“Who the f*** is she?”
February 18, 2026 2:00 PM
The Grammys never cease to surprise and amaze audiences year after year, with moments you would never expect to happen, performances that you will never forget, and controversies which will live on in infamy for years to come.
2011’s version was without exception and showcased many stars of the future, who will no doubt use Sunday’s awards show as a springboard to super stardom.
On the flip side it dealt blows to the careers of others, and the dust is still settling to see what the implications will be. For those who were not fortunate enough to see the show, here are the high and lowlights of the night’s festivities.
Memorable Performances
While the Grammy Awards’ main purpose is to dish out the hardware to the best of the music industry, they also act as a showcase for that talent. The show opened with a tribute to ailing Motown legend, Aretha Franklin by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch of Florence and The Machine, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams.
Franklin appeared via video message to thank all her supporters as she attempts to get well. In perhaps the most anticipated performance, Lady Gaga preformed her latest single, “Born This Way”, live for the first time.
Arriving on stage in a floating egg, Gaga delivered powerful vocals while still maintaining sharp choreography. Known for her outrageous wardrobe, she dressed relatively conservative for the performance, but not to fear, as another artist would make up for Gaga’s lack of flair.
Cee-Lo Green and Gwyneth Paltrow performed a duet of “Forget You”, however the song was not what people were talking about the next day. Green donned numerous large colourful feathers and sequins covering most of his body, looking as if he was ready for Mardi Gras as he pounded out notes on the piano.
Justin Bieber, Usher and Jaden Smith performed together, putting on a spectacle with warrior dancers and impressive martial arts. It also acted as a showcase for Jaden to show his talent rivals his sister Willow’s, as his proud parents Will and Jada gave him a standing ovation during the performance.
Rare appearances were made on the night by music legends Bob Dylan (who collaborated with best new artist nominee, Mumford and Sons), Mick Jagger (his first ever Grammy performance), and Barbara Streisand.
Others who took the stage on the night included Montreal band Arcade Fire, B.O.B., Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, and Rihanna, who graced the stage twice, first with Eminem for “Love the Way You Lie”, and then with Drake for “What’s My Name?”
Winners and Losers
The biggest winners on the night were country group Lady Antebellum who took home five awards in large part due to the success of their smash hit “Need You Now”. Lady Gaga also won big, taking home three awards.
Perhaps the biggest loser on the night was Eminem. Nominated for a leading ten awards, at the end of the night, he only walked away with two. His album Recovery was acclaimed by critics, yet Grammy voters thought otherwise, favouring the work of his peers. He also fell victim to one of the biggest surprises of the night, much to the delight of Canadian music fans.
Arcade Fire, the often underappreciated Canadian indie rock band picked up the final award given out on the night, Album of the Year, for their acclaimed work, The Suburbs. After just finishing a performance, the band, still in shock, made their way to the stage, with frontman Win Butler exclaiming, “What the hell?”.
Recovery was the heavy favourite going into the night to take home the award.
Despite delivering a huge shock at the very end of the show, the largest came earlier on in the category for Best New Artist of the Year. With nominees Justin Bieber, Drake, Mumford and Sons, and Florence and The Machine, few if anybody gave jazz singer Esperanza Spalding a chance, and she was clearly the dark horse.
All other nominees have millions of fans and smash hits, yet it was Spalding who took home the hardware. All across the Internet and no doubt in front of TVs everywhere, “who the f*** is she!?!?!” was exclaimed in outrage and shock.
Even Kanye West expressed he was lost for words on his Twitter page. Despite the upset, Spalding accepted her award gracefully and gained many new fans before the night was over. Other more humorous losers on the evening included Christina Aguilera’s stumble following her performance, marking two consecutive Sunday’s where the pop star has damaged her image and her ego.
John Mayer also appeared to be doing his best Johnny Depp impression with his trademark hairstyle and facial hair.
It was no doubt a night that left many scratching their heads.
