The 10 biggest Grammy Awards moments: From Michelle Obama's cameo to Blue Ivy's iconic gesture

Reuters
Reuters

The biggest night in music is fast approaching and the stars are gearing up to celebrate the music industry’s best.

This year’s Grammy Awards will take place at the Los Angeles' Staples Centre on Sunday January 26.

Each year, in true awards show fashion, celebrities turn out in full force and steal the headlines with their antics. From Beyonce's eldest stealing the show with her front row seats to Rihanna's dazzling hip flask, the ceremony has blessed us with some truly memorable showbiz incidents.

Here are the best Grammy Awards moments from over the years.

Michelle Obama reminded us why she is the "forever" First Lady

Obama joined forces with some famous faces (Reuters)
Obama joined forces with some famous faces (Reuters)

Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at last year's Grammy Awards.

The former First Lady of the United States left audience members and viewers at home buzzing when she walked on stage with her girl squad consisting of Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Lopez.

Mrs Obama was praised for her speech that heralded Motown Records for impacting her life growing up in Chicago.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side, to the 'who run the world' songs that fuelled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know that's true for everybody here," Obama said.

"Whether we like country, rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters -- every story within every voice, every note within every song."

Blue Ivy Carter asking Beyoncé and Jay-Z to stop clapping

Unimpressed: Blue Ivy was having none of it (Getty Images )
Unimpressed: Blue Ivy was having none of it (Getty Images )

If there’s anything the Internet loves it's celebrity tots being complete divas, and Blue Ivy more than delivered at the 2018 Grammys.

The pop culture icon couldn’t help but savage parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the event as she seemingly called them out for making too much noise while they applauded a speech.

We've all been there as kids. Parents can be embarrassing, even if they are Mr and Mrs. Carter.

The famous tot bowed her head and made gestures with her hands as she encouraged the superstar couple to be quiet.

Naturally, the internet loved it and the clip later went on to become one of the biggest memes of the year.

Rihanna rocks up to the Grammys with a hip flask

Iconic: Rihanna showed up to the ceremony with a hip flask (Getty Images)
Iconic: Rihanna showed up to the ceremony with a hip flask (Getty Images)

In 2017, Rihanna proved she was truly living her best life as she braced herself for a long evening with a jewel-encrusted hip flask.

Stealing the show, the Wild Thoughts hit maker was spotted taking swigs throughout the night.

Fans at the time couldn’t help but note the relatability of the need for a flask on-the-go, with many joking that they needed one for “family events.”

Fashionable and effective, of course Rihanna had to make this list - especially because she missed out on picking up any awards that year despite being nominated eight times.

James Corden takes a tumble during his opening number

Tumble: Corden fell down the stairs on stage (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Tumble: Corden fell down the stairs on stage (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Late Late Show host James Corden took on the prestigious role of host at the 2017 Grammy Awards but things didn’t go quite to plan for the seasoned presenter.

Stepping on stage after Adele warmed up the crowd, Corden patiently waited for a set of steps to move and allow him on.

When nothing happened Corden climbed on the steps and fell down a gap between them and then attempted to clamber back up.

However, things quickly took another turn as he fell over the steps, resulting in him rolling down the remainder of the stage stairs.

A red-faced Corden reached for the shoe and microphone battery pack he lost in the process and attempted to pull himself together in a bid to join the dancers with the routine.

Screaming to the audience, an out-of-breath Corden declared the sequence a “disaster.”

Intentional or not, the gaffe left people stunned and in stitches.

Milli Vanilli had their award taken away after being caught out for lip syncing

Awkward: The duo were stripped of their Grammy Award (AP)
Awkward: The duo were stripped of their Grammy Award (AP)

R&B duo Milli Vanilli, made up of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, were founded by producer Frank Farian in 1988.

In 1990 the duo, who were famed for hits Blame it on The Rain and Girl I’m Gonna Miss You, were awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist but things quickly unravelled after an on-stage performance in Connecticut went wrong.

The recording of song Girl You Know It’s True jammed and began to skip, repeating a portion of the song. At first the pair attempted to sing and dance on stage but both ran off shortly after when the loop continued.

After a swarm of doubt, their agent Sergio Vendero later confessed that the pair did not sing any of the vocals heard on their musical releases.

The pair were then stripped of their Grammy Award.

Madonna flashes her bum as she pays homage to the “age of the a**!”

Carefree: The pop icon flashed photographers (Getty Images)
Carefree: The pop icon flashed photographers (Getty Images)

In 2015 Madonna proved she still had shock factor when she flashed her bum at a flock of shocked photographers as she passed by.

Brushing it off the morning after on the Ryan Seacrest show, she declared it a moment of her “having fun and being cheeky”.

Prince and Beyoncé steal the show with an iconic performance

2004: Beyonce and Prince steal the show with their performance (Reuters)
2004: Beyonce and Prince steal the show with their performance (Reuters)

Is there anything more powerful than legends supporting legends?

In 2004 the Purple Rain icon and Crazy in Love hit-maker stole the show with their knock-out collaboration.

The pair wowed spectators with their powerhouse medley of their hit songs in a show-stopping performance.

Eminem and Sir Elton John join hands after performing on stage

United: Elton John and Eminem put on a stunning showcase (AFP)
United: Elton John and Eminem put on a stunning showcase (AFP)

Rapper Eminem and pop legend Sir Elton John literally joined hands as they came together for a duet of hit track Stan in 2001.

The six-minute spectacle saw Eminem showcase his effortless rap ability as he appeared in perfect form alongside Sir Elton’s husky vocals.

The collaboration sparked an unlikely friendship that went on to flourish.

Kanye West almost doesn’t let Beck finish

Repeat: West almost stormed Beck's speech in the same fashion as Taylor Swift in 2009 (AFP/Getty Images)
Repeat: West almost stormed Beck's speech in the same fashion as Taylor Swift in 2009 (AFP/Getty Images)

Kanye West infamously stormed the stage during Taylor Swift’s 2009 MTV VMAs acceptance with his, “Imma let you finish but” speech.

The speech saw West argue that Beyoncé should have won the Video of the Year gong over Swift.

And it seems like his urge to step in hadn’t quite been suppressed by 2015 as he just about managed to restrain himself from interrupting Beck from accepting his Album of the Year Grammy.

After stepping on stage, West took a sharp U-turn back to his seat, to the relief of both Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

Someone needs to sit that man a little further back.

Lady Gaga’s Bowie tribute

Bowie: Gaga's tribute didn't go down well with his son (Getty Images )
Bowie: Gaga's tribute didn't go down well with his son (Getty Images )

Lady Gaga stormed the stage with Nile Rodgers in 2016 in a tribute to David Bowie.

The showcase saw Gaga sport Bowie’s signature flame-red hair for the occasion and merged together a slew of popular Bowie tracks including Space Oddity and Let’s Dance.

Although the performance didn’t go down too well with Bowie’s son Duncan Jones, who branded it “overexcited”, “irrational” and “mentally confused”, the performance was definitely a noteworthy Grammys moment.

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