By Phyllis Pollack
It was announced today that two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J has been chosen to return as host for this year's Biggest Night In Music, the Grammy Awards.
Given his prolific handling last year of the subject of the Whitney Houston's death, the sweeping success of ratings and helping generate more Emmy Awards for the Grammy Awards, the decision will likely result in similar success this year.
Last year, for the first time, the awards show began with a prayer in honor of Houston, who passed away the night before at the Beverly Hilton, just hours before a pre-Grammy party.
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be televised live on CBS Sunday, Feb. 10, 8 P.M. ET/PT.
2013 Grammy nominees, the Black Keys, FUN., Mumford & Sons, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift were first performers announced today for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards telecast.
The Black Keys and FUN. will perform on the Grammy telecast for the first time, while Mumford & Sons, Rihanna and Swift are returning to the Grammy stage. Swift has received six Grammy Awards in the past. Among them, "Mean" won last year's Best Country Solo Performance.
The music industry's most important event this year will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 to 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Dial Global, and covered online at Grammy.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube. More performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. For Grammy coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.
FUN. and Mumford & Sons are two of six artists this year who lead with six nominations each. FUN. are up for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "We Are Young" (Featuring Janelle Monáe); Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Some Nights; and Best New Artist.
Mumford & Sons are nominated for Album Of The Year and Best Americana Album for Babel; Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "I Will Wait"; Best Song Written For Visual Media for "Learn Me Right" (From Brave); and Best Long Form Music Video for Big Easy Express.
Two-time Grammy winners The Black Keys have five nominations: Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album for El Camino; and Record Of The Year, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song (along with Brian Burton) for "Lonely Boy." (Additionally, group member Dan Auerbach is nominated for Producer Of The Year Non Classical.)
Five-time Grammy winner Rihanna and six-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift each have three nominations. Rihanna is up for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Where Have You Been," Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (Featuring Jay-Z) for "Talk That Talk," and Best Short Form Music Video (Featuring Calvin Harris) for "We Found Love."
Swift is nominated in Record Of The Year for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (with The Civil Wars) and Best Song Written For Visual Media (along with T Bone Burnett and the Civil Wars) for "Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games).
The 55th annual awards show is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers.
The Grammy Awards are the only peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music. The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.
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