Two of Kobe Bryant's retired jerseys hung from the rafter of the Staples Center, and hundreds of people crowded outside the building, as the 62nd Grammy Awards started in Los Angeles with a somber tone on Sunday.

Earlier that day, basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, died in a helicopter crash dozens of miles away in California. He was 41.

Pop star Lizzo opened the Grammy Awards show saying "Tonight is for Kobe," before she went on to sing two of her songs "Cuz I Love You" and "Truth Hurts."

"We are all feeling crazy sadness right now, because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero," Alicia Keys, host of the show, said in her opening address. "We are literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built."

The Staples Center is the home court of the Los Angeles Lakers which Bryant played for during his 20-year career.

Keys also sang "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" with Boyz II Men, paying tribute to the NBA legend.

Celebrities and friends also took to social media to express their sadness.

John Legend wrote in Twitter post that "Life can be so brutal and senseless sometimes."

Camila Cabello posted a photo of Kobe on her Instagram, saying that Bryant's MUSE documentary and his mamba mentality helped her through her hard times.

DJ Khaled said during the red carpet interview that he wants to send love to the families, the kids and the mothers. 

Billie Eilish, the 18-year-old singer, became the biggest winner of the night. She swept five awards including the Best New Artist and Song of the Year with "Bad Guy."