In 2008 hermother, brother and nephew were all murdered. The Chicago native triumphantly returned to the 2009 Grammys and gave a stellar performance. “Jennifer has had this experience herself in her own personal tragedy, ” Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences told the press following the Grammy ceremony Sunday “Taking the stage in that moment, you sort of think maybe she can deal with what the emotions will be. Not every artist can do that.”
