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GRAMMYs

Lil Nas X and BTS

Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

News
Lil Nas X Performs "Old Town Road" | 2020 GRAMMYs lil-nas-x-bts-billy-ray-cyrus-enter-old-town-road-multiverse-2020-grammys

Lil Nas X, BTS & Billy Ray Cyrus Enter The "Old Town Road" Multiverse At The 2020 GRAMMYs

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Lil Nas X also surprised the audience with massive fireworks and Queens emcee “Big” Nas, who popped up on stage to spit a verse on Lil Nas’ Cardi B-assisted "Rodeo"
J'na Jefferson
GRAMMYs
Jan 26, 2020 - 7:28 pm

The Atlanta native wore an iridescent cowboy suit while singing his Billboard record-breaking song, "Old Town Road." In a “who’s who” carousel of verses, the 20-year-old was accompanied by Billy Ray Cyrus, BTS, Mason Ramsey and Diplo. The original song saw its chart reign bolstered by various remixes featuring some of the aforementioned artists. 

Lil Nas X also surprised the audience with massive fireworks and Queens emcee "Big" Nas, who popped up on stage to spit a verse on Lil Nas' Cardi B-assisted "Rodeo." This segment of the performance featured bone-breaking street dancers, which is a style often implemented by Southern-bred performers.

Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus Win Best Music Video For "Old Town Road" | 2020 GRAMMYS

Lil Nas X is already a two-time winner tonight. He was awarded Best Music Video and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)." He could find himself with a win in three of the Big Four categories, including Album of the Year for his EP, 7.

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Lil Nas X performs at the 2020 GRAMMYs

Lil Nas X performs at the 2020 GRAMMYs

Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

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Behind The Scenes Of Lil Nas X's 2020 GRAMMY Stage go-behind-scenes-lil-nas-xs-2020-grammy-performance-stage-designer-jed-skrzypczak

Go Behind The Scenes Of Lil Nas X's 2020 GRAMMY Performance With Stage Designer Jed Skrzypczak

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The New York-based stage designer reveals how the set for Lil Nas X's groundbreaking performance was created
Onaje McDowelle
GRAMMYs
Jan 30, 2020 - 11:18 am

At the 62nd GRAMMY Awards last week (Sunday, Jan. 26), Lil Nas X's performance began with a close-up shot of the artist on a living room couch. The 20-year-old Atlanta native was dressed from head to toe in a metallic two-piece and an equally sparkly black cowboy hat to match. Above him on the room's walls sat framed 2019 issues of Billboard, Variety and Time, respectively, each with Lil Nas X on their covers. The classic animated series "Chowder" and the inspiration behind the hook of the singer's 2019 hit, "Panini," played inaudibly on a TV set behind the artist. To his left was a chair with a purple and gold #24 jersey draped over it, in memory of late NBA hero Kobe Bryant who died earlier that day. As he strummed his guitar and belted out the opening chorus of his GRAMMY-winning single "Old Town Road," the stage began to revolve.

Jed Skrzypczak is a visual artist and stage designer who has worked alongside artists like A$AP Rocky, Charli XCX and FENTY, among others, leading creative direction on overall brand identity, live show design, experiential and interior design. After being recruited to produce a futuristic "Panini" set for Lil Nas X's appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" last September, Skrzypczak was asked to join the artist once again for his star-studded performance on Music's Biggest Night. 

As the stage turned and Lil Nas X entered each new room along its circumference, the set revealed fresh dystopias. K-pop supergroup BTS gathered in a futuristic cityscape while Diplo and viral sensation Mason Ramsey joined Lil Nas X in a barn decked out with glittery-pink walls, cattle skulls and "dead or alive" Diplo posters.

"I presented a few performance ideas to Lil Nas, and he liked the diorama room concept, which was the most theatrical and unique," Skrzypczak tells The Recording Academy. "The challenge was creating multiple distinct spaces onstage, while taking both live and broadcast audiences on a journey through them. We then came up with the idea of using a rotating set, which ended up working perfectly." 

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"Lil Nas is a very online persona," Skrzypczak explained about the vision behind the show's hidden motifs. "He's all about memes and with his young fans that's part of their lives. So from the beginning when we started working on the performance, we were kind of thinking about how we can sort of translate that into stage performance. That's why throughout the show, there are lots of small bits like this."

Read: Lil Nas X, BTS & Billy Ray Cyrus Enter The "Old Town Road" Multiverse At The 2020 GRAMMYs

Skrzypczak says that working with Lil Nas X to bring the story of his meteoric rise to life was a treat within itself, and that ideas for creating each room on the revolving stage came about organically between the two. The idea of having a gigantic green skull wearing a cowboy hat in one room, for example, came from Lil Nas X's desire to have a moment in the show that was cool and artistic while also true to rap music. The Kobe Bryant jersey sitting just to the left of Lil Nas X in the show's opening shot? That was a last-minute addition that Skrzypczak and Lil Nas X agreed to put onstage as a small gesture paying homage to the NBA star.

"Working with Lil Nas was a really amazing experience because he is really hands-on and he has so many great ideas," Skrzypczak said. "Even though he is so young, he is a really clever guy and he knows what he wants… He also wants to make sure that every artist gets their own part and is involved and [gets] credit for it. He created a really amazing atmosphere, so it was a pleasure to work with him and everybody involved."

Lil Nas X performs at 2020 GRAMMYs

In his approach to the show, Skrzypczak was heavy on the details. The team built a special mini tractor for Ramsey so that he could have his own moment within the performance. The stage's revolutions lead to appearances by Billy Ray Cyrus and legendary rapper Nas, who joined Lil Nas X for "Rodeo," concluding the performance with surprise fireworks. 

Even if audience members or viewers at home may not notice, Skrzypczak says that creating layered meaning behind what you see onstage is key to helping create the stories that artists want to tell through their performances. 

"For me, that's one of the most important parts for the artist and their fans because that's where they get to experience it in person," he said. "I always try to make sure their experience exceeds their expectations and also shows how amazing the artist is. That's when the artist gives the most to their fans."

Lil Nas X and BTS perform at 2020 GRAMMYs

There are rarely moving stages that can also cater to as many artists at once the way that Skrzypczak's dynamic set did.

Read: 10 Unforgettable Moments From The 2020 GRAMMY Awards

"This project [was] the most challenging and amazing at the same time," he said, "the amount of people involved with it and also how different the idea originally was. When we were first presenting the idea to the GRAMMYs, I thought they would say no because of the intricate design and multiple moving elements." 

Diplo, Lil Nas X and Mason Ramsey perform 2020 GRAMMYs

Making an already-complex stage design fit his and Lil Nas X's standards as a live broadcast was not an easy task, but the risk paid off in the end. 

"It's always important to know how the show and all of its elements are going to translate on camera," Skrzypczak explained. "If it's going to be visible, if it's going to be nicely shot, what kind of background there is—that was one of the big challenges because the set had so many different elements, so many different artists at the same time, and it was all revolving as well. My thinking the whole time was, 'Is this going to translate well for the cameras?'"

2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List

GRAMMYs

Lil Nas X

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2020 GRAMMYs: Lil Nas X, BTS & More To Perform lil-nas-x-bts-billy-ray-cyrus-diplo-more-performance-2020-grammys

Lil Nas X, BTS, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo & More To Perform At The 2020 GRAMMYs

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The group will come together for an "Old Town Road All-Stars" performance on Music's Biggest Night
GRAMMYs
Jan 23, 2020 - 6:30 am

In keeping with the tradition of presenting signature "GRAMMY Moments," the Recording Academy has announced two special segments to take place on the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. The first, "Old Town Road All-Stars," will feature current nominees Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X joined by BTS, Diplo, Mason Ramsey, and other surprise guests.

Over the past year, "Old Town Road" has been the subject of numerous mixes and mashups, which inspired bringing together a number of acts who have performed it, making it a one-of-a-kind performance. 

Additionally, in a tribute to GRAMMY executive producer Ken Ehrlich, and to acknowledge the importance of music education in schools to the Recording Academy, GRAMMY Museum and Ehrlich, artists associated with Ehrlich's 40-year career will gather to perform "I Sing The Body Electric" from the film Fame. The performance will feature current nominees Camila Cabello and Gary Clark Jr., joined by Debbie Allen, Joshua Bell, Common, Misty Copeland, Lang Lang, Cyndi Lauper, Ben Platt and the War And Treaty.

"To bring high-caliber artists like Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Common, Misty Copeland, Debbie Allen, Ben Platt, Gary Clark Jr., Joshua Bell and Lang Lang together on one stage fulfills a dream of mine," said Ehrlich, who is completing his 40th and final GRAMMY Awards as producer. "To be able to do this on the GRAMMY stage makes it unforgettable for me." 

Live from STAPLES Center, and hosted by Alicia Keys, the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. 

Previously announced artists and performers who will take the stage at this year's GRAMMYs include Aerosmith, who are also performing live at the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year event in their honor, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, Rosalía, H.E.R., Demi Lovato, Bonnie Raitt, Run-D.M.C., Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Tyler, The Creator and Charlie Wilson. Additionally, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, YG and Kirk Franklin will perform an all-star tribute to the late, GRAMMY-nominated Nipsey Hussle.

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Nikita Dragun, Tess Holliday, Kéla Walker, Shaun Ross and Ty Hunter

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2020 GRAMMYs Red Carpet: Go 'Behind The Seams' 2020-grammys-red-carpet-go-behind-seams-k%C3%A9la-walker-nikita-dragun-tess-holliday-shaun

2020 GRAMMYs Red Carpet: Go 'Behind The Seams' With Kéla Walker, Nikita Dragun, Tess Holliday, Shaun Ross And Ty Hunter

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Nikita Dragun, Tess Holliday, Shaun Ross and Ty Hunter join GRAMMY.com correspondent Kéla Walker to break down the good and the greatest style moments of this year’s GRAMMY Awards
GRAMMYs
Jan 29, 2020 - 4:09 pm

There's no shortage of dazzle at Music's Biggest Night — from high-energy performances to heartfelt acceptance speeches and, of course, some of the trendiest fashion on the 62 GRAMMY Awards red carpet.

2020 GRAMMYs Style Recap | Behind The Seams

This year, the Recording Academy sat down with a panel of bona fide sartorial experts—Nikita Dragun, Tess Holliday, Shaun Ross and Ty Hunter—who weighed in with their opinions on who brought the heat to the red carpet this year. Join them and GRAMMY.com correspondent Kéla Walker to break down the greatest style moments of this year’s GRAMMY Awards.

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Lil Nas X

Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP

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2020 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony In Photos lil-nas-x-imogen-heap-2020-grammys-premiere-ceremony-photos

Lil Nas X To Imogen Heap: 2020 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony In Photos

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Awarding GRAMMYs in more than 70 categories with unforgettable performances, see the highlights from the 62nd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony
GRAMMYs
Jan 26, 2020 - 1:30 pm

Music’s Biggest Night kicks off each year with the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, where more than 70 GRAMMYs are awarded across music’s most esteemed genres, from classical to jazz, R&B, hip-hop, country and more, as well as outstanding creatives working behind the scenes.

Hosted by Imogen Heap, the 62nd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony also featured performances from the likes of Chick Corea & The Spanish Hearts Band, I’m With Her, Angélique Kidjo and Nicola Benedetti, among others. GRAMMY Awards were presented by PJ Morton, Nathalie Joachim, Jimmy Jam, Luis Fonzi and Esperanza Spalding.

Take a look back at all the performances, artists and presenters you may have missed in photos.

Esperanza Spalding
2020 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony | Photo Gallery

The 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, hosted by Alicia Keys, will be broadcast live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on CBS.

Track all the winners from Music’s Biggest Night here.

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.