Grammy 2009 performer Hudson may provide more drama than winners By Gayl Murphy

HOLLYWOOD, CA (RushPRnews) 2/8/09 – It’s music’s biggest night as the 51st Annual Grammy Awards broadcast live from the Staple Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 8th.The latest additions to the lineup of talent performing include; two-time winner and current nominee Terence Blanchard, previous winner and 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year Neil Diamond, M.I.A., Smokey Robinson, Robin Thicke, Allen Toussaint, 25-time winner and current nominee and a tribute to Bo Diddley featuring current nominees Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer and Keith Urban.

Previously announced performers include; U2, Paul McCartney with special guest drummer Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (together) Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Adele, Chris Brown, Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Estelle and Kanye West, , Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Radiohead, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, T.I. and Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood.

Also hitting the stage is a Four Tops Tribute featuring Duke Fakir (2009 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and original member of the Four Tops), Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo, and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West in a special performance of their hit single “Swagga Like Us.”
Taking on the role of presenters for the show are Jack Black, current three-time nominee Duffy, current nominee Josh Groban, actress Kate Beckinsale, a reunited Blink 182, eight-time winner and current nominee Natalie Cole, actress/musician Zooey Deschanel, previous winner Sean “Diddy” Combs, Morgan Freeman, three-time winner Green Day, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, five-time winner John Legend, current nominee Leona Lewis, two-time winner LL Cool J, current nominee Jason Mraz, two-time winner and current nominee LeAnn Rimes, three-time winner and current nominee will.i.am, three-time-winning jazz musician and current nominee Charlie Haden, Simon Baker, Samuel L. Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow, who is nominated in the category of Best Spoken Album for Children.

Some of the specific nominees and categories include; two-time winner Robert Plant and 21-time winner Alison Krauss. They have five nominations this year: Album Of The Year and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album for Raising Sand, Record Of The Year (”Please Read The Letter”), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (”Rich Woman”), and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (”Killing The Blues”).

Duffy and pervious winner Rihanna each have three nods: Duffy is up for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (”Mercy”), and Best Pop Vocal Album (Rockferry); Rihanna is nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (”If I Never See Your Face Again” with Maroon 5), Best Dance Recording (”Disturbia”), and Best Long Form Music Video (Good Girl Gone Bad Live).

Kid Rock has two nominations: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (”All Summer Long”) and Best Rock Album (Rock N Roll Jesus) and Josh Groban and Charlie Haden have one. Groban’s nod is for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Noël); Haden is nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance (”Is This America? (Katrina 2005)” with Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby).
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS TV from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Hollywood Today