Cher mistakenly names Luther Vandross instead of Kendrick Lamar during record of the year announcement

Cher sparked laughter at the 2026 Grammys after briefly naming Luther Vandross before correcting herself

Pop legend Cher delivered one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 Grammy Awards after a lighthearted onstage mix-up while presenting Record of the Year, drawing laughter from the audience and online viewers alike.

“Oh! The Grammy goes to Luther Vandross!” - Cher #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/G9tFB5rBHX

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 2, 2026

According to reporting by Audrey Rock, Cher, who was invited to announce the prestigious category at Sunday night’s ceremony in Los Angeles, briefly lost track of the presentation after sharing remarks about her career and appearing ready to exit the stage. Host Trevor Noah stepped in to remind her to reveal the winner before leaving.

When Cher returned to the microphone and opened the envelope, she enthusiastically announced the name of late soul icon Luther Vandross, who died in 2005, instead of the actual winners. The award was meant for Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their collaboration “Luther,” a title that appeared to contribute to the confusion.

Realizing the mistake moments later, Cher quickly corrected herself and properly announced Lamar and SZA as the recipients. The artists then took the stage to accept the honor as the audience responded warmly to the moment.

Fans quickly reacted on social media, with many expressing affection for the error and noting the emotional nod to Vandross, a revered figure who earned eight Grammy Awards during his lifetime. Others joked about the inevitable memes, praising Cher’s charm and spontaneity.

Cher, who also received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy during the ceremony, has a long history with the Grammys, including a win for her 1998 hit “Believe.” Her brief flub ultimately became one of the night’s most talked-about and endearing highlights.