Reba McEntire Leads Moving In Memoriam Performance At Grammy Awards
Reba McEntire was joined by Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson at Sunday’s Grammy Awards to pay tribute to those we’ve lost during the past year.
For the first time in her forty-year career, Reba McEntire took the Grammys stage as a performer. Reba secured her first of 18 career Grammy nominations in 1987, and has taken home three coveted trophies. Her wins include Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1987 for “Whoever’s in New England,” Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 1994 for “Does He Love You” (feat. Linda Davis), and Best Roots Gospel Album in 2018 for “Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.”
During Sunday night’s (February 1) 68th Grammy Awards broadcast, Reba, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson came together for the In Memoriam segment. The segment honored artists, musicians, and industry greats who have died in the last year.
Among those remembered were: Songwriter Brett James, country legend Jeannie Seely, The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, The Mavericks’ Raul Malo, KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, chart-topping legend Connie Francis, and many more.
For the performance, Reba, Brandy, and Lukas delivered a beautiful rendition of “Trailblazer,” a song released by Reba, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert in early 2025. The song was written by Lainey and Miranda along with Brandy Clark, so it only made sense for Reba to invite Brandy to sing it with her at the Grammys.
Reba spoke to the press about the song on the red carpet ahead of the live Grammys show.
“I wanted to do a tribute to the ladies who went before us, who paved the way for us. I told Miranda and Lainey and Brandy Clark and they went in and wrote this song called ‘Trailblazer,’” Reba said. “And then when we were selected to do the In Memoriam, Brandy went in and changed a few lines and we added Lukas Nelson and some strings and an oboe, and it is … just really touches my heart.”
Perhaps one of the most moving moments of the performance was when Reba honored her late son, Brandon Blackstock. The talent agent and son of Reba’s ex-husband, Narvel Blackstock, died in August at the age of 48 after a valiant battle with cancer.
“It really is special to me, because my son is one that we’re honoring,” Reba told E! News ahead of the live broadcast. “He passed away in August, and so Brandon is going to be up on the stage with Brandy, and me, and Lukas, and the two ladies playing the cello and the violin, so it’s going to be very special.”
See a clip of Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark, and Lukas Nelson’s emotional In Memoriam performance of “Trailblazer” in the video below.
@bootsandhearts Can someone pass me a tissue? Thanks 🥲 #bootsandhearts #musicfestival #rebamcentire #grammys #inmemoriam ♬ original sound – Boots and Hearts
Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack and D’Angelo were also honored with their own tribute performances.
Post Malone led a star-studded tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. The Black Sabbath frontman died in July of 2025 of a heart attack at the age of 76. Slash and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses and Chad Smith and Andrew Watt of the Red Hot Chili Peppers joined Post Malone for the tribute.
Lauryn Hill took the stage solo to pay tribute to Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner (2020) Roberta Flack, who died in February 2025 at the age of 88, and Grammy Award-winning R&B singer D’Angelo, who died in October at the age of 51.
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