Grammys 2016: Family of Natalie Cole criticise 'disrespectful tribute' to late singer

The family say Cole's legacy was 'minimalised' at the ceremony

Natalie Cole passed away in January (Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images)

The family of Natalie Cole have expressed their “utter disappointment” at what they have branded a “disrespectful tribute” to the late singer at the Grammy Awards.

Cole, who was the daughter of legendary jazz singer Nat “King” Cole, died on New Years Eve from heart failure aged 65.

In 1992, her album Unforgettable… With Love saw her win three Grammys. She had earlier won two in 1976, one in 1977 and later went on to win three more in 1994, 1997 and 2009.

Cole was featured in the In Memorandum feature at Monday’s Grammys, along with entertainers such as Scott Weiland and Percy Sledge. The feature ended with a clip of Cole’s Grammy performance of "Unforgettable", which featured a video clip and vocals from her late father. The singer’s clip was longer than others in the sequence.

However, her family have hit out at Grammy organisers for not giving her a separate tribute performance like those honouring David Bowie, Lemmy, Glenn Frey, Maurice White and BB King.

Cole’s sisters Timolin and Casey told Entertainment Tonight: “Sadly a forgettable tribute to Natalie Cole. Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist such as our sister.

Cole’s son, Robert Yancy also told the news site: “Here is a woman who has been in the business for four decades, had 21 Grammy nominations and won nine Grammys. She deserves more than [to be a part of] a minute-and-a-half tribute. It was shameless the way they minimised her legacy. We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world.”

It wasn’t just Cole’s family who noted the short tribute to Cole, plenty of fans on Twitter voiced their criticism.

Tribute performances that did happen included Lady Gaga’s eccentric homage to Bowie. Not only dressed and styled like him, Gaga managed to fit a string of his hits into a six-minute tribute performance.

Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper, as part of The Hollywood Vampires, also performed a rendition of "Ace of Spades" in honour of Motörhead frontman Lemmy who passed away after a short illness with cancer at the end of 2015.

Additionally, Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr. honoured blues legend BB King, while the remaining Eagles paid tribute to Frey and Stevie Wonder performed an A Capella version of "That’s The Way of the World" with Pentatonix to honour Earth, Wind & Fire founder White.

The Independent has contacted a representative for the Grammys for comment.