Brutally honest reviews of every Grammys 2023 performance, including LL Cool J, Sam Smith, Harry Styles

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There are two reasons we’re tuning into the Grammy Awards, and their names are Beyoncé and Adele. 

The music megastars are facing off once again Sunday for album, record and song of the year, after Adele’s controversial sweep of all three categories in 2017. As we eagerly await the winners, there will also be some performances, with Harry Styles, Lizzo, Sam Smith and Brandi Carlile all slated to take the stage at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.

It’ll be tough to top last year’s ceremony, which featured jaw-dropping performances by BTS and Billie Eilish. Here are the best and worst musical moments from this year’s show:

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Luke Combs, ‘Going, Going, Gone’

After the adrenaline high of the all-star hip-hop tribute, Combs brought the Grammys back down to Earth with his tender rendition of his “Growin’ Up” album single, delivering gravelly vocals and evocative lyrics against the backdrop of a night sky. 

LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Black Thought and more, Hip Hop 50

Nearly three hours into an awards show, a production number this long and nostalgia-heavy shouldn’t work as well as it did. But thanks to seamless transitions, and the palpable excitement of the more than two dozen artists on stage, the Grammys’ 50th-anniversary hip-hop tribute was an undeniable highlight. Standouts of the history-spanning set included Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, Black Thought, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes, whose lightning-fast “Look at Me Now” verse started trending on Twitter almost immediately after. 

Mary J. Blige, ‘Good Morning Gorgeous’ © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Mary J. Blige performs “Good Morning Gorgeous” during the Grammys on Sunday.

The Queen of R&B looked and sounded flawless singing the sumptuous title track from her 14th studio album, performing vocal acrobatics as she stood atop a pyramidal platform in a wide-brimmed hat and diamond-studded dress. In a night filled with flashy performances, Blige proved that all you need to captivate a crowd is a stage, some strings, and a spectacular voice. 

Sam Smith and Kim Petras, ‘Unholy’ © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sam Smith and Kim Petras (not pictured) performed “Unholy” during the Grammys.

After her history-making Grammy win and an introduction from Madonna, Petras slinked onto the stage with Smith to perform their titillating chart-topper “Unholy.” Smith danced and sang downstage in a devil horn-adorned top hat, but it was Petras who stole the show with a red-hot pyrotechnic display, mugging for the camera from inside a steel cage. 

Quavo, Kacey Musgraves and Bonnie Raitt, In Memoriam © VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images Migos rapper Quavo paid tribute to the late Takeoff during the “In Memoriam” segment at the Grammys.

Musgraves kicked off the “In Memoriam” performance with an elegant, crystalline take on the late Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” strumming an acoustic guitar with a bed of flowers at her bare feet. Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow also paid haunting tribute to Christine McVie, gorgeously harmonizing as Mick Fleetwood softly played the talking drum next to them. But the most emotional moment came from Quavo and Maverick City Music, who honored Migos member Takeoff with a heartbreaking mashup of “Without You” and “See You Again.” 

Harry Styles, ‘As It Was’ © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Harry Styles swaps his colorful jumpsuit for a frilly, metallic ensemble as he performs “As It Was” during Sunday’s Grammy show.

Fresh off a win for best pop vocal album for “Harry’s House,” the British heartthrob commendably powered through his long-reigning No. 1 hit “As It Was” on the Grammys stage. Styles swapped his eye-popping jumpsuit from the red carpet for a frilly, metallic ensemble, hopping and darting across a giant turntable with his street clothes-clad backup dancers. 

Lizzo, ‘About Damn Time,’ ‘Special’  © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Lizzo performed “About Damn Time” and “Special” during the Grammys.

Lizzo continually brings first-rate showmanship to awards show performances, and Sunday’s Grammys presentation was no exception. Wearing a short black dress and bejeweled cross necklace, the R&B/pop hitmaker made the Crypto.com Arena her church with a soulful gospel choir as she belted through her affirmation-filled “Special” singles. 

Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and WanMor, Motown Medley © Kevin Winter, Getty Images for The Recording A (From left) Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder perform onstage with Chris Stapleton and WanMor for a “Motown Medley” number at the 65th Grammy Awards.

Leave it to the legendary Wonder to give the performance of the night not even an hour into the show. Performing a medley of Motown hits to honor Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, Wonder kicked things off with the Temptations’ joyous “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” trading off vocals with R&B group WanMor. He then dueted with Robinson on “The Tears of a Clown,” before blowing the roof off with his own “Higher Ground,” which featured blazing guitar riffs from country artist Chris Stapleton. The audience ecstatically stood and grooved from their seats, with the likes of Jay-Z singing along. 

Brandi Carlile, ‘Broken Horses’ © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Brandi Carlile took the stage to perform her classic “Broken Horses” during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

After a sweet introduction from her wife, Catherine Shepherd, and two daughters, the Americana singer gave an electrifying performance of her “In These Silent Days” single. With just strobe lights and a backing band, Carlile let her thrilling voice do the heavy lifting – unleashing a truly incendiary guitar solo mid-song and earning a standing ovation from Taylor Swift. 

Bad Bunny, ‘El Apagón,’ ‘Después de la Playa’ © Robert Hanashiro, Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Bad Bunny put Puerto Rico front and center on the Grammys stage on Sunday performing two songs from his latest album “Un Verano Sin Ti.”

The Puerto Rican rapper proved why he’s one of the biggest stars in the world right now with his vibrant, infectious opening number. Flanked by dancers, brass players and giant-sized puppets of Puerto Rican icons Tego Calderón and Andy Montañez, Bad Bunny paraded to the stage, where a red curtain lifted and revealed a stunning sunset backdrop, complete with palm trees and bongo drummers. The singer, clad in a baseball cap and jeans, proceeded to get the entire audience on its feet, with artists including Jack Harlow and Mary J. Blige dancing along. 

Everything you should know about the Grammys

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brutally honest reviews of every Grammys 2023 performance, including Luke Combs, Sam Smith and Kim Petras