From the heart Jennifer Lopez belts it out during the 61st Annual Grammy Awards which enables her to connect with the audience the same way that President Duterte speaks with conviction to the people. AFP

It was a show of force at the 61st Grammys held on Sunday (Monday morning, Manila time).

The song is a social commentary of the rampant mass shootings in the US, gun violence and racism

Ricky Martin and Camilla Cabello opened the show in high fashion with spots for their hits “Havana” and “Mi Gente.”

But the surprise appearance of Michelle Obama set the tone for a night of surprises and unforgettable moments.

Taking a break from a book tour before popping at the Grammys, the former first lady received a standing ovation as she introduced her spiel following host Alicia Keys’ introduction.

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

POWER women graced the Grammys. Former First Lady Michelle Obama flanked by (from left) Jennifer Lopez, host Alicia Keys, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Lady Gaga. AFP She stood resplendent like the four other women who shared the stage with her at that moment: Keys, Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jennifer Lopez.

Obama later revealed through her official Twitter account that she was there to support her friend, Keys, who had been to the White House several times. “One of the most genuine and thoughtful people I know — there’s no one better to help us all celebrate the unifying power of music!” she said of the first-time Grammy host.

Indeed, not only serving as the host, Keys would later remind people why she is one of the most respected Grammy-winning artists.

Keys showed off her piano skills by playing two sets at once before she broke into a birthday tribute to Lauryn Hill and covering songs by Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Ella Mai, Swizz Beatz and Nat King Cole.

Another legend, Diana Ross, sang and interacted with the audience including a charming number with Jaden Smith while she sang her songs “The Best Years of My Life” and “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” She ended her number with a birthday greeting to herself. She is turning 75 in March.

The night’s biggest winners were country singer Kacey Musgraves, Childish Gambino and popstar and recent Oscar nominee Lady Gaga.

Gaga wowed the audience in a solo spot of “Shallow,” originally a duet with costar and A Star Is Born director Bradley Cooper. She literally shone with her jewel-studded, one-piece plunging suit while holding a jewel-studded microphone.

Their duet won the Best Pop Duo award and Best Song Written for Visual Media. Gaga’s other song “Joanne” won the Best Pop Solo Performance.

Another multi-hyphenate took home two of the most coveted awards. Actor, director, rapper, singer, songwriter and DJ, Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” took home all the awards it was nominated in: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Music Video. The song is a social commentary at rampant mass shootings in the US, gun violence and racism. Childish Gambino is also known as Donald Glover, star of Atlanta and who used to write for the hit sitcom 30 Rock.

COUNTRY artist Kacey Musgraves is one of the night’s biggest winners. AFP Also among the biggest wins at the Grammys was country sweetheart Kacey Musgraves.

The 30-year-old Texan won all four categories she was nominated in: Best Country Solo Performance for “Butterflies,” Best Country Song for “Space Cowboy” and Best Country Album and Album of the Year for her third studio album, Golden Hour.

Here are some of the winners at the 61st Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year: “This Is America” — Childish Gambino

Album of the Year: Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves

Song of the Year: “This Is America” — Donald Glover and Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

Best Pop Solo Performance: “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” — Lady Gaga

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Shallow” — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: My Way — Willie Nelson

Best Pop Vocal Album: Sweetener — Ariana Grande

Best Dance Recording: “Electricity” — Silk City and Dua Lipa feat. Diplo and Mark Ronson

Best Dance/Electronic Album: Woman Worldwide — Justice

Best Rock Performance: “When Good Does Bad” — Chris Cornell

Best Metal Performance: “Electric Messiah” — High on Fire

Best Rock Song: “Masseduction” — Jack Antonoff and Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)

Best Rock Album: From the Fires — Greta Van Fleet

Best Alternative Music Album: Colors — Beck

Best R&B Performance: “Best Part” — H.E.R. feat. Daniel Caesar

Best Traditional R&B Performance (TIE): “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” — Leon Bridges and “How Deep Is Your Love” — PJ Morton feat. Yebba

Best R&B Song: “Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)

Best Urban Contemporary Album: Everything Is Love — The Carters

Best Rap Performance (TIE): “King’s Dead” — Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake and “Bubblin” — Anderson Paak

Best Rap/Sung Performance: “This Is America” — Childish Gambino

Best Rap Song: “God’s Plan” — Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)

Best Rap Album: Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B

Best Country Solo Performance: “Butterflies” — Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: “Tequila” — Dan + Shay

Best Country Song: “Space Cowboy” — Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

Best Country Album: Golden Hour — Kacey Musgraves

Best Musical Theater Album: The Band’s Visit — Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk and Ari’el Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow and David Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer and lyricist (Original Broadway cast)

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media: The Greatest Showman — Various artists

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Black Panther — Ludwig Göransson, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media: “Shallow” — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)

Best Music Video: “This Is America” — Hiro Murai, video director; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole and Fam Rothstein, video producers (Childish Gambino)

Best Music Film: Quincy — Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones, video directors; Paula DuPré Pesmen, video producer (Quincy Jones)

LUDWIG Goransson accepts the award for Childish Gambino for Record of the Year with “This Is America.” AFP