Chaka Khan performs at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Chaka Khan performs at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Watch Chaka Khan Sing The National Anthem At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

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The 10-time GRAMMY winner nodded to her native Chicago, where this year's event is being hosted, and NBA legend Michael Jordan
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 16, 2020 - 6:44 pm

R&B and soul icon Chaka Khan opened the 2020 NBA All-Star Game today (Feb. 16) with a fiery rendition of the U.S. national anthem.

The 10-time GRAMMY winner and celebrated Queen Of Funk was decked out in a custom basketball jersey that nodded to her native Chicago, where this year's NBA All-Star Game is being hosted, and NBA legend Michael Jordan. 

Khan joins previous GRAMMY winners like Fergie, Anthony Hamilton and Marvin Gaye who have performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the big game.

Khan has kept busy on the music and live front over the past two years. In 2019, she toured with Michael McDonald, performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, dazzled fans at the Bulova Brunch during GRAMMY Week and released her 12th album, Hello Happiness.

Read: Jennifer Hudson Delivers Touching Tribute To Kobe Bryant At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

She received her most recent GRAMMY wins at the 50th GRAMMY Awards, held in 2008, when she took home two golden gramophones for her 2007 album, Funk This: Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for album single "Disrespectful," featuring Mary J. Blige.

Khan's performance is part of a stacked musical lineup at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and Weekend, which includes performances from: Jennifer Hudson, who's paying tribute to the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant; Queen Latifah, who covered Stevie Wonder; and Chance The Rapper, who's delivering a star-studded halftime show later tonight alongside DJ Khaled, Migos rapper Quavo and Lil Wayne. 

Read: Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, Quavo and Lil Wayne Deliver Star-Studded Halftime Show At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Other artists who performed and appeared throughout the weekend include Common, Chance The Rapper's brother and fellow rapper, Taylor Bennett, Megan Thee Stallion, Normani, Jeremih and others. 

Queen Latifah Delivers Soulful Performance Of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" At NBA All-Star 2020 Weekend

Jennifer Hudson performs a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Jennifer Hudson performs a tribute to Kobe Bryant at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

 

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

 
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Jennifer Hudson Delivers Touching Tribute To Kobe Bryant At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

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Following a moving speech from NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the singer performed a heart-wrenching rendition of "For All We Know," from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 16, 2020 - 6:14 pm

Jennifer Hudson brought the house down to tears when she performed a touching tribute to late NBA icon Kobe Bryant tonight (Feb. 16) at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Ahead of Hudson's performance, NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson gave a moving speech in memory of Bryant and former NBA commissioner David Stern, who both died last month. 

"We'll never see another basketball player quite like Kobe… So we all are hurting. This is a tough time for the whole NBA family," Johnson said. 

Following Johnson's speech, Hudson—a native to Chicago, where this year's NBA All-Star Game is being hosted—came to the stage and performed a heart-wrenching rendition of "For All We Know," the classic song popularized by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway in 1972, as images of Kobe displayed on a screen behind the emotionally distraught singer. 

Read: Queen Latifah Delivers Soulful Performance Of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" At NBA All-Star 2020 Weekend

Hudson, a GRAMMY-, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning singer and actress, is no stranger to delivering tearjerking tributes. In 2019, Hudson honored Aretha Franklin when she performed at the Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul commemorative concert and TV special. At the 2019 Academy Awards, she also sang a powerful rendition of "I'll Fight," a featured song from RBG, the 2018 documentary on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; the song was nominated for Best Original Song at that year's award show. 

The two-time GRAMMY winner received her most recent GRAMMY win at the 59th GRAMMY Awards, held in 2017, when she won for Best Musical Theater Album for her performance in the Broadway musical "The Color Purple." She won her first GRAMMY at the 51st GRAMMY Awards, held in 2009, for Best R&B Album for her 2008 self-titled album. 

Hudson's tribute is part of a stacked musical lineup at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and Weekend, which includes performances from: Chaka Khan, who sang the national anthem to officially open the game; Queen Latifah, who covered Stevie Wonder; and Chance The Rapper, who's confirmed to deliver a star-studded halftime show later tonight alongside DJ Khaled, Migos rapper Quavo and Lil Wayne. 

Other artists who performed and appeared throughout the weekend include Common, Chance The Rapper's brother and fellow rapper, Taylor Bennett, Megan Thee Stallion, Normani, Jeremih and others. 

Watch Jennifer Lopez And Shakira Deliver Dazzling Halftime Show At Super Bowl 2020

Queen Latifah performs during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

Queen Latifah performs during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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Queen Latifah Delivers Soulful Performance Of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" At The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

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The rapper-singer added her own flavor to the 1976 ballad and nodded to late basketball legend Kobe Bryant in her performance
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 16, 2020 - 9:01 am

Last night (Feb. 15), GRAMMY winner Queen Latifah performed as part of the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend.

In the lead-up to the NBA All-Star Game tonight (Feb. 16), the rapper-singer performed a soulful cover of Stevie Wonder's inspiring ballad "Love's In Need Of Love Today," a featured track off the latter's 1976 classic album, Songs In The Key Of Life. 

In the middle of her performance, Queen Latifah added her own flavor when she rapped a few original bars during the song's breakdown. 

"I smile at the thought of love/Unconditional, it taught me never how to judge/How I feel about myself/See the world, empathize/Realize we can never, never have enough," she rapped. 

Read: Jennifer Hudson Delivers Touching Tribute To Kobe Bryant At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

In a nod to Kobe Bryant, who died, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, in a tragic accident last month (Jan. 26), Queen Latifah dedicated a few lyrics to the basketball legend during her performance. 

"Home is where the heart is/Don't gotta pay a mortgage/It's free, not a fee you ever owe me/Give love a shot/When you do, say, 'Kobe'/24 hours, 8 days a week—trophies," she rapped, referencing Bryant's jersey numbers—No. 24 and No. 8—during his 20-season run with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Read: Watch Chaka Khan Sing The National Anthem At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

The tributes to Bryant and the other accident victims will continue at the NBA All-Star Game tonight. GRAMMY-winning singer Jennifer Hudson is set to open the 69th annual game with a tribute to the late NBA icon. 

Later tonight, Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, Migos rapper Quavo and Lil Wayne will deliver a star-studded halftime show at the game. 

Ahead of the game, 10-time GRAMMY winner Chaka Khan will sing the U.S. national anthem. Canadian country music artist Tenille Arts will sing the Canadian national anthem. 

The 2019 NBA All-Star Game featured performances and appearances from J. Cole, Meek Mill, Carly Rae Jepsen and Anthony Hamilton.

Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, Quavo and Lil Wayne Deliver Star-Studded Halftime Show At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

DJ Khaled, Quavo and Chance The Rapper perform at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

(L-R): DJ Khaled, Quavo and Chance The Rapper perform at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, Quavo and Lil Wayne Deliver Star-Studded Halftime Show At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

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The Chicago rapper closed out a stacked musical lineup at the 69th annual game with a performance that was both celebratory and moving
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Feb 16, 2020 - 8:34 pm

Keeping with the night's all-star theme, Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, Migos rapper Quavo and Lil Wayne delivered a star-studded halftime show at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game tonight (Feb. 16).

Chance, a native of Chicago, where this year's NBA All-Star Game is being hosted, kicked off the halftime show with an energetic performance of "No Problem," a featured track off his 2016 GRAMMY-winning mixtape, Coloring Book. He brought out special guest and collaborator on the original track Lil Wayne, who dedicated a few lyrics to late NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna who, along with seven others, died in a tragic accident last month (Jan. 26).

Read: Jennifer Hudson Delivers Touching Tribute To Kobe Bryant At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game 

DJ Khaled and Quavo then partied onstage next to Chance, performing their collaborative track "I'm The One," featured on Khaled's 2017 album, Grateful. 

The show marks another major televised performance from DJ Khaled this year. Last month at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards, the DJ/producer joined an all-star lineup, featuring John Legend, Meek Mill, Kirk Franklin, Roddy Ricch and YG, to remember late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle, who was fatally shot last March. 

Chance closed out the jam-packed halftime show with a moving tribute to Bryant. Emotionally distraught, he performed "I Was A Rock," a tribute song he originally performed in memory of late boxing legend Muhammad Ali at the 2016 ESPY Awards show, as images and videos of Bryant played on a screen behind the rapper. 

The halftime show closed out the stacked musical lineup at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game and Weekend, which included performances from: Jennifer Hudson, who paid tribute to Bryant; Chaka Khan, who sang the national anthem to officially open the game; and Queen Latifah, who covered Stevie Wonder.

Read: Watch Chaka Khan Sing The National Anthem At The 2020 NBA All-Star Game

Other artists who performed and appeared throughout the weekend include Common, Chance The Rapper's brother and fellow rapper, Taylor Bennett, Megan Thee Stallion, Normani, Jeremih and others. 

Queen Latifah Delivers Soulful Performance Of Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need Of Love Today" At NBA All-Star 2020 Weekend

The Supremes

Barbara Martin (L)

Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns

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Barbara Martin, Original Singer For The Supremes, Dies At 76

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As a member of the legendary Motown group, she sang on the band's 1962 debut album, 'Meet The Supremes'
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Mar 6, 2020 - 10:56 am

Barbara Martin, best known for her work as one of the original singers in the legendary Motown group The Supremes, has died. She was 76. 

According to NME, Martin died earlier this week (March 4). While details surrounding the cause of her death have yet to be released, the group confirmed her passing yesterday (March 5) in a post shared on The Supremes' official Facebook page, writing, "Our hearts go out to Barbara's family and friends. Once a Supreme, always a Supreme."  Founding Supremes member Mary Wilson also confirmed Martin's death on Twitter.

Born in Detroit, Martin joined The Supremes in 1960, replacing founding member Betty McGlown, when the group was still known as the Primettes. One year later, the group, featuring the original lineup of Martin, Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, changed its name to The Supremes when they signed to the iconic Motown Records, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year.

While only an official member of the group for two years, Martin sang on multiple early Supremes singles. She shared lead vocal duties with Diana Ross on "(He's) Seventeen," featured on the band's 1962 debut album, Meet The Supremes. Although she contributed lead and background vocals on the album, Martin is not featured on the cover art. 

In 1962, Martin left The Supremes after she got pregnant. The group continued as a trio, filtering through numerous lineup changes throughout the years, and did not replace Martin.

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