Jennifer Lopez
LOS ANGELES—Jennifer Lopez turned the Motown tribute into the JLo show.
The singer-actress hit the Grammys stage on Sunday, inserting her energetic dance-pop flavor into memorable Motown melodies such as “Dancing in the Street.”
She faced backlash on social media for her lead participation in a tribute recognizing a historic African-American record label. Some netizens questioned why a black artist wasn’t chosen instead of Lopez, but she received support from Smokey Robinson, who joined her in a duet to perform “My Girl.”
She then briefly teamed up with Alicia Keys on “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone” and sang “Another Star” with Ne-Yo, who played the piano.
Lopez performed “Please Mr. Postman” while wearing a black ensemble with white feathers and accompanied by a group of dancers. She also sported a sparkling bodysuit during “Money (That’s What I Want).”
The 49-year-old singer said she dedicated her performance to her mother. She said she grew up on Motown music through her mom, listening to different artists such as The Temptations and The Supremes.
Her performance comes days ahead of Motown’s tribute concert to celebrate the label’s 60th anniversary. Berry Gordy, who stood
during Lopez’s performance, founded Motown Records in 1959. —AP