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The Grammy Awards honor the year’s best music — and what better way to do it than to put on a killer show?
Kicking off Sunday, Jan. 26, the 2020 Grammys are basically a dream festival lineup stacked with performances from the crème de la crème across all genres of music.
And it just keeps getting better.
Performers at the 2020 Grammys include newcomers such as Lizzo and Billie Eilish — both nominated for the top four awards — who will join legends including Bonnie Raitt, Aerosmith, Run-DMC and more at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Ahead of the show, which airs live on ABC starting at 8 p.m. EST, here’s everything you need to know about the performers who will rock onstage.
She may not know who Van Halen is, but 18-year-old Eilish is a force to be reckoned with as pop music’s prized pony. The first-time Grammy nominee has six nominations for her first go, including Record of the Year (“Bad Guy”), Album of the Year (“When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”), Song of the Year (“Bad Guy”), Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance (“Bad Guy”) and Best Pop Vocal Album (“When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”). The Los Angeles native first shot to fame in 2016 when she uploaded the song “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud. The singer who rocks a neon green mullet is rumored to have a whopping $25 million contract for a documentary with Apple TV+.
2. Aerosmith
Enlarge ImageBrad Whitford, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.Getty Images for Janie's Fund
Aerosmith is slated to perform a medley of their hits during the ceremony. And given that they started making music together in 1970, we’re betting this is going to be a greatest hits revue not to be missed. The band — which includes Steven Tyler (71, vocals and piano), Joe Perry (69, lead guitar), Brad Whitford (67, guitar), Joey Kramer (69, drums), Tom Hamilton (68, bass) and Ray Tabano (73, rhythm guitar) — will also be named the 2020 MusiCares Person of the Year, which honors the musical and philanthropic achievements of the honoree each year. The band has been nominated 14 times throughout their career and has won four times, most recently in 1999. Currently, Aerosmith has a residency at MGM in Las Vegas. As for music, Perry said in 2019 that the band will make new music “when the time is right.”
2019 was truly the year of Lizzo — and she’s rocking straight into 2020. The singer, 31, led the pack with the most Grammy nominations with a total of eight, despite being a first-time nominee. She’s up for Record of the Year (“Truth Hurts”), Album of the Year (“Cuz I Love You [Deluxe]”), Song of the Year (“Truth Hurts”), Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance (“Truth Hurts”), Best R&B Performance (“Exactly How I Feel”), Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Jerome”) and Best Urban Contemporary Album (“Cuz I Love You [Deluxe]”). Get ready to see her whip out her flute — and maybe even her bottom. She’s a leader in the body positivity movement and known to show off her booty. She’s also slated to play at the Tennessee-based Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this year.
4. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
Enlarge ImageGwen Stefani and Blake SheltonGetty Images for Forrest Film
Power couple performance alert! Real-life dynamic duo Stefani, 50, and Shelton, 43, are set to perform their new duet, “Nobody But You,” released in December. If the lyrics of the love song are any indication, get ready for some major PDA. The country crooner and the No Doubt front lady are no strangers to showing their affection since they started dating in late 2015. This also isn’t their first duet. The “Voice” coaches collaborated in 2016 on “Go Ahead and Break My Heart” and the following year for “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.” Stefani split from Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale in 2015 while Shelton divorced country star Miranda Lambert that same year. Between the two of them, they have a total of 26 nominations (18 for Stefani and eight for Shelton) and Stefani has won three times. Shelton is up for one award this year, Best Country Solo Performance for “God’s Country.”
5. Ariana Grande
Enlarge ImageAriana GrandeGetty Images for Billboard
Consider this a make-up for last year. Grande bailed on her 2019 Grammy performance days before the show, reportedly because she and producers couldn’t decide on a song, but she ended up winning an award anyway — her first — despite being a no-show. This year, she’s nominated for five awards including Record of the Year (“7 Rings”), Album of the Year (“Thank u, Next”), Best Pop Solo Performance (“7 Rings”), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Boyfriend” with Social House) and Best Pop Vocal Album (“Thank u, Next”). The 26-year-old is fresh off of her nine-month “Sweetener”/”Thank U, Next” World Tour and has a live album of the tour set to come out soon.
This will be a big night for Lovato, who will be performing live for the first time since her overdose in 2018. The “Sorry Not Sorry” singer, 27, revealed she was added to the list on Jan. 14, telling fans her promise to return to the stage was kept. Lovato has two career nominations, her first for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Confident” in 2016, the same year she made her Grammy stage debut during a group tribute performance to 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year, Lionel Richie. She has not dropped a new single since “Sober” in June 2018.
6. Camila Cabello
Enlarge ImageCamila CabelloGetty Images for iHeartMedia
Cabello will be returning to the Grammys stage for the second time, two years in a row. Nominated three times in her career so far, the 22-year-old is also up for one award this year for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Señorita.” The former Fifth Harmony member is all about the love lately, whether it’s packing on the PDA with her beau Shawn Mendes or inspiring love on her latest album, “Romance.” The “Havana” singer will also be making her acting debut opposite Pierce Brosnan in the forthcoming new telling of “Cinderella” for Sony Pictures from writer-director Kay Cannon.
Carlile is no stranger to taking home Grammy gold. The three-time winner, 38, is also up for three awards this year including Song of the Year (“Bring My Flowers Now”), Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Common”) and Best Country Song (“Bring My Flowers Now”). She’s also no stranger to the Grammy stage. The singer-songwriter was lauded for her performance at last year’s Grammy Awards and just headlined Madison Square Garden for the first time last year.
Two-time Grammy winner H.E.R. might take home a few more awards this year. The 22-year-old singer, whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, has five nominations this year including Record of the Year (“Hard Place”), Album of the Year (“I Used To Know Her”), Song of the Year (“Hard Place”), Best R&B Performance (“Could’ve Been”) and Best R&B Song (“Could’ve Been”). Last year, H.E.R. — which stands for “Having Everything Revealed” — rocked the Grammy stage with a custom-made Fender Stratocaster guitar.
9. Jonas Brothers
Enlarge ImageNick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas of Jonas Brothers.Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Hot off their much-hyped comeback, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas will take the stage once again. The brothers — 32, 30 and 27, respectively — made waves when they returned to the charts with “Sucker,” and they’re nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the track. They’ve had two career nominations — could this be their first Grammy win?
10. Bonnie Raitt
Enlarge ImageBonnie RaittGetty Images for Songwriters Hal
The legendary Bonnie Raitt will honor Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner John Prine during the 2020 Grammys, according to country music blog the Boot. “I think ‘Angel From Montgomery’ probably has meant more to my fans and my body of work than any other song, and it will historically be considered one of the most important ones I’ve ever recorded,” Raitt has said of the Prine original song. The 70-year-old singer has won 10 Grammys in her career and has been nominated 26 times.
First-time Grammy nominee Rosalía is up for Best New Artist and Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album (“El Mal Querer”). The 26-year-old, whose full name is Rosalía Vila Tobella, was known for Flamenco music until collaborating with Travis Scott and Pharrell Williams.
12. Run-DMC
Enlarge ImageDarryl McDaniels and Joseph Simmons of Run-DMC.Getty Images for JBL
Set to join Aerosmith onstage to perform their smash-hit “Walk This Way,” Run-DMC is hailed as one of the most influential hip-hop groups ever. The Queens, New York, natives originally consisted of Joseph Simmons, Jam Master Jay and Darryl McDaniels until Jam Master Jay (Jason William Mizell) died in 2002. The group has only been nominated once at the Grammys but received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. Jay’s son, DJ Jam Master J’Son, has since joined the group.
Tanya Tucker got a nomination for the first time in 26 years — and it’s been 47 years since her first nomination, according to Variety. The country songstress, 61, is nominated for four awards this year, including Song of the Year (“Bring My Flowers Now”), Best Country Solo Performance (“Bring My Flowers Now”), Best Country Song (“Bring My Flowers Now”) and Best Country Album (“While I’m Livin'”) and has received 14 career nominations.
Tyler, The Creator is up for Best Rap Album this year for his self-produced fifth studio album, “IGOR,” which went straight to No. 1 in 2019. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Tyler Gregory Okonma, was also crowned the 2019 Music Innovator by The Wall Street Journal.
With 13 career nominations, Wilson received his first Grammy nomination with the Gap Band in 1983 for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for “Where Are We Going?” and his first solo nomination in 1996 for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal for “Stomp.” The R&B legend, 66, isn’t slowing down, either. Wilson just teamed up with Bruno Mars for a new song, “Forever Valentine.”
16. Joshua Bell
Enlarge ImageJoshua BellGetty Images for Film Independen
Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell has been nominated six times in his career. He won a Grammy for his recording of the Violin Concerto by Nicholas Maw.
Hot off their performance at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” to ring in 2020, this will be BTS’ first time performing on the Grammy Awards. The group is a worldwide phenomenon and recently became the first Korean act to receive RIAA Platinum Album Certification.
18. Gary Clark Jr.
Enlarge ImageGary Clark Jr.Getty Images for Warner Music
Guitar whiz Gary Clark Jr. will take the stage with his rockin’ riffs and smooth strumming, performing his hit “This Land” with the Roots. The one-time Grammy winner is nominated for four awards this year, including Best Rock Performance (“This Land”), Best Rock Song (“This Land”), Best Contemporary Blues Album (“This Land”) and Best Music Video (“This Land”).
The Grammy Awards will welcome Misty Copeland, the first-ever black principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, to the stage for the first time. Copeland has strong ties to the late legendary Prince, who she credits as helping her to succeed as a dancer.
Billy Ray Cyrus has been nominated for seven Grammy awards in his career and skyrocketed to fame the past year with his smash hit “Old Town Road” with rapper Lil Nas X. He’s up for three awards this year for Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video all for “Old Town Road.”
Diplo has been nominated nine times throughout his career and has three wins under his belt. When the DJ isn’t globetrotting around the world performing at festivals and clubs, he’s also working on music with other projects including Major Lazer, Jack Ü alongside fellow DJ Skrillex and Silk City.
23. Sheila E.
Enlarge ImageSheila E.Getty Images for the Brent Shapi
Prepare for the ultimate Prince tribute. Sheila E. is teaming up with Usher to honor the late legend. The percussionist who got her start with the George Duke Band has four career Grammy nominations.
Fourteen-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin has been nominated 25 times in his career and is nominated for two more this year for Best Gospel Performance/Song (“Love Theory”) and Best Gospel Album (“Long Live Love”).
DJ Khaled is nominated for one Grammy this year for Best Rap/Sung Performance with Nipsey Hussle and John Legend for “Higher,” and he has extremely happy news to celebrate: He and wife Nicole Tuck welcomed their second son earlier this week.
The Chinese pianist, who has been nominated for one Grammy in his career, will tickle the ivories at the Grammys. He seriously injured his left arm in 2017 and is now performing once again.
Two-time Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper will be part of a big performance in a tribute to Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich, who has manned the show for 40 years.
28. John Legend
Enlarge ImageJohn LegendGetty Images for Global Citizen
10-time Grammy winner and “Sexiest Man Alive 2019” John Legend has 31 career nominations and two current nominations this year for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (“A Legendary Christmas”) and Best Rap/Sung Performance with Nipsey Hussle and DJ Khaled (“Higher”).
This will be a big year for Lil Nas X, who has six nominations for his smash hit with Billy Ray Cyrus. The rapper is up for Record of the Year (“Old Town Road” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus), Album Of The Year (“7”), Best New Artist, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Old Town Road” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus), Best Rap/Sung Performance (“Panini”) and Best Music Video (“Old Town Road” [Official Movie] Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus).
One-time Grammy winner and actor Ben Platt will be in the special Ehrlich tribute performance. He was recently featured in a trailer for the upcoming thriller “Run This Town.”
32. Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Enlarge ImagePreservation Hall Jazz BandGetty Images for NARAS
This is Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s second time performing on the Grammy Awards and the group will take the stage with Trombone Shorty for the In Memoriam segment.
Enlarge ImageRoddy RicchGetty Images for 10Summers Recor
Roddy Ricch is nominated for three awards this year, including Best Rap Performance with Nipsey Hussle and Hit-Boy (“Racks in the Middle”), Best Rap/Sung Performance with Mustard (“Ballin”) and Best Rap Song (“Racks in the Middle”). He will be part of the Nipsey Hussle tribute performance.
35. The Roots
Enlarge ImageThe RootsGetty Images For The Rock and Ro
Three-time Grammy-winning group the Roots will be playing alongside Gary Clark Jr. on his Grammy-nominated “This Land” song.
36. The War and Treaty
Enlarge ImageThe War and TreatyGetty Images for Americana Music
This will be the first time the War and Treaty perform at the Grammys. The married duo, Michael Trotter and Tanya Blount-Trotter, just released a new disco-influenced song, “Jealousy.”
37. Trombone Shorty
Enlarge ImageTrombone ShortyGetty Images for Little Kids Roc
Trombone Shorty, who has one career Grammy nomination, will be united with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for the In Memoriam piece spotlighting those who passed away in 2019.
Along with Sheila E., eight-time Grammy winner Usher will be part of a special tribute performance honoring Prince. The R&B superstar has 22 career nominations.
