Grammys: Janelle Monáe brings down the house with Michael Jackson moonwalk
Actress, singer, songwriter, and rapper Janelle Monáe can now add “Michael Jackson impersonator” to her résumé.
The 10-time Grammy nominee brought down the house with her cover of M.J.’s “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,” complete with a moonwalk, during the ceremony’s Quincy Jones tribute on Sunday night. Monáe performed while wearing a Jackson-esque sparkly tuxedo, bedazzled socks, and sunglasses. She danced with her microphone for much of the routine, and then pushed it aside as she hot-stepped effortlessly around the stage. Watch the video:
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At one point, Monáe removed her black jacket (which Taylor Swift caught and proceeded to wear) and revealed an “I [heart] QJ” tank top in honor of the iconic record producer who died on Nov. 3, 2024 at age 91. He won a whopping 28 Grammy Awards throughout his career, including most recently in the Best Music Film category for the short “Quincy” in 2018.
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Others to take part in the Jones tribute were Cynthia Ervio and Herbie Hancock (“Fly Me To The Moon”), Lainey Wilson and Jacob Collier (“Let The Good Times Roll”), and Stevie Wonder and Hancock (“Blusette” / “We Are The World”).
Will Smith, in his first awards appearance since he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, introduced the segment and told an intimate story about Jones from his The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air days.
SEE Grammy Awards winners list in all 94 categories (updating live)
On the red carpet, Monáe told Entertainment Tonight that Jones “gave us the blueprint when it comes to album-making and music-making. The reason why I’m as eclectic as I am, and I focus on my albums, is because of what he gave us. … Tonight, I’m just here to say thank you.” She added that she was going to “let the force move” her when it came to her performance.
Grammy viewers everywhere were enraptured by Monáe’s impersonation of Jackson — particularly that moonwalk — and posted their appreciations on social media. Here are some of their comments:
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