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Grammys 2016: Lady Gaga's David Bowie Tribute Will Be One of the Show's Longest Performances

The rocker passed away just five weeks ago

By Marc Malkin Feb 15, 2016 6:22 PMTags
Lady Gaga, David BowieGetty Images

Let the countdown begin.

We have just hours to go until the Grammys and that also means, we're just hours away from finally seeing and hearing Lady Gaga's tribute to the late David Bowie.

I caught up with National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) president Neil Portnow last night to get the lowdown on Gaga's performance.

"She will take us through quite a bit of history of David Bowie's repertoire," Portnow said at the Academy and Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. "It's one of the longest, larger segments of the night."

He also added, "There's some very exciting brand new technology that's never been seen on television that will be a part of the segment."

Portnow said Gaga "popped into my head pretty quickly" when he first thought about including a Bowie tribute, but he wasn't sure she'd be up for it.

Fortunately, "she really wanted to do it and it worked out," he said.

Gaga has already celebrated the performance by getting a large tattoo of Bowie on the left side of her torso by celebrity tattoo artist Mark Mahoney on Saturday in West Hollywood.

Last night's gala honored Bowie with a tribute performance by Beck and Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.

E!'s Grammy Awards coverage starts today at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. E! Online's Live From the Red Carpet Livestream begins at 5:55 p.m. ET / 2:55 p.m. PT. Plus, watch E! After Party: The 2016 Grammys at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT. And don't miss the Fashion Police Grammy Awards special Tuesday at 8 p.m. only on E!