During a memorable moment at the 2025 Grammy Awards, music icon Cher inadvertently announced the late Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year, causing a stir among the audience and viewers at home. The award was, in fact, meant for the collaborative effort "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, which samples Vandross's vocals as a homage to the legendary singer.
The incident occurred when the 79-year-old Cher, who was also at the event to receive a lifetime achievement award, took to the stage to present the prestigious Record of the Year trophy. A brief pause followed by a moment of confusion ensued as she awaited the winner's name to appear on the prompter before realizing she had to open the envelope herself. In an enthusiastic, yet mistaken declaration, she announced "Luther Gandross!" as the winner, leaving the audience momentarily stunned given Vandross's passing two decades prior.
The confusion was eventually clarified when Kendrick Lamar, with a good-natured laugh, approached the stage, acknowledging that Cher was referring to his song rather than the artist. Cher quickly corrected herself amidst the winners' music playing, shouting "Oh, no, Kendrick Lamar!" while sharing in the laughter.
Kendrick Lamar, during his acceptance speech, made sure to pay tribute to Vandross for the inspiration behind the song. Social media reaction to the blunder was swift and ranged from humorous to sympathetic, with tweets highlighting the mix-up and Cher's overall disorganized appearance at the ceremony.
The Grammy Awards ceremony itself was filled with notable moments, including host Trevor Noah's opening monologue that led to speculation about tension with Justin Bieber. Other highlights included political statements made by Billie Eilish during her Song of the Year acceptance speech, Bad Bunny's historic win for Album of the Year with a full Spanish-language project, and Jelly Roll's heartfelt acknowledgment of his Christian faith upon winning Best Country Album.
The conversation surrounding Cher's gaffe continued online, with social media users playfully referencing it as a "Biden moment," drawing parallels to similar public missteps. Despite the confusion, the moment added an unexpected layer of entertainment to the night's proceedings and showcased the industry's ability to handle live television mishaps with humor and grace.
