The Recording Academy has unveiled the full list of artists set to perform during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. The diverse lineup includes Cardi B, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, and Roddy Ricch, among others.
While it’s still unclear whether the performances will be previously recorded, take place live or a mix of both, the Recording Academy seems to be slowly offering more details as we get closer to the show’s new air date, Sunday (March 14).
The announcement states: “Artists will be coming together, while still safely apart, to play music for each other as a community and celebrate the music that unites us all.”
Ben Winston, the Grammy’s executive producer, offered more insight in an interview with Variety.
Winston confirmed that some performances will be pre-recorded. He also mentioned that the award show’s honorees will be seated together in a large room inside of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Four separate stages will be set up, which indicates live performances should occur, but the specifics could change depending on Covid safety protocols. For now, a revolving group of guests and artists will apparently serve as the intimate audience for the performances that take place on location.
“We’ve designed a set that you could argue makes it an even more exciting show,” Winston said. “The performers and nominees are each other’s audience, so it’s a room of incredible musicians, all safely distanced from each other, and every 45 minutes a new four groups come in and the [previous] four go out.”
Since the show plans to pay tribute to the independent music venues impacted by the pandemic, staff from New York’s Apollo Theater, Nashville’s Station Inn, and the Troubadour in Los Angeles will present the awards in various categories throughout the night.
“We’ve decided that this year, the majority of the awards will be given out by great characters who work in those venues — bartenders, security, door people — and I love the idea that Album of the Year can be given out by people like that,” Winston said. “It’s the people who make these places historic, and this allows us to highlight the great work that they do and the fact that they’ve been out of work for so long — and to show that we haven’t forgotten them on ‘Music’s Biggest Night,’ and remind our audience that when this is all over, to go back to their favorite venue.”
Surely, there’ll be several surprises when Trevor Noah hosts the 2021 Grammy Awards live Sunday, (March 14) at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on CBS.
Check out the “List of Performers” video below: