Surrounded by women, Kesha delivers an extraordinary performance at the Grammys
Janelle Monae also delivered a powerful speech
Adapted from a story by The Washington Post’s Elahe Izadi and Emily Yahr.
Before introducing Kesha at the 60th annual Grammy Awards, Janelle Monae addressed the audience, saying: “We come in peace, but we mean business. And to those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time’s up.”
Then, Monae welcomed a “fearless two-time Grammy nominee” to the stage. “We are honored to stand with you and welcome you, Kesha,” Monae said.
Wearing all white and flanked by an army of women — including Andra Day, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels and the Resistance Revival Chorus — Kesha belted out the lyrics to “Praying” with dripping, raw emotion: “Well, you almost had me fooled/Told me that I was nothing without you/Oh, but after everything you’ve done/I can thank you for how strong I have become.”
After she sang the last note, Kesha broke into sobs and the women on stage surrounded her in a huge embrace. Audience members wiped away tears.
The song off “Rainbows” — Kesha’s 2017 album — represents her return to music after a yearslong legal battle with Sony Music producer Dr. Luke over sexual abuse allegations.
Kesha’s previous album came in 2012. Two years later, the singer sued Dr. Luke, alleging sexual and emotional abuse. She also sought to be released from a contract that required her to record with him. He has denied the allegations and countersued.
When writing “Praying” with Ben Abraham and Ryan Lewis, “I just felt as if I had gotten a huge weight off of my shoulders,” Kesha tweeted Saturday. “It felt like an emotional raw victory for myself, one step closer to healing.”
“I just want to say that I needed this song in a very real way,” she added. “I’m so proud and nervous and overwhelmed to be performing it at the Grammys on Sunday, and if you need it I hope this song finds you.”
