Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson had just finished “Earth Song,” singing along with Michael Jackson’s own voice. The 3-D film behind them was one Michael had made for his “This Is It” shows, and the audience had been handed 3-D glasses to watch it. Then Lionel Richie, a longtime friend of Michael’s, introduced two kids.
It was Jan. 31, 2010, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Prince was 12 and Paris was 11, and they’d come to accept their dad’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy.
They matched. Both wore black suits with red armbands and red stripes down the sides of their trousers, and three of their cousins walked out with them. The fan site MJWN named them as Tito’s sons TJ, Taryll and Taj. In AP photos from that night, Lionel hugs Paris as he hands the award over. Their little brother Blanket, 7, stayed off the stage. He reportedly watched from backstage with his grandmother, Katherine Jackson, Access Hollywood said.
Prince held the award in both hands and went first. “We are proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson,” he said.
He thanked “our grandma and grandpa for their love and support,” and he spoke straight to the fans. “Our father loved you so much because you’re always there for him,” Prince said.
Next came what his dad cared about most. “Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity,” he said. “Through all his songs, his message was simple: Love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world.” Watch Paris standing at her brother’s side while he speaks, and keep watching after he finishes.
Prince and Paris accept their dad’s award at the 2010 Grammys
This is a fan’s upload of the TV broadcast, not an official Recording Academy video. Prince starts at about 0:05, and Paris’s moment at the mic comes at about 0:49.
So how did Paris end it?
She didn’t have a long speech. She spoke for only a few seconds, in her glasses and white ruffled collar, with the microphone almost at her chin. “Thank you,” Paris said. “We love you, Daddy.”
Earlier that evening, Lionel had talked to the Recording Academy’s own cameras on the red carpet about his part in honoring Michael. Listen for how small he makes his own job sound.
Lionel Richie talks about honoring Michael on the 2010 Grammys red carpet
This clip is official, from the GRAMMYS channel, and runs under a minute. “Tonight is easy only because I’m not performing it,” Lionel says right at the start. “I’m just kind of narrating it, and then after that I get out of the way and let the special happen.” At about 0:15 he calls it something “Michael had envisioned.”
Beyoncé went home that night with six Grammys, at the time a record for a woman in one night. Taylor Swift won Album of the Year. CNN’s headline the next morning still gave the kids top billing: “Taylor Swift, Beyonce grab Grammys, but Jackson kids steal show.”