Watch John Legend perform “Free” in tribute to Ukraine at the 2022 Grammys

His performance was prefaced by a pre-taped speech from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

April 03, 2022
Watch John Legend perform “Free” in tribute to Ukraine at the 2022 Grammys Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images.  

The Recording Academy paid tribute to Ukraine Sunday night at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. First, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a rousing pre-taped speech in English, asking for support for his nation as it struggles to fight off Russian attacks. Next, John Legend took the stage alongside three Ukrainian women artists: bandura player Siuzanna Iglidan, singer Mika Newtown, and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, who had just escaped her war-torn homeland a day earlier.

ADVERTISEMENT

Iglidan, Newtown, and Yakimchuk helped Legend premiere a brand new song titled "Free." Legend sat center stage at a grand piano, accompanying himself solo before his three co-performers joined in one by one. Watch Zelenskyy's speech and the full "Free" performance below.

Follow The FADER’s rolling coverage of the 64th annual Grammy Awards and keep up with all of this year’s winners here.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Watch John Legend perform “Free” in tribute to Ukraine at the 2022 Grammys