On February 1, Cher returned to the Grammy stage for the first time in nearly two decades – and she made sure no one would forget it.
Cher, the 79-year-old pop icon, was honored at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating more than six decades in the industry. It marked her first appearance at the ceremony in 18 years and came nearly 26 years after she accepted her first Grammy for “Believe,” which earned her Record of the Year in 2000.
“I knew what I wanted to be when I was five years old, and I was famous at 19, and had a top-rated show in my 20s, actually,” Cher told the audience, reflecting on her 1970s TV career that launched her into superstardom. “But it didn’t occur to me how rough my career was going to be, and my life was going to be.”
“In the early 80s, it got so bad that I had to go to Las Vegas. Then I got dropped by my label. Another label picked me up and I recorded a song called ‘Believe,’” she said in her acceptance speech, per Rolling Stone.
“Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it’s not happening now, it will happen soon. So that’s all I have to say. Thank you,” she added.
‘Have to walk off now’
After delivering an emotional speech about perseverance, longevity, and chasing dreams, she turned to leave the stage: “I guess I’m supposed to walk off now…all right, I have to walk off now,” she said as she exited.
But then Trevor Noah, who hosted the star-studded awards show for his sixth and final time, called her back to present the award for the same category she won in 2000.
“Cher, before you go, uh could we get you to announce the nominees?” Noah asked. “Welcome back Cher, everybody!”
She couldn’t turn back time
Quickly composing herself, and holding the envelope with the winner’s name, the legend started, “And the Grammy goes to…”
And then, People reports that she took a brief pause.
“Oh! They told me it was going to be on a prompter,” Cher said, laughing off the moment. Then came the moment that stunned – and amused – the crowd.
She eagerly said: “Oh, the Grammy goes to Luther Vandross!”
Puzzled presenter
Luther Vandross, the beloved soul singer who last appeared at the 2004 Grammys in a pre-recorded message before his 2005 death at only 54, had obviously not been among the night’s nominees.
But Vandross – who earned eight Grammys in his career – did have a connection to the winning track: “Luther,” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, samples Vandross’s 1982 duet with Cheryl Lynn, “If This World Were Mine.”
And the song’s title was enough to puzzle the presenter.
Correcting herself as the audience erupted into laughter, Cher added: “Oh! Kendrick! No –Kendrick Lamar!”
Lamar, seated in the audience, could be seen laughing over the mix-up. Cher, realizing the mistake, appeared flustered and mouthed “I’m so sorry” as the winners made their way to the stage.
Lamar praises the late Vandross
During the acceptance speech, the 38-year-old rapper reflected on what the song meant to him – and how meaningful it was to receive permission to sample Vandross’s work.
“the Grammy goes to Luther Vandross.”
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 2, 2026
— Cher announcing the winner of ‘Record of the Year’ at the #GRAMMYs. pic.twitter.com/rSTjjDdNIb
“This is what music is about. Luther Vandross, this, this is special for me,” Lamar started. “It’s one of my favorite artists of all time, and they granted us the privilege to do our version of this. When we got that clearance, I promise you, we definitely all dropped a tear, because we know how much him and Cheryl Lynn poured into that record.”
What fans said about Cher’s mix-up
The lighthearted blunder was quickly embraced by fans online and in the arena, many of whom noted that the confusion was understandable given the name of the song and the deep influence Vandross had on the record itself.
“Iconic moment. Two legends, one historic #GRAMMYs announcement,” one fan wrote on X. Another posted, “At least they leaned into it. Also, the song is connected to Vandross, so she wasn’t completely wrong.”
“Who is Luther Vandross?? Is she famous?” asked one user, revealing more about their age than they likely intended.
Despite the misstep, Cher’s return to the Grammys was received with admiration. Her announcement gaffe, rather than overshadowing the night, became an endearing and oddly fitting tribute to Luther Vandross – whose legacy lives on not just through his own hits, but through the artists he continues to inspire.
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