Grammys 2020: 5 unforgettable Nashville moments

Monumental performances and heart-wrenching moments rang out Sunday night from the 62nd annual Grammy Awards. 

The sudden death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant weighed on the program with host Alicia Keys paying tribute to the five-time NBA champion in her opening monologue. 

“Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero," she said. "And we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”

Buzzworthy performances and newfound pop music heavyweights led the three-and-a-half-hour ceremony — from Demi Lovato's emotional return and Ariana Grande's lavish medley to Usher's polarizing Prince tribute and Billie Eilish's complete dominance . 

And Nashville's brightest and best of 2020 found itself represented throughout the primetime broadcast and pre-show Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony. Read along for Music City highlights from the 2020 ceremony. 

Tanya gets her Grammys now 

When she released her first original album in nearly two decades last year, Tanya Tucker made it loud and clear that she was ready to be celebrated "While I'm Livin'."

Looks like the Recording Academy got the message.

At 61 years old, the country music great picked up her first two Grammy Awards ever on Sunday. Her acclaimed "While I'm Livin'" was named Best Country Album, and the standout track "Bring My Flowers Now" won Best Country Song.

More:Grammys: The story behind Tanya Tucker's 'Bring My Flowers Now'

Tucker took the stage with her co-producers, Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, and co-writers Phil and Tim Hanseroth.

"You know, after almost 50 years in this business, after many dreams, it's unbelievable to me that I'd have a few 'firsts' left. So, after 14 trips, 14 nominations, this is the first win," said Tucker. 

Tucker wasn't alone in representing country music in Los Angeles. musical power couple Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani performed a touching duet of "Nobody But You," the former's new single; high-flying duo Dan + Shay earned Best Country Duo/Group Performance for a second consecutive year. 

John Prine's Lifetime Achievement 

The Recording Academy tipped a hat to cherished Nashville songwriter John Prine, who was recognized for a  Lifetime Achievement Award during the telecast. 

Ten-time Grammy-winning troubadour and Prine collaborator Bonnie Raitt honored the songwriter's songwriter with an abridged performance of 1971 number, "Angel From Montgomery." 

Prine, sporting a slick pair of sunglasses, earned a standing ovation during Raitt's tribute. 

"My friend and hero John Prine is sitting right over there," Raitt said. "He wrote 'Angel from Montgomery' and so many other songs that changed my life. On behalf of the Recording Academy and everyone that loves you, congrats on your Lifetime Achievement Award." 

The "In Spite of Ourselves" and "Sam Stone" penman joins a list of lauded country and folk songwriters to receive the prodigious honor. Recent honorees with Nashville ties include Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride and Jimmie Rodgers. 

The 2020 Lifetime Achievement class features Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. 

An all-star 'Old Town Road' 

It's the "Old Town Road" collaboration we truly don't deserve. 

K-pop sensation BTS, viral yodelin' kid Mason Ramsey and mainstay pop producer Diplo joined Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus at the 62nd Grammy Awards for a collaboration worthy of the longest-running No. 1 hit in Billboard history. 

The group appeared Sunday night at the annual ceremony to celebrate the Grammy Award-winning western rap, which dominated pop culture (and questioned what defines country music) for much of 2019.

Each member of the self-proclaimed "Old Town Road All-Stars" contributed to remixes of Lil Nas X's inescapable hit. "Old Town Road" earned two Grammy Awards prior to the broadcast for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video. 

Lil Nas X led the performance on a rotating platform, traveling to decorated "rooms," where each of his collaborators waited to drop a verse. Ramsey joined in a pink ranch-style room; an animated city skyline stood behind BTS during the group's "Seoul Town Road" verse. 

And the mega-collaboration ended on a surprise note. Acclaimed rapper Nas joined Lil Nas X for a snippet of the latter's 2019 song "Rodeo." 

Americana wildcard 

The Americana categories were full of surprises this year – and the biggest shock was who didn’t win.

British breakout Yola has been an unstoppable force in the genre for the last year – and stole the show at every pre-Grammy concert she was part of – but went zero-for-three in the field (she was also nominated for Best New Artist). 

Best Americana Album, instead, went to Nashville-based blues staple Keb’ Mo’ for his “Oklahoma” project. Supergroup I’m With Her and pop songsmith Sara Bareilles won for Best American Roots Performance and Song, respectively.

More:Grammys: Yola's journey from homeless in London to Nashville's award season darling

During the broadcast, viewers got a brief taste of another standout Nashville export: Husband-wife duo War and Treaty. The Americana outfit performed alongside Common, Camila Cabello, John Legend and others in an ensemble rendition of “I Sing The Body Electric” from the film “Fame." The moment honored longtime Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich, who led the show for his 40th and final year. 

King and Cage 

In the Premiere Ceremony, a pair of Nashville strongholds — For King & Country and Cage The Elephant — earned top prize in each respective categories. 

For King & Country’s “Burn The Ships” won for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, and the Nashville duo’s collaboration with Dolly Parton, “God Only Knows,” was named Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. It's the third and fourth career win for the Australian-raised duo. Parton brings home her ninth career Grammy Award. 

Backstage, the brothers remembered their first phone call with Parton about the project.

“She said, 'Well, I just love the song,” Joel Smallbone recalled. “And I'd love to take it from Dollywood to Bollywood to Hollywood."

"We've just got Bollywood to go now,” quipped Luke Smallbone.

More:Grammys 2020: How two musicians fell in love and wrote H.E.R.'s ‘Song of the Year’

Cage The Elephant picked up an award for Best Alternative Music Album. “Social Cues” was in made in the wake of a divorce and the deaths of several family members and friends. It's the second Grammy Award for the Kentucky-born, Nashville-based group. 

“I just wanna say, this has been one of the hardest years that we’ve went through as a band,” said guitarist Brad Shultz. “And it’s just so incredibly touching that we’re able to take so many negative things that happen to us, and turn it into a positive thing.”