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Kesha's Powerful Performance of "Praying" Leaves Grammys Audience in Tears

This was truly a moment to remember

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Sadie Gennis

After a long legal battle that left her unable to release new music for four years, Kesha returned to the Grammy Awards on Sunday to lead a powerful performance of her hit single "Praying."

Joined onstage by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, Andra Day and Bebe Rexha, a visibly emotional Kesha sang the lead single off her comeback album Rainbow. The song is inspired by the singer's legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, whom Kesha accused of sexual assault and emotional abuse in a lawsuit.

The performance was introduced by Janelle Monae, who gave a rousing speech about the importance of the Time's Up movement. "We come in peace, but we mean business," she declared. "We offer you two words: Time's Up."

The beautiful and raw performance, which ended in the all-female group of singers encircling Kesha in a hug, was truly a standout moment of the evening and left many audience members in tears. It also only further fueled the feeling that the Recording Academy's decision to award Ed Sheeran the statue for Best Pop Solo Performance over Kesha was unfortunately tone deaf, to say the least.

(Full disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS.)

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