LL Cool J To Host 57th GRAMMY Awards

News

Two-time GRAMMY winner set to host Music's Biggest Night for the fourth consecutive year

GRAMMYs

Jan 21, 2015 - 2:28 pm

GRAMMY.com

Entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J is set to return as host of the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, marking his fourth consecutive year as MC. Over the years, the dynamic host has presided over 10 GRAMMY shows, tributes, and specials, and served as a producer for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" and the "A Very GRAMMY Christmas" holiday special.

"As both a GRAMMY-winning recording artist and an accomplished actor, LL Cool J's wide range of talent, dynamic personality, and charismatic energy make him the perfect choice to host the GRAMMY Awards," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "His unique expertise allows him to set the right tone for the show and connect with everyone — from his musical peers to fans at home. We are honored to have him back."

"I'm thrilled to again be part of Music's Biggest Night," said LL Cool J. "The performances and moments you see on the GRAMMY stage are nothing less than amazing throughout the years and this year's show is shaping up to be one you will never forget."

The lineup for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards currently includes previously announced performers AC/DC, Eric Church, Common, Ariana Grande, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Usher, and Pharrell Williams. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly.

The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.

Music's Biggest Night will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). For updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

News

View From The (GRAMMY) Pit

GRAMMYs

Feb 12, 2012 - 10:06 pm

By Chuck Crisafulli

There's got to be no finer feeling for an artist than being up on the GRAMMY stage as a presenter, performer or winner on Music's Biggest Night. But if you don't quite have the chops to be up on the stage, maybe the next best thing is to be inside the stage — that is, within the happy frenzy of the GRAMMY mosh pit. Tonight, about 200 or so lucky souls had arguably the best seat in the house (including me, though the trade-off is that moshers never sit) — it would be harder for an audience member to get any closer to the stars without security being notified.

Tonight, the pit crew was buzzing even before the show began as moshers also had an exceptional vantage point for watching VIPs take their seats. Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry seemed to create the biggest stir, though the appearance of Coldplay also brought hoots and hollers (and the question, "Where's Gwyneth?").

After Bruce Springsteen got the evening started with a blistering new tune "We Take Care Of Our Own," and Bruno Mars kicked things up a very suave notch with "Runaway Baby," the pit quickly got to the appropriate GRAMMY level of excitement. Chris Brown’s "Turn Up The Music/Beautiful People" medley and Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s "Don't You Wanna Stay" had the pit crew contentedly waving hands in the air and dancing in place, but things really broke loose during the first GRAMMY one-of-a-kind performance teaming Rihanna and Coldplay in a mini-set that ended with a blazing "Paradise."

"That's unbelievable," one mosher commented loudly as the show went to break, and the pit quickly seconded her. More one-of-kind moments kept that pit energy high — the reunion of the Beach Boys, who performed with Maroon 5 and Foster The People; Carrie Underwood’s duet with Tony Bennett; and perhaps the most anticipated performance of the night, Adele's return to the GRAMMY stage. All performers and winners had their fans in the pit, but everyone seemed to be united in rooting for Adele. When she won her second GRAMMY of the night and told the crowd, "This is ridiculous," the pit responded by shouting, "No it isn't!"

Another bonus of the evening for the pit people was a series of even closer interactions with artists. Host LL Cool J fist-bumped moshers whenever he had the chance, Sir Paul McCartney high-fived a lucky few, members of the Band Perry wanted to know what after-party moshers were going to, and Drake made himself at home right down in the pit in preparation for his presentation of Nicki Minaj's incredibly theatrical performance. Moshers even helped a clearly distraught Jennifer Hudson down the stage stairs after her stops-out performance of "I Will Always Love You" in tribute to Whitney Houston.

While Houston's death was still fresh news, and was acknowledged by many of those on the GRAMMY stage tonight, LL Cool J had set the tone early on by saying that while the loss of Houston was "a death in the family" the best way to handle that loss was through a celebration of music. By the time Sir Paul closed out the show with the medley from side two (in vinyl speak) of Abbey Road, that celebration was truly epic. Joined onstage by Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh and Dave Grohl, McCartney and his band brought the show to an explosive close that really did demonstrate — to those in the pit and far beyond — the power of music.

As the time came for the moshers to leave the pit and return to real life, one said, "It was pretty amazing just to be here and be a part of things. But the music made it awesome."

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LL Cool J, Travis Barker, Chuck D, Tom Morello, DJ Z-Trip To Team For GRAMMY Performance

Dr. John and Preservation Hall Jazz Band to join the Black Keys for performance; Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Kenny Garrett, and Juanes added to Music's Biggest Night

GRAMMYs

Feb 7, 2013 - 2:13 pm

GRAMMY.com

Travis Barker, Chuck D, two-time GRAMMY winner and host LL Cool J, two-time GRAMMY winner Tom Morello, and DJ Z-Trip will join together; current nominee Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will join the Black Keys; three-time GRAMMY winner Stanley Clarke, current nominee Chick Corea and current nominee Kenny Garrett will pay tribute to Dave Brubeck; and current nominee Juanes will perform, all on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.

Emmy Award-winning talk show host and current nominee Ellen DeGeneres, actor Kat Dennings, actor Johnny Depp, seven-time GRAMMY winner John Mayer, current four-time nominee Nas, recording artist Pitbull, nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Bonnie Raitt, and two-time GRAMMY winner Kelly Rowland will appear as presenters.

Eighteen-time GRAMMY winner Corea is up for five awards: two in Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Hot House" (along with Gary Burton) and "Alice In Wonderland," two in Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Further Explorations (with Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian) and Hot House (with Gary Burton), and Best Instrumental Composition for "Mozart Goes Dancing."

Five-time GRAMMY winner Dr. John, GRAMMY winner Garrett, and GRAMMY winner and 19-time Latin GRAMMY winner Juanes each have one nomination: Dr. John is nominated in Best Blues Album for Locked Down; Garrett has a nod in Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Seeds From The Underground; and Juanes is up for Best Latin Pop Album for MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition.

Previously announced performers for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards are current nominees Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert, the Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Fun., the Lumineers, Miguel and Wiz Khalifa, Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Jack White, as well as Elton John and current nominee Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys and current nominees Maroon 5, current nominee Bruno Mars, Rihanna, and Sting in a special performance, nominees Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett (as musical director), Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), and Mumford & Sons, along with five-time GRAMMY winner, GRAMMY Legend Award recipient, and 2000 MusiCares Person of the Year honoree Elton John and GRAMMY winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient (as a member of the Staple Singers) Mavis Staples in a special tribute to the late Levon Helm, and Justin Timberlake.

Previously announced presenters are nominees Beyoncé, Hunter Hayes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ne-Yo, and Katy Perry, actor Kaley Cuoco, 13-time GRAMMY winner Dave Grohl, actor and three-time Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, five-time GRAMMY winner Faith Hill, singer/actor Jennifer Lopez, three-time GRAMMY winner Tim McGraw, actor Pauley Perrette, seven-time GRAMMY winner Prince, TV and radio host/producer (and newly appointed Honorary Chair of the GRAMMY Foundation Board) Ryan Seacrest, and four-time GRAMMY winner Keith Urban. LL Cool J returns as host of the music industry's premier event.

The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.

For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

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More GRAMMY Performers Announced

Performances featuring Drake and Rihanna, and Cee Lo Green with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets added to GRAMMY lineup

GRAMMYs

Feb 2, 2011 - 3:55 am

GRAMMY.com

(For a complete list of 53rd GRAMMY Awards nominees, click here.)

A performance by current GRAMMY nominees Drake and Rihanna; and a once-in-a-lifetime performance with Cee Lo Green, Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets are the latest additions to the superstar lineup for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards.

They join previously announced performers and nominees Arcade Fire, Eminem, Green, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Muse, and Katy Perry; nominees Justin Bieber and Usher, with Jaden Smith; and nominees B.o.B, Bruno Mars, and Janelle Monáe.

Current three-time GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley, singer/actor Selena Gomez, nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Norah Jones, two-time GRAMMY winner and actor LL Cool J, current nominee Nicki Minaj, and current nominee Blake Shelton will appear as presenters.

Arcade Fire, Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse, Paltrow, and Smith will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, and all five Album Of The Year nominees are set to perform on Music's Biggest Night: Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Perry.

Continuing in the tradition of creating memorable "GRAMMY Moments," this year's show will feature a number of special performances exclusive to the GRAMMY telecast with one-time-only groupings of artists. Among this year's unique collaborations, rap sensation and current four-time nominee Drake and two-time GRAMMY winner and current four-time nominee Rihanna will perform together live on television for the first time; and Green will be joined by Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets for an inspired, never-before-seen performance.

Drake and Rihanna each have four nominations: Drake for Best New Artist, Best Rap Solo Performance for "Over," Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Fancy" (with T.I. & Swizz Beatz), and Best Rap Album for Thank Me Later; and Rihanna for Record Of The Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Short Form Music Video for "Love The Way You Lie" (with Eminem), and Best Dance Recording for "Only Girl (In The World)."

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and onYouTube. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

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Stars To Join For Aretha Franklin Tribute

Special GRAMMY tribute to the Queen of Soul to feature Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch

GRAMMYs

Feb 9, 2011 - 3:55 am

GRAMMY.com

(For a complete list of 53rd GRAMMY Awards nominees, click here.)

As a "valentine" and "get-well card" to Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and GRAMMY Legend Award recipient Aretha Franklin, four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, four-time GRAMMY winner and Latin GRAMMY winner Christina Aguilera, GRAMMY winner and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, country superstar Martina McBride, and current nominee Florence Welch will join together on the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in celebration of the 18-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee's music and ongoing legacy. Franklin underwent surgery on Dec. 2, 2010, for an undisclosed ailment. She has since said she is in excellent health.

The special segment will feature individual and collective performances of some of the Queen of Soul's classic hits and will add to the stellar lineup for Music's Biggest Night.

Current nominee Esperanza Spalding will also perform in a special number with members of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Camp. Two-time GRAMMY and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner Marc Anthony, GRAMMY and Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, current nominee Jewel, seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Mayer, actor Pauley Perrette, and actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg have been added as presenters to the music industry's premier event.

Adams, Aguilera, Hudson, McBride, Spalding, and Welch join previously announced performers and nominees Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Muse, and Katy Perry, and Barbra Streisand in a rare performance; nominees Justin Bieber and Usher, with Jaden Smith; nominees B.o.B, Bruno Mars, and Janelle Monáe; nominees Drake and Rihanna; nominee Cee Lo Green, with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets; and Mick Jagger with Raphael Saadiq.

Previously announced presenters include current three-time GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley, pop singer/actor Miley Cyrus, singer/actor Selena Gomez, two-time Emmy winner Neil Patrick Harris, nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Norah Jones, three-time GRAMMY winner Kris Kristofferson (who will introduce Streisand's performance), six-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend, two-time GRAMMY winner and actor LL Cool J, current nominee Nicki Minaj, nominees Paramore, actor Seth Rogen, and current nominee Blake Shelton.

First-time nominees Spalding and Welch each have one nomination: both are up for Best New Artist.

Arcade Fire, Bieber, B.o.B, Jagger, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse, Paltrow, and Smith will be performing on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, and all five Album Of The Year nominees are set to perform on Music's Biggest Night: Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Perry.

Additionally, the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place from 1–4 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally on GRAMMY.com and YouTube beginning at 1 p.m. PT. Well-attended by nominees and industry VIPs, current GRAMMY nominees Bobby McFerrin and Spalding will co-host the star-studded ceremony, which will feature performances by current nominees including Afro-Colombian hip-hop trio and Latin GRAMMY winners ChocQuibTown; blues musician and five-time GRAMMY winner Buddy Guy; singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Cyndi Lauper; American roots musician Maria Muldaur; contemporary blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd; trombone and trumpet player Trombone Shorty; legendary gospel and soul singer Mavis Staples; jazz musician Kirk Whalum; and R&B singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Betty Wright.

Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the night in approximately 98 categories will be current nominees, including performance artist Laurie Anderson, pop singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, electronic/dance music artist and remixer BT, actor/comedian Kathy Griffin, and Latin Jazz musician Wayne Wallace. The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and onYouTube. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.