Music’s Biggest Night certainly had its fair share of difficulties: Rihanna and Lauren Hill cancelled their scheduled appearances, Adele’s performance was impaired with sound issues and some award winners were head-scratchers (case in point: Meghan Trainor, whose chart-topping hit “All About That Bass” came out in 2014, winning Best New Artist).

That said, there were some bright spots in the three-and-a-half-hour long telecast. Here are the Top 8 moments from the 2016 Grammys.

Andra Day Proves Herself as a Soul Singer on The Rise

The next retro-soul star has arrived. While the performance was a duet with electropop star Ellie Goulding, Andra Day stole the show with soaring-yet-sultry vocals. Singing her hit song “Rise Up” and Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” the 30-year-old singer with just one full-length album to her name showed why she deserved to perform on pop music’s biggest stage.

Kendrick Lamar Recognizes Hip-Hop Legends in Acceptance Speech

While accepting the Best Rap Album award for his critically acclaimed third record, To Pimp a Butterfly, the 28 year-old recognized its roots. “This is for hip-hop,” said Lamar. “This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever, believe that.” His modesty, despite winning five Grammys last night, was a breath of fresh air in an oft-conceited rap and pop world. 

…And Then Follows It Up With a Spectacular Performance

Although Lamar unfortunately didn’t win Album of the Year later in the night, he certainly took top honors for the ceremony’s most memorable performance. Lamar began with his song “Blacker the Berry,” about racism and the death of Trayvon Martin, with a prison cell backdrop. He then segued into Black Lives Matter anthem “Alright” with help from tribal drummers, dancers and a bonfire billowing behind him before finishing off with unforgettable close-ups of Lamar rapping.

Broadway Smash Hit ‘Hamilton’ Makes Its TV Debut

Broadcast from New York’s Richard Rodgers Theater, the cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway phenomenon Hamilton performed the play’s opening song “Alexander Hamilton.” For most viewers, it was likely the only taste they’ll have of the racially charged hip-hop musical that is already sold out for months to come. “We write music, we write songs to tell the story,” rapped Miranda later on when accepting the Grammy for Best Musical Album.

Lady Gaga’s Career-Spanning David Bowie Tribute

Lady Gaga captured the theatrics of the late rock icon in a career-spanning tribute. After beginning with a close-up of Gaga’s face adorned with the Aladdin Sane cover art, the singer—with help from Nile Rodgers—performed snippets of ten Bowie songs in just six minutes. The segment suffered from trying to fit too much in a short timeframe but it honored Bowie’s masterful artistry nonetheless.

In Memoriam Tributes to B.B. King, the Eagles’ Glenn Frey, and Motörhead

Bonnie Raitt, Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr. honored blues hero B.B. King with a soulful take on his song “The Thrill is Gone.” The remaining members of the Eagles performed Glenn Frey’s “Take It Easy” with the song’s co-writer Jackson Browne manning the mic. And Hollywood Vampires—the supergroup starring Alice Cooper, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Johnny Depp—saluted Motörhead frontman Lemmy with a zealous performance of “Ace of Spades.”

Alabama Shakes Performing “Don’t Wanna Fight”

Defiant rock peeked its head out last night with a spot-on performance from the Brittany Howard-fronted blues rockers. After beginning with her characteristic howl, Howard powered through the rollicking cut with gusto. On the strength of the group’s sophomore record, the group won three Grammys including Best Alternative Music Album last night.

Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year for ‘1989’

The superstar used her acceptance speech to preach feminism—and throw some shade at Kanye West. “As the first woman to win album of the year at the Grammys twice, I want to say to all of the young women out there: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame," said Swift, referring to a controversial line from the rapper’s new song “Famous.” "But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you’ll know that it was you and the people who love you that put you there.”