The 2019 Grammy Awards started off with a bang Sunday night.

Alicia Keys began her opening monologue by bringing out an iconic cast of women, including former first lady Michelle Obama. Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez joined as well to share what music has done for them over the years.

“They said I was weird. That my look, my choices, my sound, that it wouldn’t work. But music told me not to listen to them,” Lady Gaga said to the cheering crowd.

Lopez added that music gave her “a reason to dance” and brought her the success she has today.

“It reminds me of where I come from but it also reminds me of all the places I can go,” she continued. “Music has always been the place we can all feel truly free.”

Pinkett Smith reminded the crowd that we “express our pain, power and progress through music.”

Obama barely got a word in before the audience erupted in applause. The former first lady paused before dropping some wisdom on the crowd.