Star-Studded 54th Annual Grammy Awards Set for Sunday Night

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — This year’s Grammy Awards only have 78 categories, compared with the previous 100+ categories of previous years.  But don’t expect the telecast, which airs on CBS Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT, to wrap up earlier than usual.  “No, the show won’t be shorter,” laughs Ken Ehrlich, the executive producer of the Grammy Awards.  “We’ve taken categories out but we haven’t figured out how to make it shorter!  There’s just so much good stuff out there that we want to celebrate.”  That means viewers will see a whopping 19 performances spread over the three-and-a-half-hour show and, as in past years, most of the actual trophies will be handed out in a non-televised ceremony that takes place beforehand.

In fact, according to Ehrlich, the Grammys Awards show isn’t so much about the actual awards as it is about the performances, which feature cool collaborations from artists in every musical genre.  This year’s telecast will feature: 

• Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt paying tribute to Etta James
• Rihanna singing “Princess of China” with Coldplay
• Tony Bennett duetting with Carrie Underwood
• The Beach Boys teaming up with Maroon 5 and Foster the People
• Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, David Guetta and Foo Fighters doing a tribute to dance music
• The Band Perry helping to salute legendary country star Glen Campbell
• Adele’s first big performance since her vocal cord surgery
• Additional performances from Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift.

Explaining why so many stars are willing to give up the solo spotlight to team with other artists for these special “Grammy Moments,” Ehrlich tells ABC News Radio, “A great number of [these artists] go on other shows and perform well, but we look at our show as being what you’re working towards.  You want to be the best on this show because it means something to be the best on this show.  And so there’s this kind of mindset that allows them to be more collaborative.”

But of course, there will be actual awards handed out Sunday night.  The leading nominee is Kanye West, who has a chance to expand his already huge collection of 14 Grammys: he’s got seven nominations, while Adele, Bruno Mars and Foo Fighters are tied with six each.  Lil Wayne and electronic musician Skrillex have five nominations, while Rihanna, Radiohead, indie rockers Bon Iver [bohn ee VAIR], Drake and British alt-folk group Mumford & Sons each received four nods.

Each year, the most prestigious awards — known as the Big Four — are Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.  Here’s the difference between Record and Song of the Year: the Song of the Year Grammy goes to the song’s writer or writers, who are not necessarily the same ones who performed the tune.  The Record of the Year Grammy goes to the artist, producer, engineer and mixer of the song.  For Album of the Year, the Grammy goes to the artist, the album’s producer or producers, the engineers and any featured performers.  

Here are the nominees in the main fields this Sunday night:

Record of the Year
“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
“Holocene,” Bon Iver
“Grenade,” Bruno Mars
“The Cave,” Mumford & Sons
“Firework,” Katy Perry

 Song of the Year [award to songwriter(s)]
“All of the Lights,” Kanye West
“Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
“Holocene,” Bon Iver
“Grenade,” Bruno Mars
“The Cave,” Mumford & Sons

Album of the Year
Doo-Wops and Hooligans, Bruno Mars
Wasting Light, Foo Fighers
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Loud, Rihanna
21, Adele

Best New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Someone Like You,” Adele
“You and I,” Lady Gaga
“Grenade,” Bruno Mars
“Firework,” Katy Perry
“F***in’ Perfect, Pink

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Body and Soul,” Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
“Dearest,” The Black Keys
“Paradise,” Coldplay
“Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster the People
“Moves Like Jagger,” Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera

Best Pop Vocal Album
21, Adele
The Lady Killer, Cee Lo Green
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
Loud, Rihanna

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Duets II, Tony Bennett & Various Artists
The Gift, Susan Boyle
In Concert on Broadway, Harry Connick Jr
Music Is Better Than Words, Seth McFarlane
What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan And Marilyn Bergman, Barbra Streisand

Best Rock Performance
“Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” Coldplay
“Down by the Water,” The Decemberists
“Walk,” Foo Fighters
“The Cave,” Mumford & Sons
“Lotus Flower,” Radiohead

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
“On the Backs of Angels,” Dream Theater
“White Limo,” Foo Fighters
“Curl of the Burl,” Mastodon
“Public Enemy No. 1,” Megadeth
“Blood in My Eyes,” Sum 41

Best Rock Song
“Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” Coldplay
“Down by the Water,” The Decembrists
“Walk,” Foo Fighters
“The Cave,” Mumford & Sons
“Lotus Flower,” Radiohead

Best Rock Album
Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul, Jeff Beck
Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown, Kings Of Leon
I’m With You, Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Whole Love, Wilco

Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Codes and Keys, Death Cab For Cutie
Torches, Foster The People
Circuital, My Morning Jacket
The King of Limbs, Radiohead

Best R&B Performance
“Far Away,” Marsha Ambrosius
“Pieces of Me,” Ledisi
“Not My Daddy,” Kelly Price & Stokley
“Is This Love,” Corinne Bailey Rae
“You Are,” Charlie Wilson

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Sometimes I Cry,” Eric Benét
“Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
“Radio Message,” R. Kelly
“Good Man,” Raphael Saadiq
“Surrender,” Betty Wright & The Roots

Best R&B Song
“Far Away,” Marsha Ambrosius
“Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
“Not My Daddy,” Kelly Price & Stokley
“You Are,” Charlie Wilson
“Pieces of Me,” Ledisi

Best R&B Album
F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
Second Chance, El DeBarge
Love Letter, R. Kelly
Pieces of Me, Ledisi
Kelly, Kelly Price

Best Rap Performance
“Look at Me Now,” Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
“Otis,” Jay-Z & Kanye West
“The Show Goes On,” Lupe Fiasco
“Moment 4 Life,” Nicki Minaj & Drake
“Black and Yellow,” Wiz Khalifa

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Party,” Beyoncé & André 3000
“I’m on One,” DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
“I Need a Doctor,” Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
“What’s My Name?,” Rihanna & Drake
“Motivation,” Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
“All of the Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Best Rap Song
“All of the Lights,” Kanye West
“I Need a Doctor,” Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skyler Grey
“Look at Me Now,” Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
“The Show Goes On,” Lupe Fiasco
“Otis,” Jay-Z and Kanye West

Best Rap Album
Watch the Throne, Jay-Z and Kanye West
Tha Carter IV, Lil Waye
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
Pink Friday, Nicki Minaj
Lasers, Lupe Fiasco

Best Country Song
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” Thompson Square
“God Gave Me You,” Blake Shelton
“Just Fishin’,” Trace Adkins
“Mean,” Taylor Swift
“Threaten Me with Heaven,” Vince Gill
“You and Tequila,” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

Best Country Solo Performance
“Dirt Road Anthem,” Jason Aldean
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Martina McBride
“Honey Bee,” Blake Shelton
“Mean,” Taylor Swift
“Mama’s Song,” Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Don’t You Wanna Stay,” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
“You and Tequila,” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
“Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” Thompson Square

Best Country Album
My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
Chief, Eric Church
Own the Night, Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue, Blake Shelton
Here for a Good Time, George Strait
Speak Now, Taylor Swift

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