SZA said there are no hard feelings while breaking her silence on Cher mistakenly announcing that late music icon Luther Vandross had won Record of the Year at the 2026 Grammys.
“We share the frequency of the song,” SZA, 36, said during an interview with Entertainment Tonight after the star-studded ceremony, which was held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1.
Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s 1982 rendition of “If This World Were Mine” is sampled in the actual prize recipient, “Luther,” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, produced by Jack Antonoff and Sounwave.
“Like, that’s his frequency that allowed us to win and that allowed it to be memorable. So, she’s not wrong. And she’s from that era — she probably really knew Luther Vandross,” SZA added of the R&B great, who died in 2005 at age 54.
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“Of course her brain and energy is connecting that energy to the energy that we’re sharing. We’re mooching off of what Luther already gave us,” SZA continued. “So, we’re grateful. It’s like I wish I could speak to him.”
Vandross’ team also shared a lighthearted clip while reacting to Cher’s live TV flub, including a snippet from Sunday’s awards show as well as a throwback clip of Vandross accepting one of his own Grammys. “If only we could turn back time, @Cher ❤️,” the caption read, referencing her 1989 hit “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Fans are still enjoying Cher’s memorable moment on the Grammys stage to present the trophy for Record of the Year.
“I don’t do this part very well,” the singer, 79, quipped after being honored for her illustrious career in music. “I first want to thank the Recording Academy for giving me this Lifetime Achievement Award. And it’s a good thing that they did it now, because I have good genes and I wouldn’t have been here that much longer.”
“I’ve been in this business for 60 f***ing years, but I just want to tell you, never give up on your dream, no matter what happens,” Cher told the crowd. “Live it, be it, and if it’s not happening now, it will happen soon.”
As she prepared to walk off stage, host Trevor Noah called her back.
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“Cher, before you go, could we get you to announce the nominees?” he said on the microphone. “I could do it, but it’s not the same. I don’t have the track record. Welcome back Cher, everybody.”
After she mistakenly announced Vandross as the winner, attendees were seen smiling, and fans flocked to social media to sound off.
“Congrats to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for resurrecting Luther Vandross so that Cher could let us know he won!” one posted on X.
“Come on people Cher did her best and is a LEGEND. People make mistakes give it a rest,” another person wrote in her defense.
One thing is for sure — Vandross certainly got some extra love. “First and foremost,” Sounwave said while accepting the award, “let’s give a shout-out to the late, great Luther Vandross.”