minute performance celebrated motherhood and was the perfect ending to her incredible lemonade. .
Adele - Fast Love (2017)
A year after a rather shaky rendition of "All I Ask," Adele opened the 2017 Grammys with an impeccable rendition of "Hello." Unfortunately, her second performance that night didn't go as smoothly.
chosen to honorGeorge MichaelWith a rearranged version of Fastlove, Adele restarted the performance a minute later, declaring: "Sorry. Like last year, I can't repeat it.
"I'm sorry I cursed and I'm sorry I started over. Can we start over please? I'm sorry I can't screw this up [George]. I'm sorry."
Kesha, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper e Julia Michaels - Pray (2018)
The 2018 Grammys were all about the Time's Up movement, which the stars in attendance honored by wearing black and white roses on the red carpet.
This emphasis on honoring survivors of sexual abuse, particularly in the workplace, made Kesha's impressive performance in Praying, surrounded by other singers, even more remarkable.
Janelle Monáe - Make Me Feel / PYNK (2019)
Janelle Monáe2018's Dirty Computer album was accompanied by a short film of the same name, which came to life on the Grammy stage the following year.
And while Janelle could have gone home empty-handed that night, this performance, which included provocative choreography, Prince tributes and *those* vulvar pants, was undeniably exceptional.
Cardi B - Geld (2019)
That performance was pretty much everything we loved.card b. He was direct, strong, confident, totally extra, he was brilliant.
No, we're not 100% convinced that there wasn't a little *um* help in the old vocal department, but who else in the industry right now is giving us a perfectly played routine on a grand piano before having to your daughter? Screaming and strutting with a peacock tail with a leopard print?
Ariana Grande - Imagine / Mis cosas favoritas / 7 Rings / Thank You Next (2020)
A year after he snubbed the Grammys over a dispute with organizers, that performance served as a victory lap forAriana Grandeat the end of their successful Thank U, Next era.
After delivering some powerful vocals on the "Imagine" album (and a brief outburst on "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound Of Music"), Ari made a quick wardrobe change and wowed the house with renditions of her US hit. stops. . 7 Rings." and "Thank U" for the earthquake. Coming soon.
Tyler, The Creator, Boyz II Men e Charlie Wilson – EARFQUAKE/NEW MAGIC RAND (2020)
Tyler, The Creator brought his unique talent to the Grammys stage in 2020, the same year he would take home his first Academy of Music Award.
Despite being less than five minutes long, Tyler took us on a wild ride with this performance that included a cameo from Boyz II Men, pyrotechnics, moshing and more.quitelots of bowl cuts.
Demi Lovato - All (2020)
This 2020 achievement must not have been easy for Demi Lovato. Not only was it the first time they'd performed live in public since her near-fatal overdose two years ago, but they also released a new song about her experience, written just days after her hospitalization.
Accompanied only by piano, the highly personal lyrics really shined through, and although the singer had to restart the number a little early due to a cold, he nailed it at the end, and the house didn't go dry-eyed.
Cardi By Megan Thee Hengst – Body/Savage/WAP/Up (2021)
After dominating the charts in 2020 with their number one WAP song, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion were finally able to give their song the live debut it deserved with the following year's Grammys.
The two performed several of their solo hits that night, but it wasn't until they teamed up for their much-discussed collaboration for an outrageous, raunchy, and totally WAP-tastic routine that they really stole the show.
Unfortunately, the full edition isn't on YouTube, so enjoy past highlights from Entertainment Tonight.
Taylor Swift/August/Willow Cardigan (2021)
On a slightly more subdued note, Taylor3Swift brought her folk album to life while creating an entire world for her 2021 Grammy performance.
Not only did she sing songs from Folklore and its sequel Evermore, but she also won Album of the Year that night, marking her third win in the prestigious category.
Harry Styles - Wassermelonenzucker (2021)
Shirtless and dressed in a feather boa, Harry Styles certainly gave the 2021 Grammys a special start by opening the show with this performance. To be honest, we haven't recovered yet.
The 2023 Grammys will take place on Sunday, February 5.