Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga perform ‘California Dreamin’’ at Grammys to honour wildfire victims

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Singer Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga delivered an emotional tribute at the 2025 Grammys, honouring those affected by the devastating LA wildfires. The duo performed a heartfelt rendition of the 1960s classic ‘California Dreamin’’, setting a sombre tone as they paid homage to the victims.
Unlike their previous collaboration on ‘Die With a Smile’—one of 2024’s biggest hits, known for its nostalgic and campy vibe—Mars and Gaga took a more solemn approach for this performance. Their duet followed a montage showcasing the destruction caused by the early January fires, making the song’s opening lyrics, “All the leaves are brown… and the sky is gray,” all the more poignant for Southern Californians.
This was one of two major moments for Gaga during the telecast, though it was her only live performance. Later in the evening, she took centre stage again with the premiere of her new single and music video, ‘Abracadabra’, which aired during a commercial break.
Meanwhile, ‘Die With a Smile’ earned both Gaga and Mars nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Recording. While they didn’t secure a win, their Grammys appearance left a lasting impression.

Gaga’s surprise ‘Abracadabra’ debut was a highly anticipated reveal. Though not an official performance segment, the mid-Grammys unveiling of the fast-tempo dance track from her upcoming album, ‘Mayhem’, was a standout moment. Leading up to the release, Gaga had teased the album’s March 7 launch but kept the song title under wraps until the broadcast. Introducing the video with a dramatic preface, she declared, “The category is… dance or die.”