Grammys 2022: A quick guide to who’s performing and what’s happening during the awards
- Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and Olivia Rodrigo are among those scheduled to perform at the awards, which will air on Monday morning in Hong Kong
- Will BTS be the first K-pop group to win a Grammy for ‘Butter’? And will Taylor Swift be the first person to win album of the year four times?
Trevor Noah will host the Grammys, which will air on Monday morning in Hong Kong, for the second year in a row. Noah is pictured here during a pre-taped segment for the 2021 awards. Photo: TNSThis year’s Grammy Awards will spotlight a new location – Las Vegas – and an inching toward normalcy as it again unfolds in front of a live audience after a 2021 hybrid edition.
Sunday’s 64th annual show, postponed from January following a spike in omicron Covid-19 cases, marks the first time the ceremony has taken place anywhere other than Los Angeles or New York since a 1973 Nashville edition.
Along with the usual starry line-up of performers – BTS, newly minted Oscar winner Billie Eilish and Carrie Underwood among them – the 2022 Grammys might also witness history made by several performers.
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Taylor Swift could become the first artist to win album of the year four times (with Evermore), and BTS has the potential to become the first K-pop group to win a Grammy. And Eilish would be the first person to take home record of the year three times in succession – and the first female performer to do so – if Happier Than Ever wins the category.
But we know you have questions, so from the top nominees to the performance line-up, here’s everything you need to know going into this year’s Grammys.
What time are the Grammy Awards?
Due to the time difference, the show will air at 8am on Monday morning in Hong Kong. Dedicated fans can tune into the premiere ceremony – when about 70 of the 86 awards are distributed – starting at 3.30am on Monday at grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel. Jimmie Allen, Ledisi, Mon Laferte and Allison Russell are confirmed to perform, with LeVar Burton hosting the festivities.
Who’s performing live at the Grammys?
Jon Batiste, Eilish, Underwood, J Balvin, Silk Sonic, John Legend, BTS, Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Nas, Jack Harlow, Brothers Osborne, Leslie Odom Jr. and Cynthia Erivo are among the names set to take the stage. The Foo Fighters had been announced as performers before the unexpected death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, but it is currently unknown whether they will appear on the show. Producers said that they’re working on a way to honour Hawkins during the ceremony.
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Who are the biggest Grammy nominees?
Batiste is the leader this year with 11 nods among multiple genres. The jazz/R&B veteran, best known as the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, is followed by Justin Bieber, H.E.R. and Doja Cat, all of whom scored eight nods.
Eilish ties pop newcomer Rodrigo with seven nominations each. The Grammy-gobbling Eilish also landed in top categories including album, song and record of the year for her sophomore effort Happier Than Ever and its title anthem. Rodrigo has a notable showing in all four major categories: album (Sour), song and record of the year (Drivers License) and best new artist.
Two new categories are being introduced this year: best global music performance and best música urbana album.
Which musicians got snubbed?
Miley Cyrus’ valentine to the ‘80s, Plastic Hearts, boasted cameos from Steve Nicks, Joan Jett, Billy Idol and current pop whiz Dua Lipa. But despite a best pop vocal album Grammy nomination in 2015 for Bangerz (she lost to Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour), her seventh studio album received zero recognition.
Machine Gun Kelly also missed out on Grammy love for his fifth studio album, Tickets to My Downfall, which established him as a pop-punkster and spawned the rock hits Bloody Valentine and My Ex’s Best Friend.
BTS, meanwhile, can make history as the first K-pop group to win a Grammy, but they only have one chance: Butter earned a lone nod for best pop duo/group performance.
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Who’s hosting the Grammys?
Trevor Noah returns for an encore stint, though he’ll have a more traditional show to steer compared to last year’s 2021 hybrid event at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The Emmy Award-winning host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show proved himself a breezy emcee last year, bopping between the nominees outside and the performers inside.
Even though the scene is different, Noah will still have a standard awards show set-up as his playground.
Given Noah’s social media kerfuffle with Kanye West, viewers should also be attuned to any biting commentary.