Late Musical Legend Stephen Sondheim to Be Honored at Grammys

Cue the tears. The late Stephen Sondheim will be saluted at this year’s Grammy Awards by Rachel Zegler, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Platt, and Leslie Odom Jr.

The performances are said to be performed during the “In Memoriam” segment, which will undoubtedly be an emotional one. Sondheim is revered as the most influential composer of the twentieth century, as well as for “reinventing the American musical.” His work in theater includes Saturday Night (1954), West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Follies (1971), Sweeney Todd (1979), and many others.

Chita Rivera, Stephen Sondheim (at the piano), Leonard Bernstein, Carol Lawrence & cast rehearse for the original production of “West Side Story” (1957) pic.twitter.com/hplNgdO643

— Aurora (@CitizenScreen) March 22, 2022

Sondheim was the most awarded composer by the Grammys and Tonys, winning eight trophies from each. In addition, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985, an Academy Award in 1991, a Grammy Trustees Award in 2007, and was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993. He gave the world long-lasting music, with hits such as “No One Is Alone,” “Send in the Clowns,” and “Getting Married Today.” His tragic passing in November at age 91 has left a lasting impact on the music, film, and theater world.

The singers involved in the Grammy tribute have performed Sondheim’s music in the past. Rachel Zegler is connected to Sondheim through Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, where he composed the music score for the original 1961 film. Zegler confirmed her performance writing, “performing at the #GRAMMYs on April 3 in tribute to our friend and hero, Stephen Sondheim. You won’t want to miss music’s biggest night.”

Steven Spielberg, whose film of WEST SIDE STORY premieres in NYC on Monday, on the passing of Stephen Sondheim.

“I was surprised to discover that he knew more about movies than almost anyone I’d ever met.” pic.twitter.com/a4tys111GU

— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) November 27, 2021

Cynthia Erivo shares a special connection to Sondheim’s music as well. She participated in a “Ladies Who Sing Sondheim” concert in 2016 and sang “The Miller’s Son” at the 2019 Sondheim Award Gala. She revealed that she is “honored” to share the stage with these talented performers in paying tribute to this brilliant writer.

Ben Platt sang “It Takes Two” with Beanie Feldstein on the live stream event, “Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” during the quarantine days of 2020. He writes that he is thankful to the Recording Academy for letting him “honor my hero of heroes.”

Leslie Odom Jr. recorded a medley with Renee Fleming that included “Children Will Listen.”

The Grammys will be an unforgettable night in music. The show will be broadcast on April 3 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT. You do not want to miss this beautiful tribute to the musical legend, the incomparable, Stephen Sondheim.