Lady Gaga will perform tribute to David Bowie at the 2016 Grammy Awards
Lady Gaga will lead what organizers called an "experiential tribute" to late British singer David Bowie at the Grammy Awards this month.
The Recording Academy said Gaga would perform three or four of Bowie's songs in a "multisensory testament" to Bowie's creativity as a musician whose work constantly evolved over five decades.
Bowie's unexpected death at age 69 in January shocked fans around the world and came just two days after the release of a critically-acclaimed new album, "Blackstar."
Gaga, a six-time Grammy winner, is also known for reinventing herself many times since she rose to fame in 2008. She had already been booked to perform at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 15.
"But when David passed – almost in a single moment – we knew we had to change direction," Grammy ceremony executive producer Ken Ehrlich said in a statement.
"We immediately spoke and agreed that she (Lady Gaga) should be the one to honor David. She's perfect for it," Ehrlich added.
Music producer Nile Rodgers, who worked on Bowie's 1983 album "Let's Dance," will be the musical director for the tribute.
In the wake of the death of musician David Bowie, many noted his deep impact on popular music. A musical chameleon, Bowie showed a remarkable ability to perceive and shape musical trends and helped to change the course of pop – including introducing the world to glam rock.
Bowie influenced many other artists who came after. Icons including Madonna, Gaga, and Kanye West shared how the artist inspired them with his willingness to incorporate various musical genres into his music and performance.
Bowie also made it cool to be different. This was brought up by singer Madonna in her tribute to the artist.
“I never felt like I fit in growing up in Michigan,” she wrote. “Like an oddball or a freak ... his music was always inspiring but seeing him live set me off on a journey that for me I hope will never end.”
Bowie was known for his elaborate costumes and many personas, including Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke. Gaga, also known for her detailed costumes and stage shows, discussed Bowie in an interview that took place some time before the musician’s death.
“When I fell in love with David Bowie, when I was living on the Lower East Side, I always felt that his glamour was something he was using to express a message to people that was very healing for their souls,” she said in an interview.
Bowie’s experimentation with various personas and music styles was one of his most defining traits – his newest album featured a jazz quartet – and rapper Kanye West noted this in his own message about Bowie’s death.
A concert at Carnegie Hall that was to be a tribute to Bowie had been planned for March before the artist’s death and it will reportedly still go on. Artists including The Roots and Cyndi Lauper are scheduled to take part.
