The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It will recognize the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2020. The nominations were announced during a virtual livestream on November 24, 2020 by Chair, and Interim Recording Academy President/CEO, Harvey Mason Jr. alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Mickey Guyton, Lauren Daigle, Pepe Aguilar, Nicola Benedetti, Gayle King, Yemi Alade, Imogen Heap and Sharon Osbourne. Beyoncé received the most nominations with nine, followed by Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, and Taylor Swift with six each. The ceremony was originally scheduled for January 31, 2021; however, on January 5, 2021, the Recording Academy postponed the ceremony indefinitely due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County as well as health and safety concerns therein.
Trevor Noah opened the pandemic-altered 63rd annual Grammy Awards on an outdoor stage in front of a sparse crowd outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, with the Grammy’s usual home, the Staples Center, as a backdrop. Noah walked inside the Convention Center during his presentation, where the show’s performances, many of them pre-recorded, will be broadcast from.
The awards night got underway with Harry Styles performing to Watermelon Sugar. He performed with a full band wearing a black leather sports coat with no shirt underneath, and a green feather boa. Billie Eilish, who dominated last year’s Grammys, immediately followed with a performance of Everything I Wanted. Others who performed were DaBaby, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars, Miranda Lambert, Mickey Guyton, John Mayer and Taylor Swift. Grammy also paid special tribute to artists who passed away in 2020. Legends like Rupert Neve, Bunny Wailer, Hal Willner, John Prine, Eddie Van Halen, Bill Withers, Betty Wright, Tony Rice, Little Richard and others were remembered.
Some of the awards that have been announced include: Best New Artist – Megan Thee Stallion, Best music video – Brown Skin Girl, Beyoncé with Blue Ivy, Best R&B album – Bigger Love, John Legend, Best rap album – King’s Disease, Nas, Best Country Album – Miranda Lambert for Wildcard, Best pop solo performance – Harry Styles for Watermelon Sugar.