On Sunday (January 26), NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other passengers were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
Gianna was quick to remind people that her father Kobe Bryant, who has three other daughters, didn’t need a son to continue the family’s basketball legacy https://t.co/z7VxyfSII7
— LAT Entertainment (@latimesent) January 27, 2020
The private helicopter was en route to a youth basketball game in Thousand Oaks, California at the time of the crash.
Later that evening, music’s brightest stars gathered for the 62nd Grammy Awards. The ceremony was held at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the home of the LA Lakers.
Kobe played for the Lakers for 20 seasons before he retired in 2016. With his jerseys hanging on display in the arena, Grammys host Alicia Keys joined Boyz II Men in a musical tribute to him.
The camera panned over the crowd during the tribute, showing the reactions of country artists such as Dan + Shay, Billy Ray Cyrus, Brandi Carlile.
Earlier in the day and into the next (January 27), country artists took to social media to remember Kobe and honor the other victims lost in the crash. We have compiled a list of their tributes for you to scroll through below.
Jana Kramer
Life is so short. ;(. Sending all my love to Kobe’s family and friends.
— Jana Kramer (@kramergirl) January 26, 2020
Brad Paisley
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zCIe0hq0P/
Lukas Nelson
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zU6LyApm9/
Gary LeVox Of Rascal Flatts
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y9L1nF9HK/
Scotty McCreery
RIP Kobe #mamba
— Scotty McCreery (@ScottyMcCreery) January 26, 2020
Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y-7ZNANhX/
Jason Aldean
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zDv4UgMPX/
LeAnn Rimes
The most horrific news to hear that Kobe Bryant is no longer here with us. My heart is broken for his family and friends. It doesn’t seem real. #KobeBryant #wow #what
— leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) January 26, 2020
Thompson Square
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y7m8gD11D/
Sara Evans
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zCau4BVVe/
Kelsea Ballerini
this is heavy. really, really heartbreaking. 💔 https://t.co/lDfNgczV3o
— Kelsea Ballerini (@KelseaBallerini) January 26, 2020
Kane Brown
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zAN3WgANq/
Chris Young
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y-j0WjK3Z/
Billy Ray Cyrus
https://twitter.com/billyraycyrus/status/1221543174604279817
Keith Urban
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zBPl4pm0d/
In November 2019, Kobe was a special guest on Voice coach Kelly Clarkson‘s new talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. During his visit, he surprised a high school basketball coach that had been diagnosed with cancer, shared the meaning behind his middle name, and talked about his four daughters.
After news broke of Kobe’s passing, The Kelly Clarkson Show paid tribute to him on social media.
“Everyone at our show is so saddened and shocked over the passing of Kobe Bryant. He was a father, a husband, an author, an incredible athlete, and one of the kindest guests we’ve had on our show,” read the statement.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7y80YqhS2b/
You can feel that kindness when you watch the clips from Kobe’s visit to The Kelly Clarkson Show in November. We have included one of those videos for you to treasure below.
We’ll be praying for the Bryant family and the loved ones of the other victims who died in the crash. Our hearts go out to them during this sad time.