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“I heard it through the grapevine, not much longer would you be mine.” — Marvin Gaye, I Heard It Through The Grapevine
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 10th, had many outstanding moments. Former First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage with several celebrities to speak on the power and importance of music. Donald Glover made history by winning record of the year for his song “This is America,” making it the first rap song to do so. Cardi B also turned heads by becoming the first solo female artist to win best rap album.
Despite these moments, however, the award show had its share of controversy. At one point, Grammy producers cut to commercial during a speech given by Drake as he was accepting an award for rap song of the year. There was also drama surrounding Ariana Grande and her refusal to perform at the award show due to tension between her and Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich. While these issues can be rationalized as misunderstandings, one controversial moment remains perplexing — the Grammys asked Jennifer Lopez to lead a Motown tribute.
Many were surprised at the choice to have Lopez tackle music traditionally performed by Black/soulful entertainers given her cultural background and career as a pop singer. Prior to and after her performance, there were a series of questions and concerns posed by both fans…
