The Grammys Under Fire For Lack of Diversity

Maurice White, Natalie Cole

The Grammys Show is coming under huge pressure to diversify its all-white tribute lineup and honor the late Maurice White.

During Monday’s telecast, Lady Gaga will perform an eight-minute David Bowie tribute, Jackson Browne will honor Glenn Frey and Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp are expected to perform a tribute for Lemmy from Motörhead.

But industry insiders are griping that White, of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and Natalie Cole have been banished to a video tribute package with others who died in the past year.

“Over the last week or so, since Maurice White passed away, there has been back and forth with the producers and the academy about some kind of representation of him during the show. The tributes they’ve confirmed are all white. As of Friday, there was no tribute at all for Maurice because Grammy producers said they didn’t have time,” one insider told The NY Post.

Meanwhile, another source close to the Grammys said they’re still trying to figure out how to add more diversity to the lineup.

“Maurice White and the group he founded had unprecedented impact on pop culture. After a lot of pressure, producers are trying to figure out how to properly pay tribute to him. It’s still in limbo,” said the insider.

The Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 15.