Cher’s long-awaited return to the Grammys stage delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the night. And according to the show’s executive producer, there are no regrets behind the scenes. While the music icon experienced a brief onstage mix-up while presenting one of the ceremony’s biggest awards, those involved say the moment added spontaneity rather than stress. Insiders now say Cher left the night feeling positive about the experience, despite the unexpected hiccup.
Grammys producer says they had ‘briefed’ Cher ahead of onstage mixup
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Following the broadcast, Grammys executive producer Ben Winston addressed the confusion during an appearance on Rolling Stone’s “Music Now” podcast. Winston claimed that Cher had been fully prepared in advance. He said she was briefed on her role and that the instructions were available on the teleprompter.
“I promise you, we had briefed her,” Winston said. He added, “If I could go back in time, I’d want that to happen again,” playfully referencing Cher’s classic hit “If I Could Turn Back Time.” According to Winston, moments like that are part of what makes live television memorable.
Cher returned to the Grammys stage for the first time in nearly two decades to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. However, when she was later tasked with announcing Record of the Year, things went off script briefly. After thanking the audience, she appeared ready to exit the stage before revealing the winner, prompting host Trevor Noah to gently call her back.
The moment grew more confusing when Cher paused before opening the envelope. “Oh, they told me it was going to be on the prompter!” she said. When she finally announced the name, viewers heard what sounded like “Luther Vandross,” leading to audible confusion in the room.
The actual winners were Kendrick Lamar and SZA for their song “Luther,” which samples music associated with the late R&B legend Luther Vandross. Cher appeared to acknowledge the mix-up onstage as Lamar and SZA accepted the award.
Despite the chatter online, Winston claimed Cher wasn’t embarrassed by the moment. “She had a great time,” he said, noting that the artists themselves were unbothered. SZA later suggested the confusion made sense given the song’s musical roots and even praised Cher’s connection to that era of music.
