Onstage, it played like a classic misread—one of those mistakes that happens when the pressure is high, the lights are hot, and a presenter is trying to keep pace with a tightly timed broadcast. The Grammys audience reacted with that mix of laughter and affection reserved for legends who are allowed to be messy because they’ve earned it.

It didn’t help that Cher had already had another small onstage hiccup moments earlier, briefly stepping away like the segment was over before being called back. By the time the winner announcement arrived, the energy already felt slightly off-kilter, and the kind of confusion that can happen with teleprompters and stage direction was basically hanging in the air.

According to Entertainment Weekly’s blow-by-blow recap from the ceremony, the flub came amid the broader string of lighthearted onstage stumbles, and the correction happened quickly enough that the room didn’t fully spiral into panic.

Still, online, it was immediate. Clips hit X, TikTok, and Instagram within minutes, with people posting the moment like a gift—equal parts hilarious and strangely sweet—because it reminded everyone that live awards shows are still capable of producing the kind of unscripted chaos that can’t be manufactured.

Some viewers joked that it was “the most Grammys thing imaginable,” while others treated it like a strange accidental tribute. A few fans even argued that the slip was oddly fitting since the song title itself keeps Vandross’ name alive inside modern pop conversation, even if the category wasn’t literally honoring him.

What stood out in the reaction was how little it resembled a typical pile-on. Instead of the usual cruelty, the dominant mood was warmth. Many people framed Cher as charmingly unbothered, like a woman who has survived six decades of fame and is not about to let an envelope derail her.