Kobe Bryant, the 41-year-old basketball superstar, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria-Onore have died in a tragic helicopter crash in the hills of Calabasas, California. The alarming passing of Bryant, a local legend thanks to his record-breaking legacy at the Los Angeles Lakers, has already devastated the city. Grieving fans have begun to congregate outside of the Staples Center, which has been the home of the Lakers for more than two decades.

In a matter of hours, the 62nd annual Grammy Awards are due to begin in the downtown Los Angeles venue. Out of respect for the Bryant family and a city in mourning, the Recording Academy ought to cancel the awards.