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SZA Reacts to Cher's Luther Vandross Mix-Up at Grammys 2026
Grammys producer Ben Winston believes there is beauty in mistakes.
After Cher’s viral flub of her Record of the Year presentation at the 2026 ceremony Feb. 1, the Emmy winner shared what it was like to navigate behind-the-scenes of the moment with host Trevor Noah.
Indeed, Trevor’s quick action to catch Cher before she got off stage after accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award speech was because, Ben told Rolling Stone, he had told Trevor in his ear piece, “You’ve just gotta get up and bring her back.”
Unfortunately, Cher had another misstep when announcing Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” as Record of the Year.
“And the Grammy goes to,” Cher said before a long, confused pause. “Oh, they told me it was going to be on the prompter.”
But when she opened her envelope to reveal “Luther” as the winner, Cher mistook the song title for eight-time Grammy winner Luther Vandross, who died in 2005.
And while the song’s winners were initially confused, Ben emphasized it was a perfectly imperfect moment.
“If I could go back in time, I’d want that to happen again,” he added. “She’s happy with it. She had a great time. You want a bit of anarchy.”
Meanwhile, SZA also believed Cher’s mistake wasn’t a problem at all. After all, “Luther” samples Luther and Cheryl Lynn’s “If This World Were Mine.”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
“She’s not wrong,” the 36-year-old told Entertainment Tonight after the ceremony, explaining that her and Kendrick’s song borrowed a “frequency” from the R&B soul singer.
“She's from that era,” SZA continued. “She probably really knew Luther Vandross. Of course, her brain and her energy is connecting that energy to the energy that we're sharing."
As she put it, “We're mooching off of what Luther already gave us, so we’re grateful."
For more of what you might have missed at the Grammys 2026, keep reading…
Francis Specker/CBS
Needing a Minute
Bad Bunny didn't move when he heard his name called as the winner of Album of the Year for DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS. Instead, he sat with his hand over his face, barely moving, for 24 seconds as emotion washed over him.
Francis Specker/CBS
Party in the USA
Miley Cyrus and Jelly Roll, Best Country Duo/Group Performance winner with Shaboozey for "Amen," took it all in as the good times rolled at the 2026 Grammys.
Alberto Rodriguez/CBS
Kissy Face Sent to Your Phone
Rosé chilled out with Bruno Mars after they opened the show performing their smash-hit single "APT."
Alberto Rodriguez/CBS
Invited to All the Shows
Nikki Glaser doesn't just host the Golden Globes, she gets nominated for Grammys too. (Well, not this year, but last year shre was.)
Francis Specker/CBS
Need That Picture of You, It's So Magical
Tate McRae will always remember her and Lady Gaga this way.
Francis Specker/CBS
XOXO
Jelly Roll got an "Amen" from wife Bunnie XO when he won Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Steven Blanco for BMG
Cheers!
Backstage, FKA Twigs celebrated her victory for Best Dance/Electronic Album with a PATRÓN Tequila cocktail.
Francis Specker/CBS
Country Strong
Jelly Roll, Shaboozey, Kelsea Ballerini, Reba McEntire, Zack Top and Lainey Wilson made for quite the group photo.
Francis Specker/CBS
Using His Intuition
Jamie Foxx took the liberty of capturing the moment for Teddy Swims and Babyface.
Courtesy of Sharpie
Teddy Signs
Teddy Swims signed autographs with his Sharpie S-Gel Copper pen for fans waiting outside of the Crypto.com Arena.
Francis Specker/CBS
Tripleting
Haim's I Quit lost Best Rock Album to Turnstile's Never Enough, but Alana, Danielle and Este Haim will never regret wearing matching dresses.
Francis Specker/CBS
Working Late
One day Jack Antonoff, an Album of the Year nominee as a producer on Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, might regret wearing jeans and a T-shirt. But wife Margaret Qualley did the assignment.
Alberto Rodriguez/CBS
Having a Moment
Charli XCX looked left as she strode backstage, in the building to present Best Pop Solo Performance.
Francis Specker/CBS
Extended Family
Sharon Osbourne, Jack Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne were guests of honor as the Grammys paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July 2025.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI
EGOT Mania
During the untelevized part of the Grammys known as the Premiere Ceremony, Steven Spielberg became the 22nd person (or 28th if you're counting honorary awards) to achieve EGOT status. He added a Grammy for Best Music Film as a producer on the documentary Music by John Williams to his impressive career haul.
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