LL Cool J and Taylor Swift host the Dec. 5 noms concert.
Music’s biggest night is finally upon us.
In what’s sure to be a night filled with performances both amazing and questionable, red-carpet fashion both fabulous and freaky, and speeches both tear-inducing and eyebrow-raising, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards takes place tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here are all the details:
When and Where: The show airs live at 8 p.m. EST on CBS, and assuming there are no Super Bowl-esque blackouts, is scheduled to air until 11:30 p.m. EST. It will air on the West Coast with a tape delay, from 8 to 11:30 p.m. PST.
Before the Show: Red carpet coverage starts live at 6 p.m. EST / 3 p.m. PST. The fashion may be more PG than years past, but rules are meant to be broken. Watch a live stream of all the interviews on The Hollywood Reporter here. The pre-telecast announcement of about 70 winners will be streamed online at Grammys.com and on CBS from 4 to 6:30 p.m. EST / 1 to 3:30 p.m. PST.
Who’s Presenting: For the second time in a row, two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J is hosting. Last year, he went off-script and initiated the show with a prayer for Whitney Houston. And after her electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance and controversial presidential inauguration performance, Beyonce will be presenting instead of performing tonight. (Any questions?) Other presenters include another Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland, funny lady Ellen DeGeneres, Johnny Depp, John Mayer, Pitbull, and Bonnie Raitt.
Who’s Performing: Taylor Swift opens the show, and while she hasn’t confirmed which song she will sing, she has hinted it could be her hit single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which is up for Record of the Year. Making a big comeback is Justin Timberlake, who’s suiting up for his first Grammys performance in four years. And collaborating will be Bruno Mars, Sting and Rihanna, which has all ears perked up to hear what this unique trifecta can come up with. Zac Brown, T-Bone Burnett (as musical director), Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Elton John, Mumford & Sons, and Mavis Staples will join up to pay tribute to the late Levon Helm of The Band (John also is scheduled to perform with Ed Sheeran). Other performances to look forward to include The Black Keys, fun., The Lumineers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys and Maroon 5, Miguel and Wiz Khalifa, and THR cover star Jack White.
Who’s Nominated: Fun., Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys each have not one but six nominations apiece. Fun., Ocean, The Black Keys, Jack White and Mumford & Sons are all up for the night’s top award, Album of the Year.
