Grammy Awards 2022 LIVE – SZA accepts award on crutches after injury alongside Doja Cat and other record-making moments
THE STARS showed up at the Grammys this year for some memorable moments, including SZA accepting an award on crutches, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even made a surprise appearance at the show Sunday night.
SZA headed to the stage on crutches to receive the best pop duo/group performance Grammy for “Kiss Me More,” her collaboration with Doja Cat, but her injury was not explained.
Plus, in a pre-recorded message, Zelensky called on the star-studded crowd to use their voices to end the war, urging the audience: "Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV, support us in any way you can any, but not silence."
His message came after host Trevor Noah opened the show with a joke about Will Smith slapping Chris Rick at last week's Oscars.
Singer Jon Batiste was one of the first winners announced at this year's Grammys, taking home the Best Music Video award as well as Best American Roots Song after being nominated for a red-breaking total of 11 awards in 11 different categories.
Meanwhile, Bruno Mars, who is one-half of Silk Sonic, is now only the second artist in Grammy history to win Record of the Year three times.
Read our Grammys 2022 live blog for the latest news and updates...
How does Grammy voting work?
Following the selection of nominations, final voting ballots are mailed to NARAS voting members, who may vote in the general fields as well as up to nine of the 30 fields.
Members are urged to vote exclusively in their areas of competence, although they are not obligated to do so.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, an independent accounting company, tabulates ballots in secrecy, per the Grammys .
The Grammy Awards reveal the winners after the votes have been tabulated.
In each category, the recording with the most votes wins, however, a tie is possible in which case the nominees who tie are considered winners.
Those who win are given a Grammy Award, while those who do not win are given a medal for their candidacy.
How do Grammy nominations work? continued
The resultant lists of qualifying entries are then distributed to voting members, who may vote in up to nine of the 30 fields on their ballots in addition to the general categories.
The five records with the most votes in each category become nominees, while review committees choose the final five nominees in other categories, according to .
If a tie develops during the nomination process, there may be more than five nominees.
How do Grammy nominations work?
Recordings can be nominated for consideration by members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), including media businesses and individuals.
Online entries are accepted, and a hard copy of the work is given to NARAS.
When a piece is entered, approximately 150 recording industry specialists participate in review sessions to ensure that it is placed in the relevant category.
What are the Latin Grammys?
In 1997, NARAS founded LARAS in response to the growing popularity of Latin music.
A recording can be released anywhere in the globe, but it must be recorded in the Spanish or Portuguese language between July 1 of the previous year and June 30 of the award year to be eligible for a Latin Grammy.
In Los Angeles, the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards were held in 2000, with Carlos Santana and Shakira among the winners.
A brief history of the Grammy Awards, continued
The Grammy category system was drastically reformed by NARAS in 2011, reducing the total number of awards from 109 to 78.
Gender-based categories, as well as those that differentiated between solo and group activities, were abolished.
Instrumental categories were substantially reduced, and awards for Hawaiian music, Native American music, and zydeco were merged into a single category named "regional roots music."
In succeeding years, more changes were made, and by 2017, the number of prizes had stabilized at 84.
A brief history of the Grammy Awards
NARAS presented the Grammy Awards for the first time in Los Angeles in 1959, with 28 awards given out.
Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and the Kingston Trio were among the winners.
As new musical genres evolved, the number of prizes expanded.
The academy acknowledged rock as a genre for the first time in 1980, and rap for the first time in 1989.
The inaugural award for best music video was given out in 1982 to recognize the medium's expanding importance.
When were nominations announced?
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., along with Jon Batiste, Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell, H.E.R., BTS, Mneskin, Tayla Parx, Carly Pearce, comedian Nate Bargatze, Recording Academy chair Tammy Hurt, and CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King, announced the nominations during a virtual livestream on November 23, 2021.
On the same day, it was announced that late-night talk show host Trevor Noah would host the show.
Who received the most nominations this year?
With 11 nominations, Jon Batiste , followed by Doja Cat, H.E.R., and Justin Bieber, who each garnered eight.
Where are the 2022 Grammys taking place?
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
2022 Grammy Awards performers, continued
In addition to the principal performers at the award ceremony, there will also be different segments that have invited other performers.
According to Billboard, the show will have special segments in which Maverick City Music, Aymée Nuviola, and Billy Strings will perform.
There will also be an In Memoriam tribute, dedicated to lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim, performed by Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr, Ben Platt, and Rachel Zegler.
2022 Grammy Awards performers
According to , there will be a variety of performers serving different purposes at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
All but two principal performers, designated with an asterisk on the list below, are nominated for an award.
Here is a list of the show's principal performers:
- J Balvin with Maria Becerra*
- Jon Batiste
- Brothers Osborne
- BTS
- Brandi Carlile
- Billie Eilish
- H.E.R.
- Lady Gaga
- John Legend*
- Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow
- Nas
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Silk Sonic
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
Who is hosting the 2022 Grammy Awards?
This year, the show is scheduled to be hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah.
Noah is famously known as a South African comedian, television host, and political commentator who is the host of The Daily Show.
In 2021, Noah made headlines after it was revealed he was suing a New York City hospital and doctor for an alleged botched surgery.
Grammy Awards 2022 presenters
The presenters at the 2022 Grammys, according to , are:
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Lenny Kravitz
- Avril Lavigne
- Jared Leto
- Dua Lipa
- Ludacris
- Anthony Mackie
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Joni Mitchell
- Billy Porter
- Bonnie Raitt
- Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
- Keith Urban
- Questlove
Changes at the Grammys
On Tuesday, January 18, it was announced that the Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, April 3 at 8pm ET, with comedian Trevor Noah hosting the event.
Changes to the 64th annual Grammys include the absence of nominations review committees, a smaller number of categories voters may vote in, and two craft fields as opposed to the six of prior years: production and presentation.
The award event was postponed for the second year in a row. The Covid-19 pandemic also hampered last year’s event, although the rescheduled date was one of the earliest restorations to an in-person format as the pandemic continued.
Grammy nominations 2022: See the rest
There are tons of other exciting Grammy nominations this year, with categories from Best Rock Performance to Best Rap Performance to Best Country Duo/Group Performance and more.
To see many of the nominees, check out our full list of Grammy nominees here.
Grammy nominations 2022: Record of the Year
The Record of the Year nominations are:
ABBA – I Still Have Faith in You
Jon Batiste – Freedom
Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga – I Get a Kick Out of You
Justin Bieber, Daniel Cesar, Giveon – Peaches
Brandi Carlile – Right on Time
Doja Cat, SZA – Kiss Me More
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me by Your Name)
Olivia Rodrigo – Drivers License
Silk Sonic – Leave the Door OpenKanye’s nominations, continued
Kanye’s song Jail received a nomination for Best Rap Song, with Hurricane grabbing a nom for Best Melodic Rap Performance, too.
Donda also earned a nomination for Best Rap Album.
According to the , Kanye has won 22 awards out of 75 nominations throughout his lengthy career.
Kanye’s nominations
The rapper is still nominated for multiple Grammy awards in 2022, despite his ban from performing at the show.
He has two nominations for Album of the Year – one for his own, Donda, and another for his work on Lil Nas X‘s Montero.
How to watch the Grammys
In the United States, the show can be watched live on CBS or streamed through Paramount+.
It can also be watched with an active Hulu + Live TV subscription.
Lady Gaga is the surprise act at Grammys, continued
A ceremony insider said: “Gaga’s performance is going to be the biggest moment of the night and it will pay tribute to the brilliance of Tony.
“On stage she will sing Love For Sale, the title track from their last album, which came out last year.
“She will also perform Do I Love You, a song they previously did together.
“When she is singing, photographs of Tony will be beamed up on to the screen behind the stage. They are hoping he will be able to make the ceremony but it’s up in the air right now.
“Gaga will be there to pick up their gongs if they win, and they’re looking to clear up as they have five nominations for their work together.
“It is going to be really emotional for Gaga and the audience. All in all, her set will last five minutes and there won’t be a dry eye in the house once it is over.”
Lady Gaga is the surprise act at Grammys
Lady Gaga will be joining Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Silk Sonic and Olivia Rodrigo on stage at the postponed Grammys bash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas, for a very special performance.
The Shallow singer will pay a heartfelt tribute to legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who aged 95, is battling Alzheimer’s disease, The Sun revealed.
The pair, are up for five gongs for their collaborative jazz album Love For Sale, a follow-up to 2014’s Cheek To Cheek.
Academy accepts Will Smith's formal resignation
Just minutes after Will released his statement, the Academy sent out a memo of their own to accept his formal resignation.
They wrote: “We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
"We will continue to move forward with out disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our scheduled board meeting on April 18.”
Will has already apologized to Chris in an online statement, in which he called his actions "poisonous and destructive."
Will Smith calls slap 'painful and inexcusable,' continued
He continued in the emotional message: "I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.
"So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.”
The actor concluded: "Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."
Will Smith calls slap to Chris Rock 'painful and inexcusable'
In a statement put out on Friday, the movie star called his actions “shocking, painful and inexcusable” and said that he will accept any additional consequences that the Academy’s Board of Governors deems appropriate.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.
“I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken."
Will Smith quits the Academy
On Friday, it was revealed Will Smith quit the Academy following the backlash about his shocking slap to Chris Rock.
The newly-crowned Best Actor winner resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as he faced possible expulsion or suspension for his violent outburst last Sunday.
The slap heard around the world sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry and embroiled Will, 53, in the greatest controversy of his career.