Family of singer/songwriter Natalie Cole are outraged that their beloved sister, who passed on New Year’s Eve at the age of 65, was not properly honored during the 58th Annual Grammy Awards last night. While other artists — The Eagles’ Glenn Frey, David Bowie, B.B King and Lionel Richie — received long and grandiose tributes, Cole was limited to the “In Memoriam” segment of the show, even though she was nominated 21 times and won nine times at the illustrious awards ceremony.
Family members voiced their utter disappointment with the ceremony to Entertainment Tonight:
“Sadly a FORGETTABLE tribute to Natalie Cole,” Cole’s sisters, Timolin and Casey, told ET following the GRAMMY telecast. “Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist such as our sister.”
“Here is a woman who has been in the business for four decades, had 21 GRAMMY nominations and won nine GRAMMYs. She deserves more than (to be a part of) a minute-and-a-half tribute,” Cole’s son Robert Adam Yancy told ET on Monday night. “It was shameless the way they minimized her legacy. We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world.”
Twitter users voiced their disbelief:
We lost so many greats but Natalie Cole 1st African American to win Best New Artist deserved a tribute #Grammys #BHM pic.twitter.com/tKMbrUtBkL
— Holly Robinson Peete 💃🏾♍️ (@hollyrpeete) February 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Cocosilk73/status/699466214091988992
Disappointed by @TheGRAMMYs & their disrespecting #NatalieCole. They should've had a bigger tribute at #TheGrammys like #DavidBowieTribute
— LOU (@lou) February 16, 2016
She won 9 awards ya'll…really? How could you? Disappointed by @TheGRAMMYs there wasn't a @NatalieCole tribute. pic.twitter.com/amIfprXV9C
— Gussie Miller (@GussieMiller) February 16, 2016
Really disappointed that #Grammys2016 didn't really acknowledge the legacy of #NatalieCole! She deserved more.
— Damone Roberts (@DamoneRoberts) February 16, 2016
I would have loved to have seen artists pay tribute to #NatalieCole on the #GRAMMYs tonight. pic.twitter.com/uIxbbCWbis
— Tenikka Smith Hughes (@TenikkaANjax) February 16, 2016
I'm glad the Grammys closed out with Natalie Cole but they could have brought Faith Evans up to SANG a little Doddy in tribute
— bevysmith (@bevysmith) February 16, 2016
David Bowie wld hv bn pissed more than anyone that Grammys "don't have time" 4 a Maurice White and Natalie Cole tribute. #shameonyougrammys
— Eric Benét (@ebenet) February 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/Brandale2221/status/699417079762575362
https://twitter.com/DoctorBeasley/status/699417107570810880
All these tributes and not ONE for Natalie Cole smh
— SWEET HONEY BUCKIIN’ ♈︎ ⚜️ (@Jaymalone_____) February 16, 2016
What an elaborate tribute for Maurice White. Y'all gonna let the audience do karaoke for Natalie Cole next? #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/yPhstdoXMU
— joshua henry jenkins (@joshjenks) February 16, 2016
