Watch CBS News

Natalie Cole's Family Outraged By GRAMMY Tribute, Or Lack Thereof

By Jonathan Hailey

(RADIO.COM) - Natalie Cole's family was upset after watching the GRAMMYs this past Monday (Feb. 15). They felt that the tribute the GRAMMYs came up with for the late jazz and pop singer was disrespectful.

Cole passed away on December 31 at the age of 65 due to heart failure. Her image was apart of the in memoriam montage. Cole didn't receive a special tribute like B.B. King, Glenn Frey, Lemmy and David Bowie did at the ceremony and that's got Cole's family hot under the collar.

Cole's sisters, Timolin and Casey told Entertainment Tonight, "Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist such as our sister."

Natalie Cole's son, Robert Adam Yancy stated, "Here is a woman who has been in the business for four decades, had 21 GRAMMY nominations and won nine GRAMMYs. She deserves more than [to be a part of] a minute-and-a-half tribute. It was shameless the way they minimized her legacy. We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world."

©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved.
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.