Someone who fills empty seats at the Grammys has revealed what goes on behind the scenes when the show isn’t being filmed.
Seat fillers are people hired to fill in for celebrities who briefly leave their seats during TV shows and award ceremonies. They make sure the audience always looks full and engaged on camera, essentially taking the empty seats until the celebrity returns – it’s similar to how people quickly find seats in musical chairs.
One of the seat fillers for the 2026 ceremony – chosen from a group of 350 people – has shared some surprising details about what happens behind the scenes, including a bit of chaos and gossip.
A Reddit user described the night as ‘total chaos’ whenever the commercials came on, sharing their experience online.
The awards show had plenty of unforgettable highlights and funny mishaps. Trevor Noah’s opening jokes set the tone, while Cher’s speech was delightfully unpredictable, and Justin Bieber’s performance—complete with a rather unusual outfit—definitely turned heads.
Beyond the chaos viewers saw on camera, the seat filler described total confusion happening backstage as well.
Last night was incredibly strange – I was a seat filler at The Grammys! I ended up spending most of the night sitting on the floor, right near the main stage and the rows of seats behind it.
This year, over 32,000 people applied, and only 350 were selected. I flew from Tampa to Los Angeles to participate, and it was absolutely worth it – a truly unforgettable experience!
Commercial breaks are incredibly hectic. As soon as the ads start, people immediately get up and walk around. Then, with about a minute left before the show resumes, staff start asking people to return to their seats, creating a rush – and that’s when we need seat fillers to help fill any empty spaces!
‘The way they split up the stage for the different performances and sets is really interesting.
I didn’t know that certain performances were actually filmed in a different location – I believe it was only the standout performances by new artists. They then show these pre-recorded performances on the screens during the show.
Honestly, seeing what they shared got me SO curious! Everyone’s been buzzing, wondering what really happens when they’re not filming. I need to know all the behind-the-scenes stuff – it’s like there’s a whole other world we’re missing out on!
Okay, so someone asked me this and it’s something all of us dedicated fans worry about! Basically, the question is: if a celebrity tries to take your seat right as the event is about to start – like, with only five seconds left – are you just… forced to move out of the way, maybe even uncomfortably? It’s a real concern when you’ve waited so long and worked hard for those tickets!
The seat filler explained that if there’s a gap in the floor, you have to jump into it immediately, or they’ll quickly move you to a different seat, usually towards the back.
When asked if they spoke with any celebrities, the person explained that they were instructed not to, and they followed those instructions. They weren’t seated at a table with any celebrities—they were with other seat fillers, but they were positioned near the celebrities.
I spoke with SZA’s mother quite a bit. I also overheard staff mentioning that fans swarmed Lady Gaga after the concert finished, likely because everyone thought the event was completely over and any restrictions no longer applied.
The performer also had a pleasant interaction with Jamie Foxx, who complimented her appearance, saying, ‘You’re looking beautiful tonight.’
Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE how competitive it is to even try to get this opportunity! Everyone and their mother wants in, but here’s the kicker – if you’re one of the lucky few who gets chosen, you have to pay for everything yourself! Flights, food, everything! And get this… it’s completely unpaid! I’d gladly do it just to be near them, honestly!
Oh my god, you will NOT believe what happened at the Grammys! Cher, my absolute icon, totally brought the house down… but not in a good way, honestly. She walked off stage way too early, and then, get this, she accidentally announced Luther Vandross as the winner instead of Kendrick Lamar! It was a total mess, a beautiful, chaotic mess, but still! I was mortified and thrilled all at once. Only Cher could pull off something so wonderfully shambolic, though. I’m still processing it all!
The 79-year-old woman was supposed to present an award, but she was surprised with a lifetime achievement award herself! She started to leave the stage, and had to be reminded by the host, Trevor Noah, that she hadn’t actually given out the award for Record of the Year.
Cher presented the award to Lamar and SZA for their song “Luther,” but a mistake during the presentation caused viewers to burst out laughing.
She began announcing the Grammy winner, saying, ‘And the Grammy goes to…’ but then paused awkwardly, looking ahead. She quickly explained, ‘Oh! I was supposed to see the winner on the teleprompter.’
When she finally accepted she needed to open the envelope, she did so, read the contents, and happily announced the winner: ‘Luther Gandross!’
Thirty-eight-year-old Lamar laughed playfully at Cher mentioning Luther Vandross, who passed away 20 years ago. He understood she was referring to one of Vandross’s songs and then went on stage.
Cher eventually realized she’d announced the wrong winner and playfully exclaimed, ‘Oh, no, Kendrick Lamar!’ while laughing at her error during the performance by Lamar and SZA.
Lamar’s song featured vocals from Luther Vandross, who inspired the track, so Lamar acknowledged and thanked him during his acceptance speech.
Honestly, the reaction online was hilarious! Everyone was joking about Cher seemingly just finding out about Luther Vandross’s passing, and the memes were amazing. People were sharing things like ‘Cher is clearly on another level!’ and ‘Luther had me losing it!’ It was a whole moment of funny disbelief and love for both of them.
Cher’s appearance on stage was a bit confusing. She initially came out to present the Record of the Year award, but host Noah unexpectedly stopped her to give her a lifetime achievement award instead.
She gave her planned speech, inspiring people to hold onto their dreams. However, she finished in an awkward way, saying, ‘Thank you. I guess I’m supposed to walk off now. Okay.’
Cher left the stage to thunderous applause, then came back to address the problems with her performance of a Whitney Houston song.
The awards show had many unforgettable highlights, beginning with host Noah’s opening comedy routine, which sparked speculation about a possible disagreement with Justin Bieber.
A video of Justin Bieber forcing a smile and visibly cringing at a joke made by Noah during a conversation with him and Hailey went viral online.
Noah congratulated Justin Bieber on his award nominations and the recent birth of his son, Jack. He then performed some comedy, but while Hailey Bieber laughed politely, Justin didn’t even manage a smile.
Noah finished his joke by playfully asking Hailey if he could get a discount code for her Rhode lip gloss, and Justin Bieber visibly reacted with a grimace.
Fans noticed a dismissive reaction from Justin Bieber towards Trevor Noah, with one person tweeting, “Is there bad blood between Trevor Noah and Justin Bieber? That was awkward to watch.”
On X, formerly Twitter, one user jokingly commented that Justin Bieber looked like he was about to confront Trevor Noah, while another said Bieber clearly didn’t appreciate Noah’s jokes.
Justin Bieber surprised fans later that evening with a performance of his song “Yukon,” appearing on stage only in his underwear.
He confidently walked across the stage in his underwear, revealing his extensive tattoos while carrying a guitar. His wife, Hailey, watched and smiled.
People online had mixed reactions to his performance. Some praised it as beautiful and heartfelt, while others criticized and mocked it, with comments like, “This is the Grammys, not the beach… it’s just embarrassing.”
Sabrina Carpenter was one of the headlining performers that night, and she put on a playful show. She performed her song “Manchild” dressed as a pilot, tying into an airport theme—the song is reportedly about her ex-boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
Staying true to her style, Lady Gaga wore a remarkably elaborate headpiece—it looked a bit like the bottom of an outdoor table—while performing a rock version of her song “Abracadabra.”
Some people criticized Miley Cyrus for not applauding when Lady Gaga won the award for best pop vocal album.
Cyrus received a nomination for her new album, Something Beautiful, but Mayhem ultimately won the award.
Lady Gaga, 39, was overcome with emotion when she found out she had won, and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, kissed her as the audience gave a standing ovation.
Okay, so after Lady Gaga obviously won, I was scanning the crowd, and honestly, even Sabrina Carpenter – who was up for the same award, naturally – was clapping and looked genuinely happy for Gaga! She stood up and was just beaming, it was…a moment. I have the video, obviously.
When the camera focused on Cyrus, 33, she was seated and didn’t clap. She was quietly talking to her fiancé, Maxx Morando, and had a slight smile.
Cyrus appeared to be clapping, and may have just stopped when she began rubbing her hands together. Regardless, her reaction quickly sparked a strong and critical response online.
During the awards show, a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who recently passed away six months prior, moved his family in the audience to tears.
Slash and Post Malone kicked off the tribute by performing Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Andrew Watt.
Sharon Osbourne, along with her children Jack and Kelly, were visibly emotional as they watched from the audience.
After Billie Eilish’s song “Wildflower” won Song of the Year, she and her brother and frequent collaborator, Finneas O’Connell, accepted the award with a politically charged speech. Eilish declared that ‘no one is illegal on stolen land’ and emphatically stated, ‘F ICE.’
Oh my gosh, Bad Bunny actually won Album of the Year for ‘Debi Tirar Mas Fotos’! I was screaming! And it wasn’t just about the award, though – his speech was incredible. He basically dedicated the whole thing to immigrants here in America, and it was SO powerful. I’m seriously obsessed with everything about him, and this just proves why he’s the greatest!
He performed mostly in Spanish, but he delivered one sentence in English: ‘I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homes and countries to pursue their dreams.’
Debi Tirar Mas Fotos made history as the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year at the Grammys. It was also only the second to ever be nominated for the award.
Bunny also had some fun, lighthearted scenes, like a recurring joke where Noah playfully tried to convince him to perform at the Grammys.
Performing would have broken his contract, which prevents him from appearing in public until his Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday.
During what seemed like a pre-planned exchange, Noah jokingly told the guest that he now regrets not taking more pictures when they were together. He said he often thinks, ‘I wish I’d taken more photos.’
Benito Ocasio, known as Bunny, asked if a song playing was his, and then reluctantly agreed to sing just a small part of ‘Debi Tirar Mas Fotos’.
Olivia Dean dedicated her best new artist award to her grandmother, a member of the Windrush generation who immigrated to the UK from Guyana, in a gesture that acknowledged the current political environment. She received the award from Chappell Roan.
I’m here today as the granddaughter of someone who immigrated to this country, and I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it weren’t for them. I believe their courage deserves recognition. Ultimately, we all rely on each other.
Jelly Roll’s new album, Beautifully Broken, earned him a country album award, and he used his acceptance speech to talk about his faith. This led to strong criticism from some people on social media.
He explained that he felt both music and God had transformed his life. He emphasized that Jesus is for everyone, regardless of political affiliation or any other label. ‘Jesus is simply Jesus,’ he stated.
Online, many people harshly criticized the country singer, with some claiming he was experiencing a religious delusion and others questioning why he doesn’t speak in a more straightforward manner.
Someone commented on Jelly Roll’s dramatic weight loss – he’s lost around 275 pounds in the last three years – and joked that seeing him so thin was startling. They added that his tattoos and recent discussions about religion now seem even more intense.
During her Grammys acceptance speech, Joni Mitchell had a long, unsettling pause and needed a reminder that she had actually won an award.
Joni Mitchell, the celebrated 82-year-old folk singer, and her producer, Patrick Milligan, won the award for best historical album this year. The winning album was a collection of her work from 1976 to 1980, titled Joni Mitchell Archives: Volume 4 – The Asylum Years.
Mitchell joked that the Grammys had more glitter and glamour than she’d ever seen, but then fell unexpectedly silent.
Milligan softly touched her arm, encouraging her to speak. “Are you going to say something?” he asked gently. Mitchell simply replied, “Did I win?”
“We did,” he announced. She responded with delighted surprise, exclaiming, “Oh, I won? Oh!” This earned a laugh and applause from the audience, which Milligan acknowledged with a simple, “See?”
In 2015, Mitchell experienced a brain aneurysm and spent several years focusing on recovery, which involved relearning how to speak and walk. She has gradually started making public appearances again in recent years.
Lauryn Hill made a historic return to the Grammys stage after 27 years, marking a significant moment in music history.
As a culture enthusiast, I remember when Lauryn Hill first captivated us with the Fugees back in the ’90s. Then, she truly blossomed as a solo artist, releasing her incredible album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in ’98. I recall being completely blown away when she performed at the Grammys the following year – it was a real moment!
Over the next few years, she grew increasingly disappointed with the downsides of fame and the competitive nature of the music business, leading her to step away from public life.
She’s returned to performing recently, and this past Sunday she took the stage at the Grammys to honor the legacies of R&B legends Roberta Flack and D’Angelo.
Roberta Flack’s hit song, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” was famously covered by the Fugees in 1996. When Lauryn Hill performed it during Sunday night’s tribute concert, it became a special reunion with her former bandmate, Wyclef Jean.
YouTuber Alex Warren recently performed his popular song “Ordinary” at the Grammys, but a problem with his earpiece messed up his performance.
As his performance fell apart – his singing was slightly off-time – Warren looked devastated and briefly ripped his ear monitor out in frustration.
Despite everything, Jelly Roll publicly supported him. The performance was so romantic that Jelly Roll and his wife, Bunnie XO, were caught slow-dancing and even sharing a kiss in the audience.
Lola Young, a rising star, had one of the night’s biggest surprises, winning Best Solo Pop Performance for her song “Messy.” Her acceptance speech took an unexpected turn when she used a swear word, and the television network couldn’t censor it before it aired.
She admitted she hadn’t prepared a speech, playfully saying, “It’s a bit messy, you know?” She continued, laughing, “I really don’t know what to say! Thank you all so much.” Her overwhelmed expression was clear, and she quickly apologized for her flustered state, repeating “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
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2026-02-04 04:00