Awards
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Lizzo and her boyfriend Myke Wright cozied up at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles on Saturday (Feb. 4).
The pop-rap star, who has been romantically linked to the comedian since 2021, shared numerous lovey-dovey snapshots on social media of the couple looking quite stylish at the Beverly Hilton soiree.
“Hard Launch,” Lizzo captioned the gallery on Instagram, adding an exhaling face emoji.
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The Davis’ pre-Grammy gala brought some mind-boggling star power, with everyone from Tom Hanks to Cardi B to Max Martin to Joni Mitchell in attendance. In addition to a moving Whitney Houston tribute by Jennifer Hudson, the A-list evening also included live performances by Lizzo, Lil Wayne, Sheryl Crow, Måneskin, Latto, Frankie Valli, Lil Baby, and more.
The three-time Grammy winner’s IG post drew excitement from her fellow music stars, including SZA and Kehlani. “A doll and her Ken,” SZA commented. Kehlani added in all caps, “BEEN WAITIN.”
Lizzo and Wright met in 2016 on the set of their MTV show, Wonderland, but they didn’t begin dating until 2021. In December 2022, the singer-rapper shared all her sweet feelings about her beau in an interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM. When asked by Stern if she’s planning on marrying the actor, she laughed and said, “There’s nobody else I’m going to be with for the rest of my life.”
Lizzo is nominated for five Grammys at this year’s ceremony, including record of the year and song of the year for “About Damn Time,” and album of the year for Special.
The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah. The show will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
See Lizzo’s post on Instagram here.
For the first time in three years, Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala brought together some of the biggest names in the music industry for a night of special performances, timely tributes and moving speeches. As always, the star power at the Beverly Hilton soiree was mind-boggling, with everyone from Tom Hanks to Cardi B to Max Martin to Joni Mitchell in attendance on Saturday night (Feb. 4).
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“You come back each year, bonded by the love of music,” Davis declared to the capacity crowd while kicking off the ceremony. The party had not taken place since 2020 due to the pandemic; although the 2022 Grammys were held in Las Vegas last April, Davis had opted not to move the gala from its Beverly Hills home.
As such, the 2023 gathering was the first to take place since the 10th anniversary of Whitney Houston’s shocking death in 2012, just hours before that year’s pre-Grammy party. Houston received multiple tributes on Saturday night: Jennifer Hudson performed a show-stopping rendition of “Greatest Love of All,” while actor Kevin Costner kicked off the evening by introducing Davis and regaling the audience with stories of their professional and personal bond with Houston thanks to The Bodyguard.
“We were both struck by Whitney the first time we ever saw her. …. Whitney would be our common ground,” said Costner, who co-starred in The Bodyguard with Houston as Davis was helping guide her music career. The Yellowstone star’s tribute to both Davis and Houston turned emotional: “Neither one of us, in the end, could protect your beloved Whitney,” a choked-up Costner said. “You were a miracle in her life. Thank you for being her bodyguard, Clive.”
Later, Sheryl Crow took the stage to perform “Songbird” and “Say You Love Me” as a tribute to Christine McVie, the Fleetwood Mac legend who passed away last year. And as a toast to the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, Lil Baby and Lil Wayne were giving back-to-back sets that included the former MC waxing poetic on “California Breeze” and the latter bouncing around the stage with Swizz Beatz on “Uproar.”
Long-running Atlantic Records leaders Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman were honored as part of the Recording Academy’s Salute to Industry Icons, and before each of their acceptance speeches, Lauren Daigle, the contemporary Christian music star and recent Atlantic signee, performed the label classic “Son of a Preacher Man.” And Cardi, one of the biggest superstars on Atlantic’s roster, introduced Greenwald and Kallman by discussing how instrumental they had been to her success.
“I’m here tonight because I want thank them for believing in me,” Cardi told the audience. “Julie, as a woman who has a family and a career, you’re such an inspiration. When I was crying, you told me it would be okay, and that we were gonna get things done. You’re such a boss-ass bitch and such a wonderful mother. You’re the one who told me I could have it all, and for that, I truly thank you.”
As always, Davis’ gala served as a platform for both emerging talent and established stars, with performances from Lizzo and Elvis Costello and the Imposters (with special guest Juanes) taking place in between sets from Grammy best new artist nominees Latto and Måneskin. After Måneskin barreled through their smash cover of the Four Seasons’ “Beggin’,” Frankie Valli took the stage to play “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” resulting in the evening’s biggest audience sing-along. And Myles Frost, the star of MJ the Musical on Broadway, closed out the performances with spot-on renditions of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and “Rock With You.”
Also back for the pre-Grammy party were Davis’ shout-outs to the music superstars in attendance — Janelle Monae, Olivia Rodrigo, Luke Combs, Machine Gun Kelly, Demi Lovato and Chance The Rapper were among those to be mentioned from the stage and receive rounds of applause. Yet the biggest ovation of the night came for both Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House and perennial Davis party guest, as well as her husband Paul, who was the victim of a home invasion attack in October but received roars of support on Saturday night.
Check out the setlist for Clive Davis’ 2023 pre-Grammy party:
Måneskin – “I Wanna Be Tour Slave,” ” Beggin’”Frankie Valli – “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”Lizzo – “Break Up Twice”Sheryl Crow – Christine McVie tribute “Songbird,” “Say You Love Me”Jennifer Hudson – “Greatest Love of All”Elvis Costello and The Imposters with Juanes – “Pump it Up,” “Peace, Love & Understanding”Lauren Daigle – “Son of a Preacher Man”Latto – “Sunshine,” “Big Energy”Lil Baby – “Forever,” “California Breeze”Lil Wayne – “John,” “Lollipop,” “Steady Mobbin,” “Uproar,” “A Mill”Myles Frost – “Billie Jean,” “Rock With You”
Sometimes, smaller is better. The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards returned to the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday (Feb. 4) after several years at the larger Dolby Theater in Hollywood (home of the Oscars) where the show was taped for airing as a PBS special that ran its course.
Maybe the Special Merit Awards ceremony was always meant to be a small, intimate affair, where the Academy dispenses its lifetime achievement awards, trustees awards, technical Grammy Awards and the music educator award. As in years past—before the pandemic shut the event down entirely the past few years—you get personal glimpses of artists that are revealing.
Nancy Wilson, who received a lifetime achievement award along with her absent sister Ann Wilson, recalled that when they formed Heart in 1974, they wanted to be The Beatles. “Not to be married to them, or to be the girlfriend of one of them, but to be The Beatles.”
Wilson added “What an honor to stand next to this force of nature (referring to Ann) and rock our butts off.” She thanked such industry boosters as Don Passman, Rob Light and John Sykes and thanked the audience “for helping us survive the sheer insanity of this rock and roll circus. We couldn’t care less about the gender politics of the time and we still don’t.”
Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs, accepted the award on Ann Wilson’s behalf. He recalled being a 12-year-old in Canada and hearing Heart’s first hit “Magic Man” on the radio and said he has been a fan ever since. He noted that Ann is still going strong – featured on a track on Disturbed’s new album and on Dolly Parton’s upcoming rock album.
Several artists and executives were honored for challenging gender or racial norms. Jim Stewart of Stax Records received a trustees award in part for Stax’s progressive stance for the time and place (Memphis) of having an interracial band, Booker T. & the MG’s.
Stewart died on Dec. 5, 2022 at age 92. A niece said that he advocated equal rights for all. She said “We should all try for a little more tenderness,” borrowing from the title of a 1966 hit by Otis Redding, “Try a Little Tenderness,” released on Stax’s Volt label.
The Supremes received a lifetime achievement award, in part for the way they broke down barriers that had kept white and Black fans separated – literally, in segregated theaters, and also culturally.
Diana Ross, who was present when she received a solo lifetime achievement award from the Academy in 2012, wasn’t on hand to receive the trio’s honor, even though she is its only surviving member. Instead, the award was accepted by daughters of Mary Wilson, who died in 2021, and Florence Ballard, who died in 1976.
It was a touching moment when Wilson’s daughter Jurkessa and Ballard’s daughter Lisa Sabrina – both middle-aged women now – hugged.
Jurkessa Wilson said that “The Supremes changed perceptions of how the world viewed Black people.” She also thanked Ross, who she noted was her godmother.
“I really don’t have many memories of my mom,” Lisa Sabrina Ballard shared. “I was just three years old she passed. But she was very well loved all over the world.”
Krist Novoselic spoke for Nirvana, which received a lifetime achievement award. Dave Grohl, an 18-time Grammy winner, also went up to accept the award, but let his former colleague take the lead. Novoselic said that he reads fan mail from around the world and detects that there’s a new generation of fans discovering Nirvana’s music.
Novoselic quoted the line “Teenage angst has paid off,” adding, “Well, and so it has.”
Slick Rick was honored, even though he has yet to receive a Grammy nomination or a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod. The rapper’s lifetime achievement award was presented by veteran industry executive Lyor Cohen, currently YouTube’s global head of music. Cohen noted that Slick Rick was the first act he signed to Def Jam Records.
Slick Rick appeared wearing a purple coat. “Do you like the coat?” he asked the audience, and then announced where he bought it: “Macys. Women’s section.”
He said that growing up in England, he knew he wanted to be a singer, singing snatches of Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By” and The Supremes’ “Baby Love” before identifying other favorites – The Beatles, Jamaican dance hall and hip-hop.
Nile Rodgers has received so many awards, you might think his trustees award would be just another one to put on the shelf, but he was emotional throughout his acceptance speech, in which he named many of the artists he’s worked with. “I don’t want to cry so I’m going to try to be strong,” he said, concluding “We are part of the great and wondrous musical family.”
Bobby McFerrin received a lifetime achievement award and demonstrated his talent by doing a seemingly impromptu acapella voicebox bit. He came across a bit like a Robin Williams of music – someone so inspired and gifted that they seem to just ping from one thing to the next.
McFerrin noted that his father was the first African American to sign a contract with the Metropolitan Opera of New York – so Bobby grew up listening, in his words, to Beethoven, Brahms and Basie.
Blues legend Ma Rainey, who died in 1939, was finally honored, her award presumably given fresh impetus by the 2020 film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, in which Viola Davis received an Oscar nomination for playing Rainey.
Henry Diltz, who became just the second photographer (following the late Jim Marshall) to receive a trustees award, recalled that he almost stumbled into his career. “I was happy being a hippie folk singer,” he said. “I saw a little second-hand store that had a table full of little used cameras. I got one and put film in it and decided to take photos of all my friends. Well, they all became famous.” And as Diltz rattled off just their first names – including Graham, Stephen, Joni, Jimi, James and Jackson – you realize he truly was in the right place at the right time.
Diltz ended his acceptance remarks with two bits of sound advice: “Behave properly. Be happy.”
Dr. Andy Hildebrand, who created the groundbreaking Auto-Tune software program for pitch correction, admitted that he didn’t realize the effect it would have on recording studio economics. Where singers would once have to do take after take of a song to get it right, now they could sing it once and a producer could Auto-Tune it. “It’s been an amazing trip and I’m still writing software,” Hildebrand said.
As in years past, the selections can sometimes seem random. The best way to look at each year’s class is as a representative sample of greatness across a broad range of genres, rather than, necessarily, the seven most deserving artists of those yet to honored.
The Academy had said that the song for social change award would be presented at this event. It was not even mentioned. It will presumably be presented on the Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday.
Here’s a complete list of 2023 Special Merit Award recipients.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Supremes
Nirvana
Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson
Nile Rodgers
Slick Rick
Bobby McFerrin
Ma Rainey
Trustees Awards
Jim Stewart
Ellis Marsalis
Henry Diltz
Technical Grammy Award Honorees
AES
Dr. Andy Hildebrand
Music Educator Award
Pamela Dawson, director of choral activities, DeSoto High School, DeSoto, Tex.
Punk icon John Lydon has failed in his attempt to become Ireland’s entry for the pop music competition the Eurovision Song Contest.
The former Sex Pistols frontman entered the song “Hawaii” with his post-punk band Public Image Ltd. in the national runoff for May’s continent-wide contest.
Jurors and viewers of a televised final on Friday (Feb. 3) chose the song “We Are One” by the band Wild Youth to represent Ireland at the contest in May. “Hawaii” came fourth of six finalists.
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The ex-punk firebrand once known as Johnny Rotten was born in London to Irish parents. He said “Hawaii” was a tribute to his wife, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision sees more than 40 countries compete for the continent’s pop music crown.
The 2023 contest will be staged in the English city of Liverpool after Britain was asked to hold the event on behalf of Ukraine.
Ukraine won the right to host the pop extravaganza when its entry, folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won the 2022 contest. Britain’s Sam Ryder came second.
British organizers say the event will be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and creativity as well as Liverpool’s musical heritage.
Maluma‘s The Love & Sex Tape is up for best música urbana album at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, set to take place on Sunday (Feb. 5). The Colombian star is up against fellow hitmakers Rauw Alejandro (TRAP CAKE, VOL. 2), Bad Bunny (Un Verano Sin Ti), Daddy Yankee (LEGENDADDY) and Farruko (La 167).
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It marks his first nomination ever in this category. Overall, it’s his second nomination. He was previously nominated in the best Latin pop album category for his 2019 set, 11:11.
If he wins his first Grammy, “I would feel very proud to take that to Colombia, that would be so amazing.” Maluma tells Billboard ahead of the awards ceremony, that will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. “That’s the biggest goal, to take the Grammy to my hometown and show it to my mom, to my dad and my friends.”
The Love & Sex Tape dropped in June and it showcased a darker, naughtier side of the “Pretty Boy.” In the eight-track album — produced by The Rude Boyz — Maluma stays true to his urbano essence singing about love, lust and heartbreak, but does so with slightly more raunchier lyrics. It peaked at No. 16 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart (dated June 25).
About his fellow nominees, Maluma shares that it’s “nice” to be part of that group of artists. “We represent our culture and being nominated with these huge stars is great.” Check out the entire one-on-one interview with Maluma above.
And below, stream his Grammy-nominated set The Love & Sex Tape.
The 2023 Grammys, set to air on Sunday, Feb. 5, will have a strong focus on contemporary R&B and hip-hop. There will be individual performances by Lizzo, Mary J. Blige and Steve Lacy. DJ Khaled, joined by Fridayy, Jay-Z, John Legend, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, will perform “God Did,” their No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Most notably, there will be an extensive 50th-anniversary salute to hip-hop, hosted by LL Cool J and featuring dozens of hip-hop stars.
Hip-hop will also factor into another set piece on the show. The annual In Memoriam spot will feature three breakout salutes – to Migos co-founder Takeoff, Fleetwood Mac mainstay Christine McVie and country legend Loretta Lynn. Maverick City Music will join Quavo for Quavo’s sentimental ballad “Without You” to honor Takeoff. Bonnie Raitt, Mick Fleetwood and Sheryl Crow will team to perform “Songbird” from Fleetwood Mac’s album of the year-winning Rumours to honor McVie. Kacey Musgraves will perform Lynn’s 1970 classic “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in tribute to the country legend.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras are expected to perform their Hot 100 No. 1 smash “Unholy,” which is nominated for best pop duo/group performance. The song was released just six days before the end of the eligibility year (Sept. 30, 2022). If it had had more time to fully register with Grammy voters, it would almost certainly have been nominated for record and/or song of the year.
At press time, only one of the four artists who had the most 2023 Grammy nominations (Carlile) has been announced as a performer on the show. The other three (Adele, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar) have not. That may well change as the show approaches. Awards shows increasingly tend to hold back announcements of big names until the last minute to create buzz when they need it the most.
The 65th annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be hosted for the third year in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah. The show will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
The 65th annual Grammy Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins the team for the first time as director. Eric Cook is co-executive producer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton and David Wild as producers.
Prior to the telecast, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on live.Grammy.com. Randy Rainbow, a first-time Grammy nominee for best comedy album for A Little Brains, A Little Talent, is co-hosting the show. His co-host has yet to be named.
Main Telecast
Host
Trevor Noah
Performers
Bad Bunny
Brandi Carlile
DJ Khaled with Fridayy, Jay-Z, John Legend, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross
Harry Styles
Lizzo
Luke Combs
Mary J. Blige
Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Steve Lacy
Stevie Wonder with Smokey Robinson and Chris Stapleton
50th-anniversary salute to hip-hop: LL Cool J (host),Questlove (producer/musical director), The Roots (music), Black Thought (narrator), Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz and Too $hort.
In Memoriam breakouts: Kacey Musgraves; Bonnie Raitt, Mick Fleetwood and Sheryl Crow; Maverick City Music and Quavo
Presenters
Billy Crystal
Cardi B
Dwayne Johnson
James Corden
Jill Biden
Olivia Rodrigo
Shania Twain
Viola Davis
Premiere Ceremony
Host
Randy Rainbow
Performers
The Blind Boys of Alabama with La Marisoul from La Santa Cecilia
Arooj Aftab
Madison Cunningham
Samara Joy
Anoushka Shankar
Carlos Vives
Presenters
Babyface
DOMi and JD Beck
Myles Frost
Arturo O’Farrill
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Jimmy Jam
One of the ways in which the Grammy Awards are distinct from most other awards shows: There’s more than one top prize. The album of the year trophy has long been viewed as the most prestigious award of the yearly ceremony, yet artists have dominated the Grammys in past years by taking home both record and song of the year, like Silk Sonic did at the 2022 Grammys with “Leave the Door Open.” In other years — like in 2020, when Billie Eilish swept the Big Four — multiple major wins, including album of the year, helped define how that year’s ceremony was remembered.
Ahead of the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday night, it’s worth asking: Which artists could dominate the Grammys narrative this year, and what would it mean if they did? Nine artists have the chance to take home multiple Big Four awards, with generous overlap between the nominees for album of the year, record of the year and song of the year (the 10 best new artist nominees, strangely, do not have any other Big Four nods this year). Meanwhile, a 10th artist only has one Big Four nod… but a win would be groundbreaking enough that it’s worth including them into the list of artists who could shape how this year’s Grammys are remembered.
Those artists range from rising pop stars with brash hit singles to music industry institutions who have been earning acclaim for decades. And all of their legacies could be altered come Grammy night — some via an early coronation, others through long-awaited wins. There’s a lot at stake in every Grammy category, but the Big Four carry the most eyeballs and the greatest weight, with lasting impacts more than possible.
With that in mind, here are the 10 artists who could dominate the narrative of the 2023 Grammys, what they would need to win in order to do so, and what those dominant performances would mean.
Here’s a list that, frankly, no one wants to be on – artists who have had the most nominations to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without being inducted. Because, whether they admit or not, most artists wants to be inducted, awarded, feted and celebrated.
Three of this year’s nominees to the Rock Hall are creeping up this list. This is the fifth nomination for Rage Against the Machine and the fourth for Kate Bush and The Spinners. It’s the second for Iron Maiden, Soundgarden and A Tribe Called Quest — but we limited this list to artists who have been nominated three or more times without being inducted.
Sometimes, the Rock Hall gives special awards to artists who have been passed over in the regular voting. Nile Rodgers received an award for musical excellence in 2017, the same year his band Chic was passed over for the 11th time. LL Cool J received the same award in 2021 following several snubs. The Rock Hall stresses that all routes to their honors are valid and should be accorded respect. They don’t want anyone to regard special honors as consolation prizes (even if many fans will see them that way).
LL’s musical excellence award removed him from this list. Chic remains on the list because the other members of the group — Bernard Edwards, Tony Thompson, Luci Martin and Norma Jean Wright — have yet to be honored.
Eight of this year’s 14 candidates are first-time nominees, which suggests that time is marching on in the Rock Hall nominating process, as it should. You can also see evidence of that in the “most recent nod” column here. 1950s R&B star Chuck Willis’ most recent nod was in 2011. You have to go back to 2005 for Gram Parsons’ most recent nod, and all the way back to 1988 for Ben E. King’s. Barring some new impetus to induct these artists, their chances appear close to nil. But never say never: Kate Bush had a thoroughly unexpected revival in 2022, which greatly boosted her chances of making it in this year.
Chaka Khan has faced the voters seven times without being inducted – three times on her own and four times fronting Rufus.
To be nominated for the Rock Hall, an artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.
Here’s how Billboard‘s Andrew Unterberger pegs this year’s nominees in terms of their likelihood of being inducted this year — from least to most likely. Of the six repeat candidates, he is highest on Bush and Soundgarden making it in this year, with the other four deemed less likely to get the job done this year.
Here’s a list of the artists who have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three or more times but haven’t been inducted yet.
Year after year, Spotify’s Grammy Week party delivers what no other party does: performances from every best new artist nominee on the same stage on the same night.
And sure, with 10 nominees, that does lead to a rather long evening as the sets spread out over nearly five hours, but that hardly stopped the closing act from delivering a headline-worthy rock show, prompting the first and only mosh pit of the night.
With a guest list full of future best new artist hopefuls such as Orville Peck, jxdn, Joshua Bassett, Role Model, Yung Gravy and more, past nominee Kid Laroi was also in attendance. Plus, a handful of stars showed up, including Machine Gun Kelly, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Diplo, Tove Lo, Aly & AJ and so many more.
After turning last year’s event into a first-of-its kind best new artist brunch – held at Encore Beach Club at Wynn in Las Vegas – 2023’s edition at Los Angeles’ Pacific Design Center was a welcome return to the party guests have come to know and love.
Below are the best moments from the night, courtesy of each best new artist nominee.
7:32: Instrumental jazz duo Domi and JD Beck opened the night with a captivating set that not only served as the perfect entry music, but also set a high bar for the acts to follow. Drummer JD Beck joked about playing “anti-party music” while Domi later took her shoes off and jokingly declared the duo to be the “Worst New Artist.”
7:52: Emerging bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle wowed the room with her quick and vibrant strumming, amplified by a four-piece string band. Tuttle sounded crisp and cutting, briefly transporting the captivated audience – which included an attentive Orville Peck – to a setting more akin to Newport Folk Festival.
8:11: Performing alongside a pianist, upright bassist and drummer, Samara Joy turned the sprawling tented venue into an intimate late-night club – think New York’s Blue Note. The jazz singer stunned with her soaring vocals, and caught even more of the room’s attention with her cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You.”
8:35: Muni Long became the first performer of the night to welcome backup dancers and a prop – in the form of a silver chaise lounge – to the stage. She not only upped the ante with her production value, but delivered bar-raising vocals to match. Her voice was a force, even battling it out briefly with an electric guitar. Before her set wrapped, she wished the crowd a happy Black History Month, plugged her upcoming show and fittingly ended with breakout hit “Hrs and Hrs.”
9:33: Following a surprise DJ set from the week’s most in-demand performer, DJ Pee Wee (Anderson .Paak), he introduced the celebrated Italian rockers Maneskin to the stage. “Hello everybody, we’re Italian rockers and we play rock n’ roll – at least, we try,” quipped frontman Damiano David. Wearing matching all white suits, the Eurovision winners shredded through “Begging,” “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and more, delivering a stadium-worthy rock show. In the absence of any pyro or other rock show staples, David settled for sprinkling water over the front row to cap off the set.
9:53: Nearly three hours in, Latto took the stage at the perfect time to bring the “big big energy,” performing her hit “Big Energy.” Supported by her DJ and flanked by backup dancers, Latto genuinely seemed to be having a blast on stage, engaging with the audience and smiling through each move.
10:03: Opening her set in a denim trench to perform “Lobby,” Anitta soon after joked, “Good thing the votes are already counted.” Yet she still delivered an expectedly fiery set, including some signature twerking as an appetizer to “Envolver,” which continued to stand out as a party starter.
10:31: As the stage spins around to reveal Tobe Nwigwe, the first thing to stand out is the set fit for Architectural Digest, with two ivory arched structures on either end framing Nwigwe and his backup vocalists in the center. The singer-rapper treated the audience to a moment of all-consuming zen, momentarily making the otherwise fast-paced party seem to slow down and tune in.
11:03: The crowd thickened for Omar Apollo’s anticipated set, for which he asked, “Is everybody drunk right now? What’s the vibe here?” As the second-to-last performer, Apollo left quite the impression, performing fan favorites including “Go Away” and Endlessly” before warning the crowd his closer is “really f–king sad.” He told no lie, as he finished with the still-growing ballad “Evergreen.”
11:28: Following an epic flute introduction, indie-rock duo Wet Leg took the stage for the evening’s grand finale, and judging by the floor that began to shake from all the jumping, the act was a perfect choice. The rockers treated the brief set the same as their own headlining shows, letting their instruments do most of the talking. The performance included “Wet Dream” and, of course, ended with the song that started it all, “Chaise Lounge.” As a mosh pit began to pick up steam, the pair grinned, as if to say even they couldn’t believe this quirky song started it all.
The 2023 Grammy Awards are nearly upon us! Though the ceremony takes place on Sunday, Feb. 5, artists who are preparing to make their appearance at the ceremony have touched down in Los Angeles in advance for a series of both public and private events for the period dubbed Grammy Week. And while fans may not be able to attend them all, Billboard has you covered with this gallery of photos that features snaps of music stars who showed up to the Grammys pre-parties.
Thursday (Feb. 2) saw Warner Music Group host a star-studded party at the Hollywood Athletic Club in Los Angeles. Saweetie was among the stars to pose for photos on the carpet. During the event, Anderson .Paak — who showed up in his now-signature shiny bowl cut and sunglasses combo — gave the turntables a spin as DJ Pee Wee. Best new artist nominee Omar Apollo took to the stage to perform, and Nile Rodgers cleared the dance floor to bust a move.
The Recording Academy Honors presented by The Black Music Collective also took place on Thursday. Ciara and Lil Wayne posed for photos while sitting at the tables, Dr. Dre accepted the Recording Academy Global Impact Award that night, and attendees were treated to entertaining performances from Busta Rhymes (“Put Your Hands Where Your Eyes Can See,” “I Know What You Want”) as well as Chlöe, who dazzled with covers of songs by Aaliyah and Missy Elliott (“One in a Million” and “One Minute Man”).
Young stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter and GAYLE also turned up at the many Grammy Week events. See photos of the stars at the various gatherings.