Grammys 2024 live updates | Red carpet, winners | AP News

Last Updated: February 04, 2024 05:40 PM

Published: February 04, 2024 01:00 PM

“We had so much fun at this concert and I think you can feel it on the record,” Joni Mitchell said, accepting her Grammy for best folk album at the Premiere Ceremony for “Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live)” to a standing ovation.

“Even the audience sounds like music,” she said.

This is her 10th Grammy. Mitchell is slated to perform during the telecast tonight — her first time ever performing at the Grammys.

Dua Lipa sparkled on the red carpet in a custom Courrèges silver dress. Channeling Joan of Arc, Lipa strutted in the heavy metal dress.

“It makes me feel really strong and powerful and that’s the energy I’m bringing in tonight,” she told The Associated Press.

The British singer is up for two awards for her song “Dance the Night” from the “Barbie” soundtrack. Her song is one of several songs from the “Barbie” soundtrack dominating the Grammy nominations this year.

Lipa told The Associated Press that she is celebrating alongside the many other women nominated Sunday.

Boygenius can’t get off the Grammys stage.

The supergroup of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker took three big trophies in a few short minutes. They won best rock performance, best rock song and best alternative music album for “The Record.”

“What the hell?” Bridgers, dressed in white suit and black tie just like her two bandmates, said after they won their third. “This is SO incredible, we’re just screaming backstage. It’s just been a constant scream.”

Paramore also won a pair in the same short stretch, taking best rock album and best alternative music performance.

Bridgers also got a piece of the award for best pop duo or group performance for her collaboration with SZA, “Ghost in the Machine.”

And boygenius is nominated for some of the night’s biggest awards to be handed out later – including album of the year and record of the year.

▶ READ MORE: An interview with Boygenius

Victoria Monét is having her moment. Monét glowed Sunday in a bronze corseted gown as she appeared for her seven Grammy nominations including best new artist.

The influential songwriter won two Grammys for best R&B album and best engineered album, non-classical, earlier Sunday. The “On My Mama” singer is finally receiving her flowers after years putting in the work as a songwriter.

On Wednesday, Monet told the AP how she was preparing daughter Hazel for the Grammys hoopla. If Monet’s “Hollywood” wins, 2-year-old Hazel is poised to become the youngest Grammy winner in history.

Premiere Ceremony host Justin Tranter and presenter Rufus Wainwright weren’t mispronouncing Laufey’s name when they called her “Lay-vey.”

The singer from Iceland just performed at the Grammys then won best traditional pop vocal album for “Bewitched.”

The daughter of an Icelandic father and a Chinese mother, she has said in interviews that hers is a common name in her home country – Laufey is the mother of Loki in Norse mythology – and involves two vowels that don’t really exist in English. “Lay-vay,” she says, is the best way to go.

▶ READ MORE: The best African music performance Grammy is new. Its global appeal is not

…Tyla, for “Water”!

“If you don’t know me, my name is Tyla and I’m from South Africa. And last year, God decided to change my life,” the 22-year-old said accepting her award.

“I know my mother’s crying somewhere in here,” she added, pointing to the audience.

The best African music performance Grammy was one of three new additions to this year’s award show. It’s meant to highlight regional musical traditions and recognize “recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent.”

“Thank you to the Recording Academy for this category. It’s so important,” Tyla said.

They give Grammys for talking too. J. Ivy just won best spoken word poetry album for “The Light Inside.”

Ivy, who opened the Premiere Ceremony with some Prince-inspired lines, also versified in his acceptance: “We have suffered long enough. The world needs more poets.”

The Blind Boys of Alabama picked up their sixth Grammy tonight.

That’s Sid Wilson of Slipknot, reflecting on the legacy of the the heavy metal band at the Grammys. Slipknot is nominated tonight for best metal performance. Wilson was accompanied by girlfriend Kelly Osbourne, with her signature purple hair.

The couple made their first red carpet appearance together at the Grammy’s Sunday. Wilson is known for sporting masks on tour.

“This is our first date night since the baby,” Osbourne said.

Slipknot won their first Grammy in 2005 for best metal performance.

“What is amazing is watching the whole family of Slipknot continue on,” Wilson told the AP.

It’s country time at the Grammys. Country artists were left out of the biggest categories this year, but at their own corner of the ceremony, Grammy constant Chris Stapleton won his ninth and tenth career trophies. He took both best country song and country solo performance for “White Horse.”

Jason Isbell, unlikely star of Oscar nominee “Killers of the Flower Moon,” won two of his own, taking best American roots song for “Cast Iron Skillet” and best Americana album for “Weathervanes.”

When he won the second, Isbell urged his band the 400 Unit to join him on stage before his 45-second speech time limit was up, including Jimbo Hart, who left the band in November for mental health reasons.

“Look at Jimbo! Hey Jimbo!” Isbell yelled as his guys jogged up to the stage.

These Grammys were a career fifth and sixth for Isbell.

▶ READ MORE: Country music at the Grammys

It’s going to be a long evening.

Like the Emmys, the Grammys hand out of scores of awards before the telecast. But the Television Academy does it the weekend before the main event, at the two-day Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The Recording Academy, on the other hand, does it just before Sunday’s telecast, at what’s called the Premiere Ceremony. The long carpet accommodates attendees of both the Premiere Ceremony, which started at 12:30 p.m. Pacific and runs for three hours, and the main telecast, which doesn’t air until 5 p.m. Pacific.

Jon Bon Jovi was honored for his musical achievements and philanthropy by MusiCares on Friday.

In addition to Springsteen, several other artists turned out to pay tribute to the New Jersey rockstar via his own songs:

• Melissa Etheridge and Larkin Poe with “Blaze of Glory”
• Jelly Roll with “Bad Medicine”
• Lainey Wilson with “We Weren’t Born to Follow”
• Train’s Pat Monahan with “It’s My Life”
• Shania Twain with “Bed of Roses”
• Jason Isbell with “Wanted Dead or Alive”
• Måneskin’s David Damiano on “Keep the Faith”
• The War and the Treaty on “I’ll Be There for You”
• Sammy Hagar and Orianthi on “You Give Love a Bad Name”
• Wolfgang Van Halen and Mammoth WVH on “Have a Nice Day”

Several performers joined Bon Jovi onstage for an all-star finale of “Livin’ On a Prayer.”

Walk the Grammys red carpet with The Associated Press.

The “Barbenheimer” vibe remains alive at the Grammys.

“Barbie” won best compilation soundtrack for visual media, taking the first of 11 awards the movie music is nominated for.

Then immediately after, “Oppenheimer” won best score soundtrack for the compositions of Ludwig Göransson.

“Barbie” also took best song Written For Visual Media winner for “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell won the Grammy for writing the song. Both thanked their parents, and he shouted out “our dad who worked as a construction worker at the Mattel corporation for much of our childhood to keep food on the table.”

“Star Wars: Jedi Survivor” won the equivalent award for video games.

This afternoon’s host is Justin Tranter, a much-nominated songwriter. Tranter gave out ground rules for winners, including leaping up to let everyone know you’re present (no substitutes accepted), then keeping speeches to a tight 45 seconds. The clock begins the moment winners step onto the stage.

He shared the recipe to his success with The Associated Press earlier: “I just start having a conversation with the artist,” Tranter says. “When they say something that I think is either already the song title or is at least the song topic, then it becomes a secret or not-so-secret interview. And I just keep going in on that topic.”

It is a process that has yielded smashes for such artists as Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Halsey, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, DNCE, Gwen Stefani and Fall Out Boy, triggering 50 million single sales and 50 billion streams.

Tranter is up for a songwriting Grammy this year for an astonishing range of songs, testament to an ability to talk to everyone: There’s Italian heavy metal, a rap banger, crystalline pop, introspective rock and a soaring Broadway number.

The songs are: Miley Cyrus’ “River,” Baby Tate’s “Jersey,” Måneskin’s “Honey (Are U Coming?),” Talk’s “A Little Bit Happy,” “I Want More” from the TV series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” and Reneé Rapp’s “Gemini Moon” and “Pretty Girls.”

None seem to have any connection to the others except Tranter, who fronted the glam-punk band Semi Precious Weapons and vowed to make the songwriting business humane after experiencing homophobia and bad record deals.

▶ READ MORE: Who is Justin Tranter?

“I was not encouraged to focus on my love for Black music,” Mariah Carey said Thursday night at the academy’s Black Music Collective event in Los Angeles, where she and Lenny Kravitz were given the Global Impact Award.

Carey used the Recording Academy stage to speak against having to conform to certain music industry standards to create music that would appeal to the masses.

“It took countless arguments, endless tantrums and mostly unwavering determination,” the five-time Grammy winner continued as she noted the first day of Black History Month. “But eventually, I was able to unveil my authentic self and create music from my heart. In doing so, I discovered a new sense of freedom and fulfillment.”

SZA and Phoebe Bridgers have won the first Grammy of the day.

They took the trophy for best pop duo or group performance for “Ghost in the Machine.”

Neither was there to claim the award, but both are big nominees – SZA leads all with nine – who will be at the main ceremony that begins in about four hours.

It was the first of more than 80 Grammys that will be handed out at the packed Premiere Ceremony.

By LESLIE AMBRIZ, GARY GERARD HAMILTON

Our AP red carpet team is back at it for the second year running. In front of the camera, you’ll find Liam McEwan for the first hour. Leslie Ambriz and Gary Hamilton will take over for the rest of the live show.

Jeff Turner and Rick Taber are behind the camera, while Ryan Pearson directs talent onsite. Brooke Lefferts in New York is producing the show.

Watch the AP’s live red carpet show here from 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern until 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern.

We’re definitely not going to see anything as monumental as last year, when Beyoncé became the Grammys’ most decorated artist in history.

But here’s a sampling of some other records that could fall:

• If Taylor Swift takes home album of the year, she’d break the record for the artist with the most wins in that category
• If Victoria Monét ’s “Hollywood” wins best traditional R&B performance, her daughter Hazel Monét, 2, will become the youngest Grammy winner
• Karol G could become the first female artist to ever win in the best música urbana album category if she wins for “Mañana Será Bonito”
• Kelly Clarkson could break the record for most best pop vocal album wins if she gets her third trophy for “Chemistry”
• Kendrick Lamar could extend his record in the best rap performance category if he wins for a seventh time for “The Hillbillies,” his track with his cousin Baby Keem

For starters, there are three new categories:

• best pop dance recording
• best African music performance
• best alternative jazz album

Also: For some artists, executive producer Ben Winston says his team has created short films to tell the story of their year before they perform.

The Premiere Ceremony is where the bulk of tonight’s Grammys will be handed out. Scores of trophies are slated to be awarded tonight and there’s simply not enough time to distribute them during the main telecast, which is packed with performances.

The Premiere Ceremony runs for three hours, starting at 12:30 p.m. Pacific/3:30 p.m. Eastern. It’s where categories like best audiobook narration are handed out and it’s often where many stars earn their EGOT — like Viola Davis, last year.

If you’re curious, no one is poised to EGOT (complete the circuit of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) this year. But there are still some unexpected celebrities who could earn a Grammy this year. We’ll keep you updated, but if you want to watch along, go to the Grammys website or YouTube.

If Victoria Monét’s “Hollywood” wins a Grammy, daughter Hazel — who features on the track — is due to become the youngest Grammy winner in history. This is how the “On My Mama” singer is preparing her daughter for the Grammys.

More than 50 items donated by the world’s biggest music stars are up for auction Sunday at the Grammy Museum and online to benefit MusiCares.

Lots include, per the Julien’s Auctions site:

• Guitars signed by Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, DJ Khaled, Bad Bunny, Willie Nelson and more
• Nike Air Force 1 sneakers signed by Dr. Dre
• “Diamonds” sheet music signed by Rihanna
• Coldplay’s Rose Bowl concert setlist
• Albums signed by Cheech & Chong
• A Yamaha baby grand piano played by the late Christine McVie on tour with Fleetwood Mac
• A Stevie Nicks Barbie doll, signed by the Fleetwood Mac singer
• A jacket owned by the late James Brown
• A skateboard used in Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” music video, signed by the artist
• A catsuit worn by Dua Lipa on tour
• Several items from 2024 honoree Jon Bon Jovi

Just two days after mother Adele Springsteen’s death, Bruce Springsteen opened the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year event with honoree Jon Bon Jovi.

“When I first got the news he was already on the airplane on his way here,” Bon Jovi told the crowd. “I certainly would have understood if he’d said that he couldn’t make it, but he wanted to be here tonight for MusiCares and he wanted to be here tonight for me, and I am forever grateful to you.”

The pair traded guitar licks on Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” as scenes of their native New Jersey were projected behind them at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With the crowd on its feet, the duo segued into Springsteen’s “The Promised Land.”

Every year, for every award show, snubs and surprises are hotly debated. Here were some The Associated Press identified when the 2024 Grammy nominees were announced last November:

• Reneé Rapp, Peso Pluma and PinkPantheress were absent from the best new artist category
• Despite regional Mexican music’s immense year, there were no nods for Eslabon Armado, Grupo Frontera, Natanael Cano or Fuerza Regida. There were only three nominees for best música urbana album
• Morgan Wallen, whose “Last Night” was a chartbuster, continued his streak of being shut out
• No nominations for K-pop groups
• Prince Harry, whose memoir “Spare” sold more than 3.2 million copies worldwide in just one week, was snubbed for his narration of the audiobook

Here are the artists with the most nominations at the 2024 Grammys:

1. SZA, with nine
2. Victoria Monét and Phoebe Bridgers, each with seven (six of Bridgers’ are for her work with boygenius)
3. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff, with six

“Barbie” isn’t a person or a band, but music from the blockbuster’s soundtrack earned 11 nominations — four of those in the same category.

By GARY GERARD HAMILTON, LESLIE AMBRIZ

Join The Associated Press on the red carpet — live! The AP is hosting its own red carpet show beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern. The first hour will be hosted by Liam McEwan, before AP’s Leslie Ambriz and Gary Hamilton take over. It runs until the Grammys telecast starts at 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern.

Ahead of the Grammys, The Associated Press spoke to the producers behind the show to find out what to expect from this year’s telecast.

Women rule the major categories. How will that translate to the Grammy stage?
Executive producer Ben Winston says best pop solo performance will likely be the first award of the night — remarkable because every nominee in the category is a woman.

What can we expect from the performances?
Winston says there will be between “12 to 15 performers — it depends on if the memoriam counts as one or three.”

What’s the deal with artificial intelligence?
Last year, the Recording Academy announced protocols involving technological advancements in machine learning that sparked headlines: “Only human creators” could win the music industry’s highest honor in a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence in popular music.

“Right now, the way our awards team functions, there wouldn’t be any music that was not eligible in any of the categories — so voters were able to vote with confidence that the screening has already taken place,” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. says.