Three years after the slap that shook the world, Will Smith was trending once again when it was announced he would be a presenter at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Founded in 1959, the Grammy Awards is presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. This year’s award show, as usual, was filled with performances, festivities, and lots of new faces. It opened with a performance by Dawes honoring those affected by the wildfires in Southern California.
Following Dawes, the Recording Academy paid tribute to the life and legacy of the legendary producer, composer, and 28-time Grammy winner, Quincy Jones. Jones passed away in November 2024 at the age of 91. The tribute to Jones was introduced by Will Smith. Smith credited his mentor, as a highly regarded father figure who helped launch his acting career by producing the hit TV sitcom, “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.” In 1989, Jones took a chance on Smith, a rapper with no acting experience, casting him as the lead actor on the show. Jones’s decision led Smith to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Over the years, Smith has spoken about the impact Jones had on his career.
The tribute continued with performances from renowned artists such as Stevie Wonder, Cynthia
Erivo, Lainey Wilson, and jazz pianist, Herbie Hancock. It concluded with a performance from Janelle Monae, leading the crowd in a rendition of the late Michael Jackson’s, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” paying homage to Quincy’s production work on Jackson’s albums.
This was Will Smith’s first award show appearance since the incident at the 2022 Academy Awards. Recently, Smith re-emerged in the entertainment industry announcing a new tour and plans to release three albums. How do you feel about Will Smith presenting at this year’s Grammy Awards and the recent waves he’s been making in the entertainment industry?
