The 54th Annual Grammy Awards, set to air Sunday on CBS, will honor a year's worth of beats, bumps, drops, drums, belt-outs and blast-offs. British crooner Adele's mega-selling album 21 is widely expected to win the night's big award, Album of the Year (she's up against Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars), but who really will be tuning in to see who wins? Unlike the Oscars and the Golden Globes, the Grammy's ceremony is much less awards-focused, meaning the spotlight is on the night's live performances.

This year's lineup of performers covers a wide range of generations, genres and artistic legacies, with a bent that is understandably mainstream pop (it is "Music's Biggest Night," after all). Among the acts slated to perform include Adele, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Tony Bennett.

If this (seemingly endless and yet still incomplete) list seems daunting, don't fret. The Grammy's are famous for creating musical "events" by bringing together artists we're not used to seeing together. Case in point: Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will do a tribute to the late great Etta James.

Speaking of on-stage collaborations, rapper Chris Brown will reportedly take the stage with deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta and Lil Wayne for a performance highlighting dance and electronica music, according to CBS News. Brown's attendance at the event will come just three years after he and ex-girlfriend Rihanna canceled their appearances at the 2009 ceremony, after Brown was accused of assaulting her. He later pled guilty and is currently serving out five years' probation.

For a list of Grammy nominees, go here.

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2 Comments

  • A Grinshpan
    A Grinshpan on

    So many great performers!

  • antonioberryman
    antonioberryman on

    Sounds like quite the event.

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