Ken Ehrlich on the Kobe Bryant Memorial Service’s ‘Transcendent’ Music Moments

LeBron James is still in awe of Vanessa Bryant. The 35-year-old basketball star praised Kobe Bryant’s widow amid rumors that he didn’t attend the late athlete’s public memorial.

LeBron James has spoken out about Monday’s event, which honored his late friend, Kobe Bryant, and Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

In honor of Kobe Bryant, Beyoncé respectfully changed the lyrics to "one of his favorite songs." On Monday, the megawatt star took the stage to begin a public memorial held in honor of the late basketball legend and his beloved daughter, Gianna Bryant, both of whom tragically died in a helicopter crash a month ago along with seven others.  After performing the beginning of "XO," the songstress explained, "I'm here because I love Kobe and this was one of his favorite songs, so I want to start

At one point during the public memorial service Monday for Kobe and Gianna Bryant and the seven others who died Jan. 26 in a tragic helicopter accident, fellow basketball legend — and Bryant “big brother” — Michael Jordan tearfully noted, “When Kobe died, a piece of me died.

While Kobe Bryant’s fans, friends, and family members honoured the star during his memorial service, the ceremony was especially emotional for Vanessa Bryant, who lost her husband and 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in the tragic helicopter accident last month. She broke down on more than one occasion during the emotional event and celebrities like Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Michael Jordan were there to support her.

Vanessa Bryant mourned the death of her late husband Kobe Bryant during her first official public appearance after the NBA star’s lost his life alongside their 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a tragic helicopter crash that took place on January 26, 2020. On February 24, fans, friends and family members gathered inside the Staples Center to pay tribute to Kobe and Gianna.

Gone but certainly not forgotten. Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant were honored during a public memorial service after passing away in a tragic helicopter wreck last month.

Christina Aguilera took the stage at Los Angeles' Staples Center on Monday (Feb. 24) to deliver an emotional performance of "Ave Maria" at Kobe and Gianna Bryant's Celebration of Life ceremony.

The GOAT of basketball himself, Michael Jordan, showed up in a big way to say goodbye to his “close friend” Kobe Bryant at his public memorial service. It isn’t often that MJ shows up to big, public events—but he made an exception to honor the legacy of his “little brother.”

#Roommates, Vanessa Bryant said one final goodbye to her husband Kobe Bryant, as she delivered his very emotional and heartbreaking eulogy at his public memorial service. Visibly choked up several times, Vanessa was able to get through it—and also shed light on the love story that she and Kobe shared.

Fans paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant with a celebration of life service on Monday.  Attendees arrived at the Los Angeles Staples Center—often referred to as "the house that Kobe built"—in their Lakers team attire and were given booklets featuring photos of the Bryant family.  The date of the public memorial—2/24/20—held significance for the Bryant family. Two and 24 represented the numbers that appeared on Gianna's and Kobe's basketball jerseys, respectively.

The late Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant was teary-eyed as she paid a heartfelt tribute to her husband and 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Vanessa Bryant for the first time post her husband and daughter's tragic death spoke in public at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Fans around the world tuned in to see Monday's "A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant," the moving and star-studded tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

One of the hardest things for any parent to do is to deliver their child’s eulogy…and sadly, that’s exactly what Vanessa Bryant had to do at Kobe Bryant’s and Gigi Bryant’s public memorial. It was a heartbreaking moment that showcases just how strong she is during such an unbelievably difficult time.

Christina Aguilera used her legendary voice to honor another icon.  During a public memorial held on Monday inside the Staples Center for Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash nearly a month ago, the Grammy-winning songstress took the stage to pay tribute to the late basketball great and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant.  Donning black, the performer soulfully belted out a rendition of the classic "Ave Maria" while backed by musicians.

Alicia Keys is celebrating the life of Kobe Bryant through her musical talents.  During Monday morning's celebration of life ceremony for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball player and his daughter Gianna Bryant, Alicia performed a special song, described as one of Kobe and wife Vanessa Bryant's "favorite numbers," inside the Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant‘s estranged parents, Pamela and Joe Bryant, were seen paying tribute to their late son and granddaughter, Gianna Bryant, during their beautiful memorial at the Staples Center. Though Kobe hadn’t spoken to his parents in several years, Vanessa welcomed them to the celebration of life with open arms to mourn as a family.