LOS ANGELES (NYTIMES) - Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, BTS, Harry Styles, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion will be among the performers at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (March 14), in a mix of live and taped appearances shot in downtown Los Angeles, the Recording Academy announced.
K-pop sensation BTS, who are nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, will become the first Korean nominee to perform at the awards.
The show, hosted by Trevor Noah, will also feature performances by Bad Bunny, Doja Cat, Maren Morris, Roddy Ricch, Post Malone, Lil Baby, DaBaby and others, in a format the academy is describing, with a nod toward coronavirus safety, as artistes "coming together, while still safely apart".
Mickey Guyton, the first black female artiste to be nominated for best country solo performance, will take the stage, as well as Black Pumas, the little-known soul band that received three nominations, including record and album of the year.
The show will be broadcast by CBS and on Paramount+, the new streaming platform from the network's parent company, ViacomCBS, that launched on Thursday, replacing CBS All Access.
One notable absence among this year's performers: Adele, whose potential appearance has been the subject of fervent speculation by fans online. Mr Ben Winston, the Grammys' executive producer, said in an interview that Adele would not be involved.
Fans of the British singer have been waiting more than five years for the follow-up to her album 25, and most recently got their hopes up in October when she hosted Saturday Night Live - only to declare in her monologue, "My album's not finished."
Her label, Columbia, has given no updates on when that album may be ready.
This year's Grammys had been planned for Jan 31, but were postponed in early January as coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County were peaking. Those numbers have since greatly declined, although the area is still considered to have a "very high risk" level for infection.
The show will be the latest test of the viability of a major awards show during the pandemic. The Golden Globes, on Feb 28, had disastrous ratings, drawing 62 per cent fewer viewers than last year.
To draw an audience, the Grammys are counting on the star power of their performers and the possibility of a fresh look. This year's show is the first under the purview of Mr Winston, who takes over after a four-decade run by Mr Ken Ehrlich, the producer who established "Grammy moments" - artiste pairings across generations and genres - and who sometimes clashed with stars.
One feature this year takes a cue from the pandemic itself.
The Grammys will highlight the struggles of independent music venues by having staff from four live music spots - the Troubadour and the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, the Apollo Theatre in New York and Nashville's Station Inn - present various award categories and encourage fans to support their local clubs.
Beyonce received nine nominations in eight categories, more than any other artiste. Swift and Lipa are each up for six prizes.
