Grammys 2025: Stevie Wonder leads Quincy Jones tribute with ‘We Are The World’ performance
Stevie Wonder led the Quincy Jones tribute at the 2025 Grammys with a performance of ‘We Are The World’ alongside appearances by Janelle Monáe, Herbie Hancock and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo.
The segment was hosted by Will Smith, who made his first appearance at an awards show since his infamous Oscars slap incident in 2022 with Chris Rock. “In his 91 years, [Quincy] touched countless lives, but I have to say, he changed mine forever,” he said.
Jones was an executive producer on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which helped launch Smith’s career in 1990.
“You probably wouldn’t even know who Will Smith was if it wasn’t for Quincy Jones,” he continued. “Quincy made so many music greats, across multiple genres, sound even greater, bringing the best out in legends.”
Smith then introduced former Jones collaborator Hancock, who began the tribute segment with Erivo’s rendition of ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, which was famously arranged by Jones for Frank Sinatra.
Country star Lainey Wilson then took the stage to perform Jones’ ‘Let The Good Times Roll’, while Wonder appeared to sit next to Hancock for a performance of ‘Bluesette’, a jazz standard that Jones reworked for his 1975 album ‘Mellow Madness’, along with the charity single ‘We Are The World’, which Jones produced and Wonder appeared in. “Quincy was always there to help,” Wonder noted in tribute to Jones.
It was rounded up by Monáe’s startling rendition of Michael Jackson‘s ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’ while dressed in a glittery tuxedo. Watch clips of the performances below.
Cynthia Erivo is not human. Her tone? That voice. Y’all hear those notes?! AMAZING!
Quincy Jones would be so proud of this tribute. #Grammys pic.twitter.com/NG5JRwkQZr
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) February 3, 2025
Stevie Wonder performs during the tribute to Quincy Jones at the 2025 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/ERacxsBahH
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 3, 2025
Stevie Wonder just sang We Are the World on the Grammys stage omg
"We are still the people who will fight and die for this nation, so we definitely have to be able to celebrate each other's cultures all the time." pic.twitter.com/HzdUcxLgrc
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) February 3, 2025
Janelle Monáe performs "Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough" during the Quincy Jones tribute at the 2025 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/yvre306N38
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 3, 2025
Monáe told Entertainment Tonight at the Grammys red carpet that “the reason I’m eclectic as I am” and “why I focus on my albums” is because of his work. See the full list of Grammys 2025 nominees and winners here.
Jones died at the age of 91 last November. His daughter Rashida and her family recently accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of Jones, with the actress reading the speech the producer had prepared prior to his death.
“Our father passed away two weeks ago today. He was really excited to attend tonight, and a lot of his family are here,” Rashida said, accompanied by her siblings. “… And he really, really, really intended on being here with us tonight. And I want you to know that he is here, very much here.”
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Daniel Peters
NME
