Once again, the Grammys showcased a broad range of musical talent, with solid performances all through the night. Here is a ranking of the night's live acts:
19. Hollywood Vampires
These original rock veterans (with Johnny Depp on guitar) performed a tribute to Motorhead in an explosion of fire, black leather, and other theatrics.
18. Ellie Goulding and Andra Day
The British and American beauties were a stark, but lovely, contrast dressed in black and white for this rendition of "Love Me Like You Do" and "Rise Up."
17. John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Tyrese, Meghan Trainor, and Lionel Richie
Five artists paid tribute to Lionel Richie in this mash-up of his greatest songs. Legend was easy like Sunday mornin', his smooth voice crooning to the classic Lionel Richie track as he played the piano; Lovato delivered a power vocal, singing "Hello" as Richie cheered her on; Luke Bryan performed a singsongy version of "Penny Lover"; Meghan Trainor did her own take on "You Are the Sun"; and Tyrese brought the house down with "Brick House." The number was a total crowd-pleaser as Richie himself capped it off with a celebratory performance of "All Night Long."
16. Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood
Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood sang a medley of their hits, "Take Your Time" and "Heartbeat," the country twang in their voices only adding to their sultry performance.
15. Chris Stapleton, Gary Clark Jr., and Bonnie Raitt
Stapleton's gritty country sound, Clark's smooth voice, and Raitt's still-so-amazing vocals paid tribute to B.B. King in this bluesy performance of "The Thrill Is Gone."
14. Pitbull, Travis Barker, Joe Perry, Robin Thicke, & Sofia Vergara
The Grammy's closing number was done in full Mr. Worldwide fashion, complete with taxi outfit-clad background dancers, flashing lights, and Robin Thicke's signature falsetto. The best part, though, was when Sofia Vergara made a surprise cameo, shimmying to Pitbull's lyric, "I don't know who that woman is, but the party is not over, when I walked into the living room, there it was Sofia Vergara."
See More: Grammys 2016: Relevant or Removed from Reality?
13. Justin Bieber with Diplo and Skrillex
The first-time Grammy winner performed a stripped-down, acoustic version of "Love Yourself," showcasing his voice and reminding us of the cute kid found on YouTube. Bieber, with the help of Diplo and Skrillex, picked up the tempo with a rock version of "Where Are Ü Now," complete with drums, cymbals, guitars, and violins making up the signature riff.
12. The Weeknd
Undeniably a huge star this past year, The Weekend performed his hits "Can't Feel My Face" and "In the Night." He may have struggled for the high notes a little bit, but it's okay, he still has Bella Hadid.
11. The Eagles and Jackson Browne
Glen Frey's photo served as a backdrop for this performance of "Take It Easy." In this touching tribute, the Eagles honored the late Frey, who passed away last month. We felt nothing but nostalgia and tenderness as the band members, along with Jackson Browne, stood in line singing and strumming their guitars.
10. Tori Kelly and James Bay
Standing on stage with nothing but their guitars, Best New Artist nominees Tori Kelly and James Bay proved why they are both worthy of the category. Their acoustic mash-up of "Let It Go" and "Hollow" felt intimate and simply beautiful.
9. Little Big Town
The Best Country Group winners proved to everyone their raw talent by showcasing their vocals in this stripped down performance of their hit "Girl Crush."
8. Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix
Who doesn't love acapella? Especially when it's "Sing-Off" champs and two-time Grammy winners, Pentatonix. Add the iconic Stevie Wonder to the mix, and we're in music heaven. The smooth crooners paid tribute to the late Maurice White with the Earth, Wind & Fire classic, "That's the Way of the World."
See More: Grammys 2016: List of Winners
7. Miguel
Adding to the multitude of tributes at this year's Grammys, Miguel performed a rendition of Michael Jackson's "She's Out of My Life" to celebrate the special re-release of "Off the Wall." Miguel kept it simple, and let his smooth voice do the talking as he paid homage to the King of Pop.
6. Taylor Swift
Dressed in a daring black jumpsuit and a Halloween-esque forested backdrop, T-Swift killed it with her performance of "Out of the Woods," and later followed it up by claiming every right to her fame during her acceptance speech for Album of the Year. That's right, Taylor. Shake it off.
5. Alabama Shakes
Absolutely regal in a white cape, Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard again showed the world why the band is a three-time Grammy winner. Her voice combined with the smooth tunes of the electric guitar made for an eclectic groove, Alabama Shakes style.
4. Adele
Don't worry girl, it happens. Adele powered through the technical malfunctions during her performance of "All I Ask" (the mic fell on the piano keys and her mic cut out), still impressing all of us with the raw power and beauty of her voice. Even better, she later tweeted that due to the malfunction, she was treating herself to In-N-Out. We'll never find someone like you, Adele.
3. Lady Gaga
Fresh off her highly acclaimed Superbowl performance, Lady Gaga paid tribute to the late, great David Bowie with a medley of his greatest hits. From "Space Oddity" to "Heroes," Gaga nearly covered it all. Incredible graphics by Intel added to the colorful performance that only creatives like Lady Gaga (and Bowie, of course) could pull off. Little monsters and Bowie fans, unite!
2. The cast of Hamilton
Following a slew of TV musicals ("Grease Live," "The Wiz," "Peter Pan"), the cast of Hamilton showed us the true artistic beauty of the theatre. The opening number to their play showcased set design, dance, and undeniable talent. It was equal parts modern and classic broadway, and we might want to buy tickets now.
1. Kendrick Lamar
In this politically-driven performance, Lamar first stepped out in shackles surrounded by prisoners. As the performance progressed, the lights went out, the prisoners danced in neon paint, and Lamar moved to a set complete with a bonfire and traditional African dancers. The piece was the result of artistry and social mindfulness, as Lamar celebrated black and African culture. He absolutely killed his delivery, leaving a powerful message and proving why he won this year's Best Rap Album.
Reach Staff Reporter Megan Lee here.
Annenberg Media