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Cher may have messed up Kendrick Lamar and SZA's final win of music's biggest night, but SZA isn't mad about it at all.
On Sunday night, February 1, the veteran singer was on stage at the 68th Grammy Awards to present the final award of the night, Record of the Year. When she opened the envelope, Cher got excited and announced Luther Vandross as the winner of the coveted award, when it was really Kendrick Lamar and SZA who won for their song "luther." During her conversation with Entertainment Tonight, SZA said Cher wasn't wrong.
“That's his frequency that allowed us to win and that allowed it to be memorable,” SZA explained. “So [Cher’s] not wrong. And she's from that era. She probably really knew Luther Vandross.”
“Of course, her brain and her energy is connecting that energy to the energy that we're sharing," she added. "We're mooching off of what Luther already gave us. So we're grateful. And it's like, I wish I could speak to him. Thank you, Luther.”
Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "luther" also won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the Grammys. During their acceptance speech, the duo reflected on the moment when Vandross' family approved the sample for the record, which appears on Lamar's GNX album.
"When we got that clearance, I promise you we damn near all dropped a tear," Lamar said. "We know how much Ms. Cheryl Lynn poured into that record, and being able to put our vocals on it proves we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals. They said no cursing though. Can't curse on it. That was the only thing right? And we said you know what? We gonna do just that. No cursing and we gonna make sure this song represents love."
Kendrick Lamar won five Grammys that night, which brought his overall total to 27. His final win helped him surpass JAY-Z as the most awarded rapper in Grammy history.