Grammys executive producer wouldn't turn back time to fix Cher's Luther Vandross gaffe
Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston has admitted he wouldn't want to turn back time to fix Cher's Luther Vandross gaffe at this year's ceremony if he had the chance - because she is "happy with it".
Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston has insisted he wouldn't turn back time to fix Cher's gaffe at this year's ceremony.
The 79-year-old pop icon left the crowd baffled at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night (02.02.26) when she mistakenly announced Luther Vandross as the winner of Record of the Year, despite the singer-songwriter passing away in 2005.
After incorrectly calling Vandross' name, the If I Could Turn Back Time hitmaker swiftly corrected herself and awarded the gong to the real winner - Kendrick Lamar, who won Record of the Year for his SZA collaboration Luther.
Winston has now insisted Cher was briefed before going on stage, but he wouldn't want to erase the moment from Grammys history if he was given the chance.
He told the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast: "I promise you, we had briefed her, and I promise you, what she had to do was in the prompter.
"If I could go back in time, I’d want that to happen again."
Winston also insisted Cher was "happy" with her on-stage presenting, despite the initial error.
He added: "She’s happy with it. She had a great time.
"You want a bit of anarchy."
When presenting the Record of the Year prize, Cher said: "And the Grammy goes to … Oh! They told me it was going to be on a prompter. Oh, the Grammy goes to Luther Vandross. Oh Kendrick, no Kendrick Lamar!"
Cher then appeared to mouth: "I’m so sorry" as Kendrick and SZA walked to the stage to collect their trophy.
The track is inspired by music veteran Luther Vandross, and features a sample of the singer's 1982 song with Cheryl Lynn, If This World Were Mine.
After picking up the prize, Kendrick shared his admiration for the late star in his acceptance speech.
He said: "This is what music is about. Luther Vandross, this, this is special for me. I gotta take my time. 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.
"And being able to put our vocals of it, it proves that we were somewhat worthy to be just as great them individuals.
"And they granted us that, you know, they said, 'No cursing, though - can't curse on it.' That was the only thing, right?
"And we said, 'You know what we're looking to do just that, no cursing.' We're going to make sure that this song represents love. So I want to appreciate and give thanks to SZA."
