Kirk Franklin sends prayers to Kobe Bryant’s family during Grammy acceptance speech
EEW Magazine Gospel News // Grammys 2020
Gospel recording star Kirk Franklin won two Grammy awards on his 50th birthday Sunday which should have made it one of the best birthdays ever, but his mind was on something not so celebratory.
During his acceptance speech, the songwriter and composer acknowledged the passing of 41-year-old NBA icon Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter accident Sunday morning along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Kirk Franklin’s family accompanied him to the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California in celebration of his 50th birthday. Pictured in this photo from left to right is: Caziah Franklin, Kennedy Franklin, Kirk Franklin, Tammy Franklin, Carrington Franklin, and Maxx Nakwaasah (Photo Credit: Getty)
“Sending prayers to Kobe Bryant and his family,” said Franklin, who picked up trophies for Best Gospel Album for Long Live Love and Best Gospel Performance/Song for “Love Theory.”
From the red carpet to the main stage, sadness loomed over music’s biggest night Sunday at the arena in downtown Los Angeles where Bryant played for 20 years for the city’s NBA team.
Bryant’s death earlier in the day was acknowledged in the opening minutes of the Grammys broadcast. Host Alicia Keys said she was feeling “crazy sad” about Bryant. She was joined on stage with Boyz II Men, who collectively sang “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”
“The whole wide world lost a hero,” the singer said in front of the audience. “We are standing here literally heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”
Kirk Franklin performs onstage during the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards (Credit: KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/Getty)
Aside from the loss of Bryant and his daughter, seven others were killed in the crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California. He had retired from the Lakers in 2016.
Some shed tears for the 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time champion on the red carpet. Others were almost speechless ahead of the 62nd annual awards show. Debbie Allen, who is married to former Laker Norm Nixon, was seen crying.
Outside Staples Center, fans wearing Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys flocked to the arena to show their respect for the Laker legend. A few hundred people gathered at L.A. Live in front of a mega screen with a smiling Bryant that read, “In Loving Memory of KOBE BRYANT 1978-2020”
Click here for the full list of winners.
Associated Press writers Leanne Italie and Marcela Isaza contributed to this report.