Here's what the Grammys looked like 30 years ago

Grammys red carpet 1990

In 1990, the Grammys' red carpet was a far more casual affair than it is today, but stars including Gloria Estefan and Paula Abdul brought some sparkle.
John Stamos and Paula Abdul, and Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear were among the then-couples who arrived hand-in-hand.
Patrick Swayze and Kenny G looked sharp in tuxes, while Eurythmics' Dave Stewart and k.d. lang brought some flair with their purple suits.
Aside from the fashion, 1990 was a stand-out year.
Paul McCartney won the Lifetime Achievement Award; Bonnie Raitt won four times; Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles performed; and Milli Vanilli were stripped of their award.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Grammy Awards, which debuted in 1959, is otherwise known as the biggest night in music.

In 1990, at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, some of the world's most recognizable music legends, from Paul McCartney to Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, hit the stage.

But some of the best moments happened on the red carpet, where the looks were decidedly more casual than we can expect to see this year. Paula Abdul, who brought some sparkle with a short, gold dress, walked hand-in-hand with then-boyfriend John Stamos, while Heather Locklear arrived with Tommy Lee.

We took a trip down memory lane to remember the most acclaimed musicians of 1990 — and the clothes they wore. Here's what the Grammys was like 30 years ago.

On the red carpet, Gloria Estefan dazzled in a short gold dress, drop earrings, and a burgundy lip.

She made her Grammys stage debut that year with a performance of "Don't Wanna Lose You." Three years later, she won her first Grammy for best tropical Latin album.

Singer Harolyn Blackwell's timeless pink gown was one of the few floor-length dresses on the red carpet that year.

The soprano performed "Summertime" at the show.

Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville also brought some glamour to the ceremony.

They won the award for best pop performance by a duo or group for their song "Don't Know Much."

Linda Ronstadt was also honored after her song, "Cry Like A Rainstorm - Howl Like The Wind,"won for best-engineered recording.

John Stamos and Paula Abdul's brief relationship was first documented when they arrived at the award show.

The pair didn't last long, splitting in 1991.

Though Paula Abdul's relationship with Stamos may now be a distant memory, her glittering golden ensemble is unforgettable.

The artist was nominated at the award show for best female pop vocal performance for her single "Straight Up."

The biggest winner of the night, Bonnie Raitt, also brought some sparkle to the red carpet with a sequined jacket.

Raitt went home with the awards for album of the year, best female pop vocal performance, and best female rock vocal performance for her album "Nick of Time." The artist also won the award for best traditional blues recording for her song "I'm In The Mood" featuring John Lee Hooker.

Bette Midler opted for a tailored, two-piece violet suit jacket and skirt.

She won the Grammy for record of the year for her song "Wind Beneath My Wings," which appeared in the soundtrack for the 1988 film "Beaches."

During her acceptance speech, Midler excitedly proclaimed, "Hey Bonnie Raitt, I got one too!"

Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground arrived rocking yellow-tinted aviator sunglasses and a black zip-up jacket.

That same year, the band reunited for the first time to perform at a Fondation Cartier benefit show in France.

Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil and his wife, model Sharise Ruddell, looked every inch rock-and-roll royalty with their all-black ensembles and big hair.

Two years later, he parted ways with the band, and in 1993, he and Ruddell separated, too.

As one of Hollywood's hottest couples in the early '90s, Tommy Lee and Heather Locklear turned heads in matching leather jackets.

The pair would later divorce in 1993 after seven years of marriage.

Paul McCartney and Ella Fitzgerald clashed prints after he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

He actually received this award for a second time in 2014.

Kris Kristofferson struck a casual pose on the red carpet.

The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart stood out in a velvet three-piece suit, white shirt, and shades.

k.d. lang also rocked a purple suit as she posed with her award.

She won best female county vocal performance for "Absolute Torch and Twang."

Patrick Swayze, whose movie "Ghost" came out that year, looked dapper in a tuxedo and white bow tie.

Donny Osmond also looked sleek in a suit.

Kenny G opted for the traditional look, as well.

He was nominated for best pop instrumental performance that year.

Singer Natalie Cole also wore a sleek black suit but added metallic accessories.

Cole, who passed away in 2015, was nominated for 21 Grammy Awards throughout her career, winning nine.

In 1990, she was nominated for two but left empty handed.

Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff took a more casual approach to the red carpet.

The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards was all about hip-hop and rap.

Will Smith, then referred to The Fresh Prince, and DJ Jazzy Jeff performed "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson," during which Smith dedicated the group's performance "to all the rappers last year that stood with us and helped us to earn the right to be on this stage tonight."

The flyer for the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards highlighted which artists were scheduled to appear on "music's biggest night."

Among those slated to appear were Paula Abdul, Ray Charles, Will Smith — then known as The Fresh Prince — and Paul McCartney.

Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Janet Jackson, and Michael Jackson were also nominated for awards but did not attend the event.

After the stars made their entrances on the red carpet, comedian and actor Gary Shandling hosted the show.

He is best known for his work in "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and "The Larry Sanders Show."

Ray Charles hit the stage with a stellar performance of "Eleanor Rigby."

Ray Charles was nominated for 37 Grammy awards throughout his career and won 17. In 1987, he was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy.

Charles is famously quoted as saying, "I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great."

Stevie Wonder performed the Beatles hit "We Can Work It Out" in a statement jacket.

Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy awards in his career.

k.d. lang also performed her song "Luck In My Eyes."

This performance predated a major turning point for k.d. lang — the artist's biggest hits, "Constant Craving" and "Miss Chatelaine," wouldn't be released until 1992.

New Kids On The Block presented the first-ever rap music award to Young MC for "Bust A Move."

The group was also nominated for best music film for their long-form music video "Hangin' Tough," but lost to Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814."

While accepting his award for best rap performance, Young MC was unexpectedly joined by Flavor Flav onstage.

"I'd like to thank Flavor Flav for breaking up the monotony of my acceptance speech," Young MC said.

Don Henley won the Grammy for best rock performance by a male.

Henley has won a total of eight Grammy awards throughout his career.

The Indigo Girls won for best contemporary folk recording for their self-titled album.

This marked the only time the Indigo Girls have won a Grammy, although they have been nominated seven times.

Singer Bruce Hornsby and country music group Nitty Gritty Dirt Band won the Grammy for best bluegrass recording.

Their song "The Valley Road" was a re-recording of Hornsby's original version that he performed with The Range.

After receiving backlash for making the track more contemporary, Hornsby said during an interview with CMT Crossroads, "I won the bluegrass Grammy. It pissed off all the purists. And I understand their feeling about this. Here's this pop guy, and he's making this quasi-bluegrass. I totally understood the purists' protest."

Michael Bolton won for best male pop performance for his emotional anthem "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You."

This was the first Grammy win for Bolton. He also performed "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" that night alongside jazz legend Kenny G.

The track was originally written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley, who were both honored at the award show for song of the year.

Larry Henley passed away in 2014 at the age of 77. Midler performed the song in honor of Henley following the annual in memoriam montage at the 86th Academy Awards.

But perhaps the most memorable moment of the 32nd Grammy Awards came months later — when the award for best new artist was revoked.

The award was given to Milli Vanilli. However, the award was later rescinded after the pop duo admitted they had lip-synched on their albums or in concert. Milli Vanilli members Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus claimed that they wanted to give the award to the artists who actually performed on their albums — Brad Howell, Johnny Davis, and Charles Shaw. However, the award was never given to anyone else and was simply revoked on November 20, 1990.

According to the New York Times, Michael Greene, the president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which awards the Grammy Awards, said that the academy trustees were "livid about the situation."