Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars perform ‘California Dreamin” in tribute to LA at Grammys

Grammy Awards

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars perform ‘California Dreamin” in tribute to LA at Grammys

Portrait of Anna Kaufman Anna Kaufman

USA TODAY

The 67th annual Grammy Awards struck a somber tone Sunday night as music’s biggest stars paid tribute to a city in mourning.

After destructive wildfires swept across Los Angeles earlier this month, the ceremony decided to go ahead as planned but with an increased emphasis on raising money for relief efforts.

Throughout the night, host Trevor Noah and performers like Billie Eilish paid tribute to the City of Angels and the frontline workers that put out the fire that threatened to consume it.

In a particularly stirring performance, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, who recently collaborated on the hit single “Die With A Smile,” covered the classic Golden State anthem “California Dreamin’.”

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars perform onstage during the 67th annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.

The Mamas & the Papas tune, which became synonymous with the folk scene born of the city’s Laurel Canyon, evokes images of an idyllic California. As they harmonized, Gaga and Mars appeared emotional.

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The performance followed a video detailing the destructive blazes and the structures lost. Harrowing footage demonstrated out-of-control flames and families heartbroken over the homes and schools left in ashes.

As performances continue throughout the night, the wildfires are expected to remain at center stage. The show opened with a rendition of Randy Newman’s ballad to the City of Angels “I Love L.A.” performed by Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent, Brittany Howard and Brad Paisley.

Several stars sported blue pins on the red carpet to support the MusiCares relief fund and Noah, also wearing a blue pin, encouraged attendees and viewers alike to donate.

Lady Gaga Grammys ad features new music video

Gaga, whose new album “Mayhem” was announced earlier this week, teased the project with a full-length music video in the form of a Mastercard advertisement during one of the program’s commercial breaks. The brand new single and self-directed video for “Abracadabra,” featured a dance-off of light and dark, seeing the pop icon in a tug-of-war between two sides of herself.

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