GRAMMYs

Alicia Keys

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Alicia Keys To Host The 2019 GRAMMY Awards

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The 15-time GRAMMY singer-songwriter will host the 61st annual GRAMMY Awards, airing on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS.
Rachel Brodsky
GRAMMYs
Jan 15, 2019 - 6:33 am

Pop/R&B legend and 15-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys has been announced as the host of the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards, airing on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS. This will be the first time Keys has been the master of ceremonies for Music's Biggest Night.

"I know what it feels like to be on that stage, and I’m going to bring that vibe and energy," said Keys in a statement. "I'm so excited to be the master of ceremonies on the biggest night in music and celebrate the creativity, power and, magic. I'm especially excited for all the incredible women nominated this year! It's going up on February 10!"

Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow echoed her sentiments, commenting, "A dynamic artist with the rare combination of groundbreaking talent and passion for her craft, Alicia Keys is the perfect choice as host for our show. Throughout her exciting career, I have watched her become a powerful force within the music industry and beyond. As an artist who speaks to the power of music for good, a role model, and a spokesperson for change, we are thrilled to have her on board for what's sure to be an unforgettable GRAMMY Awards."

"Alicia is one of those rare artists who meld true musical genius with heartfelt emotional lyrics to create a unique approach to everything she does. We have no doubt that she'll bring all of that as she guides millions of GRAMMY viewers through what we believe will be a very special show in February," said longtime GRAMMY Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich.

In addition to her 15 GRAMMY wins, Keys is an accomplished actress, a New York Times best-selling author, a film, television and Broadway producer, an entrepreneur, and a remarkable force in the world of activism. Since the release of her monumental 2001 debut album, Songs In A Minor, Keys has sold more than 30 million records and built an unparalleled repertoire of hits and accomplishments.

Check out the full list of 2019 GRAMMY nominees, and watch the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.ET / 5 p.m. PT. on CBS.

2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominations List

Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michelle Obama & Alicia Keys at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys, Michelle Obama & J. Lo at the 2019 GRAMMYs

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, J. Lo & Jada Pinkett Smith Open The 2019 GRAMMYs

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At the 61st GRAMMY Awards, host Alicia Keys kicked off the show with an inspiring moment celebrating diversity, inclusion and creativity
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 12, 2020 - 12:32 pm

For the latest episode of GRAMMY Rewind, we revisit the powerful moment when five amazing women opened the 2019 GRAMMYs with a message of hope and strength—and stunning looks, of course.

Host Alicia Keys shared the spotlight with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Jada Pinkett Smith, whose moving speeches celebrating inclusion, diversity and creativity had the audience on their feet before the music even started.

"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," Gaga stated.

Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga & More Open 2019 GRAMMYs

Read: Alicia Keys Pens Touching Poem To Her Son

"Back in the Bronx, music gave me a reason to dance," J. Lo continued. "It kept me moving from the block to the big stages and t even bigger screens. It reminds me where I came from, but also reminds me of all the places I can go."

"We express our pain, power and progress through music whether we're creating it or just appreciating it. But here's what I know; every voice we hear deserves to be honored and respected," Pinkett Smith affirmed.

Watch Helen Reddy Win Best Female Pop Vocal Performance In 1973 | GRAMMY Rewind

Understandably, the audience was feeling the uplifting energy and inspiring words of the women on stage. When Obama began to speak, she initially couldn't get more than four words out over the deafening cheers of encouragement.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side [of Chicago], to the 'Run The World' songs that fueled me through the last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," she said.

"Who runs the world?" Keys asked, eliciting more cheers.

That evening, Gaga took home three GRAMMY wins, two of which were for her A Star Is Born smash hit, "Shallow."

This past year, at the 2020 GRAMMYs, the Mother Monster earned two more golden gramophones, including for the film's soundtrack. Obama earned her first-ever win, for Best Spoken Word Album for her memoir, "Becoming." Keys also returned as to host, bringing more of her positive energy and golden-voiced wisdom to the stage.

Last week, Gaga, the Obamas, Keys, Beyoncé and others delivered timely, inspiring words during YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 virtual commencement ceremony.

Grammys Newsletter

GRAMMY Rewind: See Beyoncé Accept The GRAMMY For 'Dangerously In Love' In 2004

Michelle Obama

Alicia Keys and Michelle Obama

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama Steals The Show At The GRAMMYs

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Find out what the first lady said to inspire and delight the crowd on Music's Biggest Night
Bonnie Stiernberg
GRAMMYs
Feb 10, 2019 - 5:45 pm

The GRAMMYs are always full of surprises, but the crowd at the Staples Center was particularly taken aback when none other than Michelle Obama took the stage tonight.

The former First Lady joined Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith and host Alicia Keys to discuss the power of music.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the 'Who Run the World' songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," Obama said after a long ovation. "Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in."

2019 GRAMMYs Awards: Complete Nominees And Winners List

61st GRAMMYs Gifting Suite-1128117283.jpg

Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for NARAS

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What’s Inside the 61st GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge?

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From luxurious skincare products to a virtual-reality trip to Kyoto, here's a sneak peek at the high-end GRAMMY gifts performers and presenters will receive this year
Tamara Palmer
GRAMMYs
Feb 8, 2019 - 1:15 pm

Performing artists and presenters of the 61st GRAMMY Awards have the option of taking a stroll through the GRAMMYS Gifting Lounge to receive some fabulous (and fabulously free) items during rehearsal days.

"We're thrilled to be a very small part of a very big show,” said Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets, which has produced the GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge for the past 20 years. "It’s something that the artists now, over the years, have grown accustomed to as a perk they are very well aware that they get for coming on the show, which is very cute."

Fary noted that Distinctive Assets' GRAMMYs Gifting Lounges have won over some big names.

"In the past people like Mary J. Blige have shown up and said, 'Where’s the gift lounge?' And even when artists don't have the time or interest to come through the lounge, like Adele, the last time she was in LA and on the show she asked for some of the kids’ stuff. We had Hasbro Games here, so she asked that the kid stuff be brought to her dressing room so her son could play with them.

“We have artists like Ricky Martin and Faith Hill, who don't do gift lounges typically but they’ll do ours because they know that we are here as a true artform of the GRAMMYS and we respect them," he revealed. "They know if we say we aren't doing photos then we won’t do photos, that we have great stuff, that we respect their time and get them in and out quickly. So it’s just great! These are my favorite three days of the year, GRAMMYS rehearsal days, and we've got amazing thank-you gifts for them. There’s something for everyone."

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ReFa Massager
Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

The Recording Academy took an exclusive spin through the Gifting Lounge when it opened on Thursday afternoon and got a peek at some of those perks that stars can take home. This year, there are a number of vendors focused on beauty and wellness, including ReFa's Japanese microcurrent beauty rollers and collagen-enhanced drink mixers, Source Naturals' vitamins and herbal supplements, Neoteny’s age-fighting kits (including a mask called Resting Bitch Face), It’s a 10's pro hair care tools and entertainment industry’s makeup that breathes and heals skin as it conceals, pitched as a smart choice for the entertainment industry's heavy makeup needs

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Oxygenetix
Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

Guests are invited to experience ishiki, a Japanese sense of consciousness and well-being, via a virtual reality trip to Kyoto; stars will be gifted a pair of virtual reality glasses to take more transportive trips at home or while on the road.

23 and Me will allow stars to dig deeper into their ancestry, teasing that they never know what they might discover. Truth Initiative packed backpacks full of Xbox games, hats, sunglasses and fanny packs from their forthcoming retail collection to say "don't get played" when it comes to vaping and smoking.

Dr. Tabatha Carr flew from Oklahoma to California to showcase her gluten-free, dairy-free and naturally sweetened Good Girl Chocolate at the GRAMMYs Gifting Lounge. After showing us before and after pictures of her 100-pound weight loss, she offered us a taste of a lush vegan dark chocolate-encased agave and cashew butter filled caramel that could easily become a happy habit.

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Ishiki
Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

Grossé, a costume jewelry designer that designed collections for Dior for over 50 years, hopes to drip stars in convincing baubles, while Millianna is introducing "shoelery," chains meant to be draped around boots or stilettos. PRSVR, a Chicago lifestyle brand that recently opened a by-appointment showroom just blocks away, is hoping to gift Cardi B with a pair of fur sleeves—vegan or fox, her choice.

"We've been fortunate to really use Instagram to connect with celebrities,” said PRSVR's Margaret Williamson. "So our client list includes Tank, Diddy, Ciara, Teyana Taylor, Meek Mill, Fabolous and Nicki Minaj."

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Good Girl Chocolate
Photo credit: Tamara Palmer

Alpha Priority, a worldwide meet and greet airport concierge service, was looking forward to catching up with the stars planning on coming through the Gifting Lounge, many of whom a rep said are already clients. They’ll be gifted with a free meet and greet that will be arrange at their convenience.

As the longtime GRAMMYS Gifting Lounge producer, Lash Fary certainly isn't one to get star-struck, but there is one particular luminary who he hopes to see in there this year.

"Dolly Parton,” he said, name-checking the MusiCares Person of the Year without hesitation. "Just because she’s so nice! Dolly is one of my favorite people. I’ve met her at a few award shows so I love her and I’m hoping that we get to see her. There’s not a lovelier person on the planet than Dolly; she just makes you feel good about yourself."

Watch the 61st GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS.

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Kelsea Ballerini

Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

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Kelsea Ballerini, Leon Bridges, Luke Combs, BTS & More To Present At The 2019 GRAMMYs

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Additional 2019 GRAMMYs presenters include Charlie Wilson, Alessia Cara, Julian Edelman, Eve, John Mayer, Bob Newhart, Smokey Robinson, South Korean pop sensation BTS and more
Rachel Brodsky
GRAMMYs
Feb 7, 2019 - 6:35 am

An eclectic all-star lineup of artists, musicians, actors and comedians will take the stage as presenters at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

This year's presenters include current GRAMMY nominees Kelsea Ballerini, Leon Bridges, Luke Combs and Charlie Wilson; GRAMMY winners Alessia Cara, Julian Edelman, Eve, John Mayer, Bob Newhart, Smokey Robinson, Swizz Beatz and Meghan Trainor; recording artist Kane Brown, South Korean pop sensation BTS, past GRAMMY nominee Cedric The Entertainer, actress Nina Dobrev, actress Anna Kendrick, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and actor Wilmer Valderrama.

This is all in addition to the 61st GRAMMY Awards performers, featuring current nominees Chloe x Halle, GRAMMY winner Lady Gaga, GRAMMY winner Mark Ronson and GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott. Current nominee Dua Lipa will also perform with GRAMMY winner St. Vincent. And in what is sure to be a GRAMMY Moment to remember, GRAMMY winners Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, and past GRAMMY nominee Andra Day will honor the legendary Aretha Franklin.

They all join previously announced performers J Balvin, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, Dan + Shay, H.E.R., Little Big Town, Post Malone, Ricky Martin, Shawn Mendes, Janelle Monáe, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Diana Ross, Arturo Sandoval, and Young Thug.

Live from STAPLES Center, and hosted by Alicia Keys, the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

2019 GRAMMYs Viewer's Guide: Where To Watch Music's Biggest Night