Source: Rick Maiman / Getty
Amidst the pomp & circumstance of the 2025 Grammys last night, music’s elite paused to reflect on the legacies of the icons who passed away within the past year. This year’s In Memoriam segment included a star-studded tribute to prolific composer & producer Quincy Jones, who passed away this past November at 91.
RELATED: Quincy Jones, Award-Winning Legendary Producer, Dies At 91
The tribute to the 28x GRAMMY winner began with a heartfelt intro from rapper/actor Will Smith. “This past year, we lost one of the most groundbreaking and influential figures of our times: Quincy Jones. Known to friends around the world simply as Q,” Smith began, explaining the numerous lives touched by Jones (who served as executive producer of Smith’s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air).
“In his 91 years, Q touched countless lives, but I have to say, he changed mine forever. You probably wouldn’t even know who Will Smith was if it wasn’t for Quincy Jones. Quincy made so many music greats, across multiple genres, sound even greater, bringing the best out in legends.”
Will Smith opens up the tribute to Quincy Jones at the 2025 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/dhVYWaM8pe
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 3, 2025
Following Smith’s introduction, several performers graced the stage to highlight just a small portion of Jones’ remarkable 70+ years in the industry. Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock kicked off the musical portion of the tribute with a performance of “Killer Joe,” later joined by Cynthia Erivo for a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon.”
The segment rolled through with performances from Lainey Wilson, Jacob Collier, Stevie Wonder, and Janelle Monáe, paying tribute to the music icon with a collection of hits that Jones worked on, including his unforgettable run with Michael Jackson and his contributions to USA for Africa’s “We Are The World.”
The tribute, understandably, had mixed reactions. While most viewers thoroughly enjoyed the tribute, some felt that the segment was significantly lacking, given the magnitude of Jones’ contributions to the music industry. Check out a few reactions below:
