Grammy Awards 2024: A Night of Music Excellence and New Honors
The music world is abuzz as the 68th annual Grammy Awards prepare to take center stage, broadcasting live from Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount this Sunday night. This prestigious event celebrates the finest achievements in the music industry, with a lineup that promises both familiar faces and exciting new developments.
Kendrick Lamar Dominates the Nominations
Leading the pack this year is the incomparable Kendrick Lamar, who has secured an impressive nine nominations. His remarkable showing includes nods in the highly coveted categories of record of the year, song of the year, and album of the year for his work "GNX." This marks the third occasion Lamar has received simultaneous nominations in these top-tier awards, underscoring his enduring influence and artistic prowess.
Hot on his heels are music powerhouses Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Canadian record producer and songwriter Cirkut, each boasting seven nominations. The competition remains fierce with artists like Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and audio engineer Serban Ghenea following closely with six nominations apiece.
Trevor Noah Returns as Host for a Final Time
Adding to the evening's allure, comedian Trevor Noah returns to host the Grammy Awards for his sixth consecutive year. However, this appearance will be his last as host, making it a bittersweet moment for fans who have come to appreciate his wit and charm in guiding the ceremony.
Introducing New Grammy Categories
This year's Grammys introduce two new awards: best album cover and best traditional country album. The best album cover category has generated significant interest, with nominees including Wet Leg's "Moisturizer," Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," Tyler, the Creator's "Chromakopia," Perfume Genius's "Glory," and Djo's "The Crux." This award recognizes the art directors behind these visually striking covers, highlighting the crucial role of visual artistry in music.
Photographer Neil Krug, nominated for "The Crux," emphasized the importance of album covers, stating, "When a cover in a campaign hits right, it's part of the language and the fabric of what makes a great record a great record." This standalone category amplifies the creative efforts that go into building the visual worlds of music, a dimension previously assessed under the best recording package category.
The Premiere Ceremony: Where Most Awards Are Presented
With a total of 95 awards to be distributed, the Grammys have devised a two-part ceremony to accommodate the extensive honors. The Premiere Ceremony, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time), will present the majority of the awards—86 to be exact. This segment is where categories such as best audiobook narration are awarded and has historically been the stage for stars to achieve EGOT status, as seen with Viola Davis in 2023.
The Premiere Ceremony will open with a performance of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star" by Israel Houghton, Lila Ike, Grace Potter, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty. Hosted by Darren Criss, the event will feature presenters like Édgar Barrera, Jesse Welles, Jimmy Jam, Sierra Hull, Trombone Shorty, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Dave Koz, who will announce batches of awards. Performers include Zara Larsson, Spiritbox, Tasha Combs Leonard, and Criss alongside "Maybe Happy Ending" co-star Helen J. Shen.
Main Awards Ceremony and Red Carpet Extravaganza
The main awards ceremony, where the major categories are presented, is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific Time). Key awards such as album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, and best new artist will be unveiled during this prime-time telecast.
Adding to the spectacle, the Grammys red carpet live show, hosted by Leslie Ambriz, Gary Gerard Hamilton, and Liam McEwan, promises to be a grand production. With multiple camera angles, fashion analysis from experts like Morgan Evans and Kiana Bonollo, and comprehensive coverage of attendees stepping out of limousines, this segment offers an immersive experience for viewers.
Notable Nominees and Unique Categories
Among the intriguing nominations is actor Timothée Chalamet, who is a first-time Grammy nominee. He is competing in the best compilation soundtrack for visual media category for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in "A Complete Unknown." His competitors include Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo from "Wicked," alongside soundtracks from highly acclaimed films like "Sinners," "F1," and "KPop Demon Hunters."
It's worth noting that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's "Defying Gravity" has already secured the best pop duo/group performance award, though neither artist was present to accept it during the preliminary announcements.
How to Watch the Grammys 2024
Viewers can catch the main awards ceremony live on CBS or stream it on Paramount. Subscribers with the SHOWTIME add-on can stream the ceremony live, while Essential subscribers will have access to on-demand viewing the following day. For those interested in the Premiere Ceremony, red carpet events, and interviews, live.grammy.com will provide comprehensive coverage starting at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
As the music industry gathers to honor its brightest talents, the 68th Grammy Awards stand as a testament to creativity, innovation, and the enduring power of music. With new categories, a star-studded lineup, and extensive coverage, this year's ceremony is set to be an unforgettable celebration of artistic achievement.
