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Ellen DeGeneres, Tamron Hall and More Stars Praise Kendrick Lamar’s Grammys 2018 Performance

Kendrick Lamar opened the 2018 Grammy Awards with a bang. The 30-year-old rapper earned a standing ovation for his powerful performance with U2’s Bono and The Edge as well as comedian Dave Chappelle.

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Standing in front of an American flag backdrop, Lamar ran through several songs from his DAMN. album, including “XXX” and “DNA,” alongside a group of dancers clad in army uniforms. Between songs, Chappelle, 44, took the stage to talk politics, saying, “I just wanted to remind the audience that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.”

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Kendrick Lamar performs at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 28, 2018. Theo Wargo/WireImage

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Several celebrities took to Twitter immediately after the performance to praise Lamar. “Only @KendrickLamar can open the #GRAMMYs like that. And then win one,” Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, referring to the MC’s win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Loyalty,” his collaboration with Rihanna. “Congratulations. Oh my God you are so talented.”

Today show cohost Tamron Hall tweeted, “‘Rumble young man Rumble.’ #KendrickLamar powerful open to #grammys. @U2 @DaveChappelle pure chills. CHILLS!!!” Fifth Harmony singer Normani Kordei simply wrote, “TWO WORDS… KENDRICK LAMAR.”

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Lena Waithe also weighed in, tweeting, “Kendrick is iconic.” Meanwhile, Olivia Wilde wrote, “DAMN is right, @kendricklamar. Holy s–t. Wow. Yes.”

Tell Us: What was your favorite part of Lamar’s opening number?

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