Not to be outdone, the ladies offered a showstopping performance of their own, led by double nominee Alicia Keys. Rocking a sleek bob and skintight jeans, Keys invited vintage girl groups SWV, En Vogue and TLC to join her onstage for a medley of their biggest hits. By the time they closed with TLC’s “Waterfalls,” the crowd at the Shrine Auditorium was on its feet. Even Kanye West was singing along.

“This performance was surreal,” SWV’s Leanne Lyons said backstage. “When we got the call that Alicia Keys was one of our biggest fans and that she wanted one of her favorite groups from the ’90s to perform with her, it humbled us. She shared the stage. She’s not ego tripping.”

She went on to win the prize for best female R&B artist, and offered a heartfelt endorsement to Obama, who would be the first African-American elected to the nation’s highest office.

“Together we can do anything — Obama, y’all!” she enthused.