why did cher say luther vandross

Cher's Luther Vandross Grammy Gaffe

Cher hilariously mixed up the Record of the Year winner at the 2026 Grammys , announcing the late R&B legend Luther Vandross instead of the song "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

The Mix-Up Moment

Picture this: It's February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in LA during the 68th Grammy Awards. Cher, fresh off receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award, is roped back onstage by host Trevor Noah to announce Record of the Year. She opens the envelope and blurts, "And the Grammy goes to Luther Vandross!" —a nod to the late singer who died in 2005.

She quickly catches herself, exclaiming "No! Kendrick Lamar!" as Lamar and SZA head up to accept for their track "Luther," which samples Vandross's 1982 duet with Cheryl Lynn, "If This World Were Mine." The crowd erupted in laughter, turning a potential flop into a viral, feel-good blunder.

Why "Luther"?

• The song title "Luther" directly references Vandross, honoring his soulful legacy in hip-hop's modern sound.

• Lamar leaned into it during his speech: "This is what music is about. Luther Vandross." —bridging generations and making the mistake even funnier in hindsight.

• Cher later played it off with her signature flair, but clips spread like wildfire online just hours ago.

Trending Reactions

Social media lit up post-show (as of February 2, 2026):

"Cher calling Kendrick Lamar 'Luther Vandross' is peak Grammy chaos. Iconic blunder!"

• Fans praised the timing: Lamar and SZA's tribute made Cher's slip feel like fate.

• Some called it "hilarious mix-up gold," while others noted Cher's age (79) added wholesome charm.

• No malice—pure celebrity magic, with outlets like Newsweek and HuffPost dubbing it the night's highlight.

Cher & Vandross Legacy

Cher's no stranger to Grammys (this was her big honor night), and Vandross—known for hits like "Never Too Much"—remains a vocal powerhouse sampled across genres. This flub? Just another tale in music's quirky history, like Madonna's past tributes gone sideways.

TL;DR: Cher goofed by naming deceased Luther Vandross as winner due to the song's title; she corrected it fast amid laughs, tying perfectly into the track's homage.

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