Ryan Lewis and Queen Latifah Watch Their Loved Ones Get Married During the Grammys

It was a wedding heard (and watched!) around the world.

Following Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s performance of their hit, “Same Love,” 33 couples were married by Queen Latifah and then celebrated their first moments of marriage to Madonna‘s performance of “Open Your Heart.”

The ceremony – which included lesbian, gay and straight couples of all races and ages – was especially meaningful to Lewis, who, along with Macklemore, took home Grammys for best new artist and best rap album.

“To be up here and, more importantly, celebrate ‘Same Love’ and have the marriages on stage – my sister getting married tonight – was phenomenal,” he told reporters backstage. “Amazing. I still have chills now. I’m excited to watch it back.”

Macklemore shared his sentiments and was hopeful the powerful performance will break down societal barriers surrounding marriage equality.

“It is a message of tolerance, compassion, to end homophobia, bigotry, fear, hatred that has been an institution here in America and make one step closer to the change in terms of following your heart [and] loving who you want to love,” he says.

“I thank the Grammys for giving us the platform because 10 years ago I don’t think a song like ‘Same Love’ would have been embraced by any mainstream media … it is a testament to where we are headed in this country.”

Queen Latifah: The Moment ‘So Special’

Although she is “used to making history on TV,” Queen Latifah, who was certified to be an officiant the morning of the Grammys, says the opportunity to be a part of the big moment held a special meaning for her as she witnessed two of her female friends wed.

“I’m really happy for them. I’m happy for all couples tonight,” she said. “Everybody should be able to fall in love with someone and make a life together and be protected under law so I am all for that.”

She added, “It is great to be able to be a part of something so special. To be able to do something special for people – to be able to change someone’s life, which is what I love to do every day – that is what I was able to be a part of tonight. I took it very seriously.”

Despite her initial shock after being asked to lead the ceremony, Queen Latifah took time to “digest” the offer and realized she couldn’t miss out on the pivotal moment. “For two of my friends to be a part of it, it really hit home. I just feel so special,” she said. “I didn’t enter into it lightly. I thought about it because this is their night, this is not about TV and ratings, this is about someone’s commitment to each other for life so I don’t need to follow the hype. This is something real for me.”

But could Queen Latifah have found her calling? “It could be my new gig,” she said kiddingly.

For producer Lewis, the ceremony had a personal touch. His sister Laura and her new husband Alex were among the 33 couples who tied the knot, according to an Instagram Lewis posted after the performance.

“Here’s to them!” Lewis wrote in the caption. “They’re the best!!!!!”

• Reporting by PATRICK GOMEZ