February 9, 2015
Joan Rivers Wins First Grammy Award
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Monday's Grammy-related headlines went to Beck, Kanye West and Sam Smith - and whether or not you agree that Beck should have handed over his Best Album award over to Beyonce, it's safe to say no one was more deserving to win Best Spoken Word Album than the late Joan Rivers.
Rivers, who died last year at the age of 81, days after she went in for a routine endoscopy, won the award for "Diary of a Diva." It's the legendary comedian's second nod; she was first nominated in 1983 for Best Comedy Recording.
The "Fashion Police" host was up against James Franco, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, singer Gloria Gaynor and former President Jimmy Carter.
Rivers' daughter, Melissa Rivers, accepted the award.
"If my mother was here tonight, she would not only be honored and thrilled to be holding her first Grammy," Melissa Rivers said. "She would most likely have it copied and on the air on QVC by 11."
It was recently reported that Melissa Rivers filed a malpractice lawsuit in Manhattan State Supreme Court. According to the suit, her mother was sedated in a Manhattan clinic after her doctors performed unauthorized medical procedures, took selfies with the comedian, and they failed to act as her vital signs deteriorated. Rivers died on Sept. 4 after she stopped breathing at Yorkville Endoscopy on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
"What ultimately guided me was my unwavering belief that no family should ever have to go through what my mother, Cooper and I have been through," Melissa Rivers said, referring to her son. "The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible."
