Every now and then, the Grammys manage to get it right. On the 21st night of September — yes, the lyric that has haunted every wedding DJ since the 70s — CBS will air A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire. If you don’t feel like dancing just reading that, check your pulse.
Earth, Wind & Fire will take the Hollywood Bowl stage with the LA Philharmonic, joined by Stevie Wonder, Jonas Brothers, Jon Batiste, and Janelle Monáe. That’s not just a lineup — that’s a multigenerational jam session in the making. For context: Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire aren’t strangers. They’ve crossed paths for decades, sharing bills and swapping praise as mutual pioneers of funk, soul, and pop. In 2015, Stevie even got his own Grammy Salute — so it’s only fitting he’s showing up for EWF’s big night.
Two weeks later, the spotlight turns neon pink for A Grammy Salute to Cyndi Lauper: Live From The Hollywood Bowl. As she wraps her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, Lauper is pulling in a tribute squad that includes Joni Mitchell, Cher, John Legend, SZA, and even a video message from Brandi Carlile. Legends saluting legends — that’s how it should be.
Between them, Earth, Wind & Fire and Lauper have enough awards to need their own storage unit: six Grammys for EWF (plus Maurice White’s solo win), two Grammys for Lauper, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, and in Cyndi’s case, the full EGOT starter kit (Emmy, Grammy, Tony, with an Oscar-sized hole waiting).
The Recording Academy may not always get it right (we still haven’t forgotten a few snubs), but these two specials are well-deserved reminders of why live music matters. And speaking of live music — you don’t need CBS or Paramount+ to get your fix. The Static Live Music Calendar App keeps you plugged into the real scene — Daytona, Ormond, New Smyrna, Flagler, and soon even more cities. Download it, and catch legends in the making.