While the Recording Academy carved out time for several recently deceased artists during the Grammys, Natalie Cole only got a mention in the In Memoriam segment. That was a big disappointment for her family and fans.
Timolin Cole and Casey Cole told Entertainment Tonight that her sister received a “forgettable” tribute from the Academy. “Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist such as our sister,” they said.
Robert Adam Yancy, Cole’s son, pointed out to ET that his mother was a nine-time Grammy winner and had been performing for four decades. “It was shameless the way they minimized her legacy. We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world,” he said.
David Bowie, Glenn Frey, B.B. King, Lemmy Kilmister and Maurice White all got full tributes during the ceremony. Lionel Richie, who is still alive, even got a full tribute. But Cole, whose 1991 album Unforgettable... with Love won Album of the Year, was only briefly mentioned in the In Memoriam part.
Cole died at age 65 on Dec. 31.