Pop star Kesha brough the 2018 Grammys to tears with her emotionally charged performance on Sunday night.
In light of the recent fight against sexual harassment and assault, Kesha dedicated her first Grammy performance and her song “Praying” to the #MeToo movement and women who are survivors of assault.
“I hope you find your peace, falling on your knees,” she sang.
Her backup singers included Cyndi Lauper, Andra Day, Camilla Cabello, who all embraced a tearful Kesha at the end of her performance. Host James Corden was also visibly moved by the song.
Kesha has been particularly vocal in speaking out against sexual abuse, as her legal battle against producer Dr. Luke, who she accused of sexual assault and harassment among other charges, became the subject of national headlines. Many prominent musicians like Taylor Swift stepped forward to offer their support and pay some of her legal bills.
“Praying’s” June release marked Kesha’s first new music in five years. Its somber emotional tone differed wildly from her previous music, and received universal praise as a moving encapsulation of her struggles.
Kesha’s new album “Rainbow” was been nominated for best pop vocal album and “Praying” was nominated for best pop vocal performance, which Ed Sheeran won for “Shape of You.”
The singer is currently scheduled to go on tour with rapper Macklemore beginning in June.
Watch the performance below:
(CNN) Kesha's prayers have been answered with a show of solidarity.
At Sunday's Grammy Awards, the pop singer gave an emotional performance of her single "Praying," joined on stage by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Julia Michaels and Bebe Rexha and the Resistance Revival Chorus.
After her performance, Kesha quoted lyrics from her song in a message of gratitude posted on Twitter.
"'After everything you've done I can thank you for how strong I have become,'" she tweeted. "Thank you to the @RecordingAcad, the women on stage with me tonight, and everyone who has supported me through this whole journey."
"after everything you've done I can thank you for how strong I have become"
thank you to the @RecordingAcad, the women on stage with me tonight, and everyone who has supported me through this whole journey. pic.twitter.com/43gOsofL0S — kesha (@KeshaRose) January 29, 2018
Kesha's hit song marked her first release of new music in almost four years.
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Performers gather around Kesha after her Grammys performance. (Photo: Timothly Clary/Getty Images)
“We come in peace, but we mean business,” Janelle Monae said in her speech introducing Kesha at the Grammys, a speech that espoused support of and solidarity with the Time’s Up movement, expressed tonight by the white roses attendees wore on their lapels. This year, Kesha released her inspiring comeback album Rainbow, a cathartic response to her ongoing legal battle against Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, Kesha’s former producer who she has accused of emotionally and sexually abusing her during the time they worked together. To this day, Sony still refuses to let Kesha out of her contract with Dr. Luke, keeping her professionally tied to her alleged abuser.
Tonight, Kesha took the stage at the Grammys for a powerful performance of “Praying,” a moving anthem about healing. Kesha, dressed in an embroidered white suit, sang backed by a choir of women also dressed in white, including Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, and Andra Day. After the song, Kesha, visibly moved, hugged her fellow performers in a tearful show of solidarity as the audience gave them a standing ovation. It was an emotional culmination of Kesha’s musical arc over the past year, and you can watch it below.
She reduced the audience and viewers to tears with her impassioned speech and subsequent performance about sexual harassment onstage.
And Kesha looked very emotional from her big night, as she arrived at the Sony Music Entertainment Grammy after-party on Sunday.
The singer, 30, swapped her white suit for a regal red cape dress and flower crown as she arrived at the bash, held in Madison Square Garden.
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Staying strong: Kesha looked very emotional as she arrived at the Sony Music Entertainment Grammy after-party on Sunday - after giving a passionate speech on abuse at the awards
The singer looked somewhat downcast as she arrived in her stunning red gown, featuring chic cape sleeves which extended all the way to the floor.
Accessorising with a gem necklace and glittering heels, the Tick Tock hitmaker then proved her trendy sense of style by adding a flower crown, in a boho finishing touch.
She left her hair in loose, tousled waves and opted for minimal make-up other than a soft pink lip, to keep all attention on her bold crimson ensemble.
Emotional: The singer looked somewhat downcast as she arrived in her stunning red gown, featuring chic cape sleeves which extended all the way to the floor
Boho: Accessorising with a gem necklace and glittering heels, the Tick Tock hitmaker then proved her trendy sense of style by adding a flower crown, in a boho finishing touch
Natural: She left her hair in loose, tousled waves and opted for minimal make-up other than a soft pink lip, to keep all attention on her bold crimson ensemble
Kesha was seen chatting to the CEOs of Sony and RCA Records once inside - no doubt discussing her impact at the Grammys earlier that evening.
Kesha battled a very emotional night at the ceremony - having given a passionate speech and heartfelt performance about sexual harassment, after allegedly suffering abuse from producer Dr Luke.
Taking to the stage in a white suit, adorned with a white rose badge, the singer led the charge of celebrities supporting the Time's Up movement at the bash, in support of victims of such behaviour.
Catching up: Kesha was seen chatting to the CEO of Sony Rob Stringer (R) and of RCA Records Peter Edge (L) once inside
She began: 'Tonight, I am proud to stand in solidarity as not just an artist, but a young woman, with my fellow sisters in this room who make up the music industry — artists, writers, assistants, publicists, CEOs, producers, engineers, and women from all sectors of the business.
'We are also daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and human beings. To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: #Timesup. We say Time's Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power.'
Clearly moved, she continued: 'We come in peace, but we mean business. It's not just going on in Hollywood, or in Washington, it's right here in our industry as well.
Heartfelt: Kesha battled a very emotional night at the ceremony - having given a passionate performance of song Praying, about her alleged abuse at the hands of producer Dr Luke
Doing her bit: Taking to the stage in a white suit, adorned with a white rose badge, the singer led the charge of celebrities supporting the Time's Up movement at the bash
Courageous: After belting out the emotional track, the singer burst into tears onstage
'And just as we have the just as we have the power to shape culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well.
'So, let's work together, women and men, as a united music industry committed to creating more safe work environments, equal pay, and access for all women.'
She went on to give a heart-wrenching performance of her song Praying at the awards, written about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of producer Lukasz 'Dr. Luke' Gottwald.
After belting out the emotional track, the singer burst into tears onstage, and was hugged by a supportive Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha and Cyndi Lauper.
Standing together: She was supported by Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha and Cyndi Lauper as she broke down
Powerful: She also gave an emotional speech on the matter, stating: 'We say Time's Up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power'
Moving: The song was so moving that much of the audience, who gave her a standing ovation, was in tears at the end, including Chrissy Teigen and John Legend (L) and Bruno Mars (R)
Back: The singer had tweeted before her performance that writing Praying was 'emotional raw victory' for her - following a three-year battle with Dr Luke after she accused him of rape
The heartfelt song was so moving that much of the audience, who gave her a standing ovation, was in tears at the end.
The performance was also met with rave Twitter reception, from the likes of Tove Lo and Rose McGowan, who was one of the first to come out against Harvey Weinstein.
The singer had tweeted before her performance that writing Praying 'felt as if I had gotten a huge weight off of my shoulders' and was 'an emotional raw victory for myself, one step closer to healing.'
Rainbow is Kesha's first album since 2012 - following a three-year battle with Gottwald after she accused him of rape and sexual abuse although no criminal charges were filed.
He has denied the allegations, and filed a defamation lawsuit - which was dismissed. She remains tied to Sony although her new album is a victory for the singer.
