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Yola, Brandi Carlile, John Legend & More To Honor Recording Academy Special Merit Award Recipients Oct. 16 On PBS
Music lovers, mark your calendars! The Recording Academy will honor its 2020 Special Merit Awards recipients with "Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends," an awards ceremony and tribute concert on Friday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.
The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees, which were announced earlier this year, are Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Ken Ehrlich, Philip Glass and Frank Walker will receive Trustees Award honors, and George Augspurger was recognized with the Technical GRAMMY Award. Mickey Smith Jr. will also accept the Music Educator Award as this year’s recipient.
Hosted by Jimmy Jam, the stacked lineup of performers includes Laurie Anderson, Philip Bailey, Brandi Carlile, Cynthia Erivo, Chris Isaak, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Cyndi Lauper, Sam Moore, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Yola. Presenters include Rhiannon Giddens, Joe Mantegna, John Legend, LL COOL J, Greg Phillinganes, Henry Rollins, and Don Was.
Check out the list of original performances for show (Honorees are listed in bold type):
Roberta Flack
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” — Performed by Cynthia Erivo
“Where Is The Love” — Performed by Cynthia Erivo and Leslie Odom, Jr.
Chicago
“If You Leave Me Now” — Performed by Philip Bailey
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
“Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air” — Performed by Yola
Isaac Hayes
“Soul Man” / “I Thank You” / “You Don’t Know Like I Know” / “Hold On, I'm Comin'” / “You Got Me Hummin’” / “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” — Performed by Sam Moore
Philip Glass
“Gee Whiz” — Performed by Laurie Anderson
Frank Walker
“Your Cheatin’ Heart” — Performed by Chris Isaak
Ken Ehrlich
“Time After Time” — Performed by Cyndi Lauper
John Prine
“Storm Windows” — Performed by Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires
“I Remember Everything” — Performed by Brandi Carlile
This is the fifth year the Recording Academy has celebrated the Special Merit Awards with a stand-alone TV event and musical tribute, but the first year that it has been produced without an audience and in different locations due to COVID-19’s impact on live events. In addition to the tribute concert, the special will feature archival video packages celebrating each of the honorees' contributions to the music industry and its cultural heritage.
Don't miss "Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends," Friday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/gperf and the PBS Video app.
Read More: The Curious Career Of The Legendary Sister Rosetta Tharpe