Grammys Breakout Benson Boone Caught Adjusting Package After Performance

There was a moment fairly early on in Benson Boone’s Grammy Awards performance when you could collectively feel America stopping in their tracks all at the same time and reflexively whispering, “Who is that??!!” It was almost like an electrocution.

Of course, many music fans know who Boone is. His breakthrough song “Beautiful Things” was one of the biggest hits of the last year.

It’s the one that plays constantly at the drugstore, and gives you a startled mini-heart attack when the beat drops and he starts loudly wailing away at the chorus. But it’s one thing to pleasantly listen along to a song while you’re restocking on toothpaste and toilet paper, and another to watch the artist absolutely kill his first Grammy Awards performance, recruiting a legion of new fans.

Those people—including tablemate Jennifer Lopez—were enamored by his sweet, from-the-audience opening to his performance, singing while walking through the crowd.

They likely squealed (or was that just me?) when Heidi Klum and Nikki Glaser ripped off his staid black tux to reveal a form-fitting, bedazzled blue jumpsuit, with a plunging v-neck J.Lo would be proud of and Harry Styles would probably wish to add to his closet. And then when he did a flip off a piano before belting the chorus? What in the Simone Biles world?!

Overwhelmingly, I’ve noticed, the response has been intense thirsting over the breakout star—something that was exacerbated by Boone’s confusing decision (what is purposeful) to rearrange his, um, junk while the camera was still trained on him after his performance ended.

That’s one way to generate a memorable Grammys moment.

The remarkable thing about this year’s telecast, however, was—exasperating red-carpet shenanigans aside—is its reliance on the music and performances to create those moments. And the artists have uniformly risen to the occasion.

The suite of performances from Best New Artist nominees that Boone kicked off was absolutely thrilling.

Following Boone, Doechii, who had already won Best Rap Album earlier in the night, torched the stage like her ferocious charisma was a firehose. It was a star-making performance that had Billie Eilish mouthing “oh my God” in disbelief once Doechii’s sprint of mesmerizing choreography and almost carnivorous attack of her songs’ verses concluded.

A trifecta of spectacular vocal performances from fellow nominees Teddy Swims, Shaboozey, and Raye culminated with a raucous reception from the ceremony’s attendees that was almost palpable through the TV screen.

Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, Best New Artists with higher profiles who had their own showcases earlier in the telecast, also delivered what were, for my money, the best award-show performances of their careers so far. (Roan, particularly, had be me cheering as she triumphantly stood in front of her supersized pink horse to perform her career-making hit, “Pink Pony Club.”)

Roan won the Best New Artist trophy, delivering a considered and somewhat stirring speech about the need to pay artists living wages and provide healthcare—which may have been overshadowed by the response to her massive medieval princess hat.

But on a night that’s been overwhelmingly dominated by young new artists, it’s refreshing to know—whether they’re flipping off pianos, fondling their nether regions, slaying choreography, or riding pink ponies—the kids are alright.