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Ice-T to India.Arie: 2018 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony

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Between giving out awards in more than 70 categories and great performances, you don't want to miss what happened at the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 28, 2018 - 7:01 pm

Each year prior to the GRAMMY Awards telecast, the Premiere Ceremony honors GRAMMY winners in more than 70 categories, complete with a slate of unforgettable performances.

Body Count Perform "Black Hoodie"

During the 60th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, for example, you must see the hilarious Paul Shaffer present the GRAMMY for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album to Tony Bennett and his son Dae Bennett, Chris Stapleton add two more GRAMMYs to his collection, and Body Count's slammin' performance of "Black Hoodie."

We didn't want you to miss any of the action, so take a look at what happened during this year's prelude to Music's Biggest Night.

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Ice-T and Body Count at the 60th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony in 2018
2018 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony

Body Count, 2018

Body Count

Photo: Jeff Kravitz

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Body Count Perform "Black Hoodie" | 2018 GRAMMYs

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Ice-T & Co. blaze through their GRAMMY-nominated track
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 28, 2018 - 6:12 pm

If there's one way to powerfully encapsulate anger, metal music might just be one of the most effective outlets. Such is the case with band Body Count and their track "Black Hoodie."

Body Count Perform "Black Hoodie"

The group — fronted by legendary rapper Ice-T—  got political with the Best Metal Performance GRAMMY-nominated slugger, railing against the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012. The band didn't hold back their rage, tapping into the zeitgeist of what many are feeling in today's political climate.

Body Count brought the unapologetic song to the 60th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony with a performance that won't soon be forgotten. Take a look for yourself.

Catching Up On The GRAMMY Awards Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? Just Say "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Alessia Cara, Khalid, 2018

Photos: WireImage.com

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Portugal. The Man To Aida Cuevas: Backstage At The 2018 GRAMMYs

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Also see James Fauntleroy, Reba McIntire, Latroit, and more after they stepped off the GRAMMY stage
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 28, 2018 - 4:39 pm

What do artists do the moment they walk off the GRAMMY stage from presenting, accepting an award or performing? Now, you can find out.

Take a peak at Album Of The Year GRAMMY winner Bruno Mars, 60th GRAMMY Awards Host James Cordon, Cardi B minutes before her electrifying performance of "Finesse," and more!

Also see Best Pop Duo/Group Performance GRAMMY winners Portugal. The Man posing with their first career GRAMMY Award, Best Roots Gospel Album GRAMMY winner Reba McIntire right after she walked offstage, Best R&B Song GRAMMY winner James Fauntleroy, Best Remixed Recording GRAMMY winner Latroit, and many more, with these photos from backstage during the 60th GRAMMY Awards.

Bruno Mars, 2018
Backstage At The 60th GRAMMY Awards

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Luis Fonsi photographed in 2018

Luis Fonsi

Photo: Victor Chavez/WireImage.com

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"Despacito" To Taylor Swift: 15 Potential Records On The Line | 2018 GRAMMYs

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From Jay-Z and Bruno Mars to Lorde and Khalid, find out more about the potential history at stake at the 60th GRAMMY Awards
Paul Grein
GRAMMYs
Jan 25, 2018 - 6:00 am

GRAMMY history will be made on Jan. 28. Records will be set. Milestones will be reached. No one knows exactly which records will be set, but here are 15 that potentially could come to fruition.

Watch Spike Lee's Star-Studded 'NY Stories' Film

Which of these possibilities will become reality? Take your best guess and then be sure to watch the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28 to find out.

1. "Despacito": Record, Song Of The Year

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" (featuring Justin Bieber) is nominated for both Record and Song Of The Year. It is vying to become the first entry that is primarily in a foreign language to win in either category since Domenico Modugno's "Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu (Volare)" in 1958. "Despacito" is mostly in Spanish. "Volare" was in Italian.

2. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar: Record Of The Year

Jay-Z's "The Story of O.J." and Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE." are nominated for Record Of The Year. If either wins, it would become the first hip-hop recording to win in that category.

3. Bruno Mars: Record Of The Year

Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" is nominated for Record Of The Year. Mars won in this category two years ago as featured artist on Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" Should Mars win again this year, he'll become the third artist to win both as a solo artist and as a billed part of a collaboration or duo/group. Norah Jones won on her own for "Don't Know Why" (2002) and with Ray Charles for "Here We Go Again" (2004). Paul Simon won on his own for "Graceland" (1987) and twice as half of Simon & Garfunkel.

4. Lorde: Album Of The Year

Lorde's Melodrama is nominated for Album Of The Year. Should Lorde win, this will be the first time in GRAMMY history that female solo artists have won in this category (as lead artists) three years in a row. Adele won the award last year for 25. Taylor Swift won two years ago for 1989.

5. "That's What I Like": Song Of The Year

Mars' "That's What I Like," with eight credited songwriters, is nominated for Song Of The Year. So are "Despacito," with six credited songwriters, and "Issues," with five. Should any of these songs win, it would set a new record as the Song Of The Year winner with the most co-writers. The current record, shared by seven songs, is four co-writers. (Interesting side note: All seven of those songs have come since 2000.)

6. Alessia Cara: Best New Artist

Alessia Cara is nominated for Best New Artist. Should she win, she'll become the first artist who was born in Canada to win in this category.

Alessia Cara To Jay-Z: 60 60th GRAMMY Nominee Facts

7. Khalid: Best New Artist

Khalid is nominated for Best New Artist. The R&B singer/songwriter is just 19. (He'll turn 20 on Feb. 11, two weeks after GRAMMY night.) Should he win, he'll become the first teenager to win in this category since Christina Aguilera, who was 19 when she took the 1999 award. (One other teenager has taken the prize. LeAnn Rimes was just 14 when she took the 1996 award.)

8. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

The Chainsmokers and Coldplay are nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Something Just Like This." The smash is vying to become the first collaboration by two groups or duos to win a GRAMMY in the Pop Field since "Feel Good Inc." by the English virtual band Gorillaz and the American hip-hop trio De La Soul. That hit took the 2005 GRAMMY for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

9. Body Count: Best Metal Performance

Body Count's "Black Hoodie" is nominated for Best Metal Performance. This would be the second career GRAMMY for the group's co-founder, Ice-T. He was featured on Quincy Jones' "Back On The Block," the 1990 winner for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group. It almost goes without saying that Ice-T would be the first musician to win in both of these disparate categories.

10. Bruno Mars: Best R&B Album

Mars' 24K Magic is nominated for Best R&B Album. Mars is vying to become the first artist who isn't African-American to win in this category, which was introduced in 1994.

11. Jay-Z: Best Rap Album

Jay-Z's 4:44 is nominated for Best Rap Album. Jay-Z first won in this category 19 years ago for Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life. Should he win this year, he'll set a new record for the longest span of wins in this category. Eminem currently holds that distinction, with a 15-year span of wins (1999–2014).

12. Rapsody: Best Rap Album

Rapsody's Laila's Wisdom is nominated for Best Rap Album. Should it win, Rapsody would become the first female solo artist to win in this category, which was introduced in 1995. (One group that included a woman has won in this category. The Fugees, which featured Lauryn Hill, won the 1996 award for The Score.)

13. Taylor Swift: Best Country Song

Swift's song "Better Man" is nominated for Best Country Song. Should it win, Swift will become the first woman to win three times in this category. She previously won for co-writing "White Horse" (2009) and for writing "Mean" (2011). One man — Josh Kear — has won three awards in this category.

14. Chris Stapleton: Best Country Album

Chris Stapleton's From A Room: Volume 1 is competing for Best Country Album. Should it win, he'll become the first male solo artist to win twice in this category since the category was re-introduced in 1994.

15. Sara Caswell: Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Violinist Sara Caswell is nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for her work on "Can't Remember Why," a track from Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge's album, Whispers On The Wind. Should it win, she'll become the first female instrumentalist to win in this category.

(Paul Grein is a veteran music journalist and historian whose work appears regularly at Yahoo.com and Hitsdailydouble.com.)

Catching Up On The GRAMMY Awards Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? Just Say "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Chris Stapleton backstage at the 60th GRAMMY Awards

Chris Stapleton

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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Bruno Mars, Chris Stapleton, Kendrick Lamar: 14 Milestones At The 60th GRAMMYs

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Mars joins rare company, Stapleton makes Best Country Album history, Cara claims a first for the Great White North, and more
Paul Grein
GRAMMYs
Jan 29, 2018 - 8:54 am

Now that you've read all the major storylines about Music's Biggest Night, find out what history was made in New York on Jan. 28. Here are 14 records that were set at the 60th GRAMMY Awards.

Watch: Bruno Mars Wins Album Of The Year

1. Bruno Mars' Sweeps Three Big Four Categories

Bruno Mars swept the awards for Record, Album and Song Of The Year. He's the first male artist to sweep these three awards in one year since Eric Clapton did it 25 years ago.

2. Mars Captures Record, Song Of The Year

Mars is the first artist to win Record and Song Of The Year in the same year with different songs since Carole King achieved the feat 46 years ago. Mars took Record Of The Year with "24K Magic" and Song Of The Year with "That's What I Like." King won Record Of The Year with "It's Too Late" and Song Of The Year with "You've Got A Friend."

3. "That's What I Like": 8 Songwriters Recognized

"That's What I Like," with eight credited songwriters, set a new record as the Song Of The Year winner with the most co-writers. The old record, shared by seven songs, was four co-writers.

4. Alessia Cara: Canada's Best New Artist

Brampton, Ontario, native Alessia Cara won Best New Artist. She's the first artist who was born in Canada to win in this category.

Watch: Alessia Cara Wins Best New Artist

5. Kendrick Lamar Sweeps The Rap Categories (Again)

Kendrick Lamar swept all four awards in the Rap Field. He also swept all four rap awards two years ago. He's the first artist to take home all of the rap awards more than once. Eminem swept the 2000 rap awards (when there were three). Kanye West swept the 2011 awards (when there were four).

Watch: Kendrick Lamar Wins Best Rap Album

6. Kraftwerk's First

Kraftwerk won Best Dance/Electronic Album for 3-D The Catalogue. This is Kraftwerk's first GRAMMY win, though the group received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2014.

7. The Weeknd Doubles Up On Best Urban Contemporary Album

The Weeknd's Starboy took Best Urban Contemporary Album. The Weeknd won in this category two years ago for Beauty Behind The Madness. He's the first artist to win twice in the category since it was added in 2012.

8. Little Big Town's Best Country Duo/Group Performance Triple Play

Little Big Town won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Better Man." It's the quartet's third win in this category, which is more than any other duo or group since the category was streamlined in 2011. The group won for "Pontoon" (2012) and "Girl Crush" (2015).

Little Big Town Perform "Better Man" 2018 GRAMMYs

9. Chris Stapleton Wins Second Best Country Album

Chris Stapleton's From A Room: Volume 1 won Best Country Album. He's the first male solo artist to win twice in this category since the category was re-introduced in 1994.

10. Shakira's Best Latin Pop Album Mark

Shakira took Best Latin Pop Album for El Dorado. The Colombian superstar is the first female artist to win twice in this category (which dates to 1983). She won 17 years ago for MTV Unplugged.

11. The Rolling Stones Roll With Blues Win

The Rolling Stones took Best Traditional Blues Album for Blue & Lonesome. The legendary band took the 1994 award for Best Rock Album for Voodoo Lounge. They are the first artists to win in both of these categories.

12. La La Land Soundtrack Doubles Up

La La Land won both Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. La La Land is the first film to win in both of these categories since Ray took both awards for 2005.

13. Greg Kurstin Joins Elite Producer Company

Greg Kurstin took Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for the second straight year. He's the first producer to win two years in a row in this category since Babyface won three years running from 1995-1997.

14. Kendrick Lamar Joins With Best Music Video Win

Lamar took Best Music Video for "Humble." He won in this category two years ago for "Bad Blood," a collaboration with Taylor Swift. Lamar is the first rapper to win twice in this category. (Johnny Cash, Peter Gabriel, Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson are also two-time winners in this category.)

(Paul Grein is a veteran music journalist and historian whose work appears regularly at Yahoo.com and Hitsdailydouble.com.)

Catching Up On The GRAMMY Awards Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? Just Say "Talk To GRAMMYs"