Olivia Rodrigo, Barack Obama: 5 things to watch on Grammys night

1) The Olivia Rodrigo phenomenon

The great pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, coming from the Disney series High School Musicalcan repeat the feat achieved by Billie Eilish two years ago, by winning the four most prestigious trophies – album, song, recording and revelation of the year.

In total, she has no less than seven nominations, as many as Billie Eilish, freshly Oscar winner with the song from the latest James Bond (No Time to Die), but one less than pop star Justin Bieber or rapper Doja Cat.

The 19-year-old Californian, performer of Driver License and of Good 4 Uis also expected on the stage of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to sing live, just like the popular South Korean group BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, HER, Nas as well as the jazzman Jon Batiste, who holds a record of nominations (11) and is the favorite this year.

2) The mystery Ye

Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, released an album last year, dondaand another this year, donda 2. But it is above all for his personal attacks against comedian Pete Davidson, in a relationship with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, that he made people talk about him, until he was banned from publishing on Instagram for … 24 hours.

Stage beast, named this year in five categories, he can still give cold sweats to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which organizes the ceremony, because of his unpredictable side.

Reports have circulated that the Academy informed him that he could not perform on stage, but a surprise is still possible. The rapper and producer competes in particular in the category of best album, with donda.

And he finds himself facing folk pop star Taylor Swift, the very one he vehemently interrupted on stage at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards to say that Beyoncé deserved an award instead.

3) Where will Beyoncé and Jay-Z be?

One, Jay-Z, now holds the record for nominations, 83 in all counting the 64th ceremony on Sunday, ahead of the legendary Quincy Jones; the other, Beyoncé, became the most awarded singer with 28 Grammys.

But in Las Vegas, it is not certain that we will see the couple, one of the most influential in contemporary popular culture. Because despite their records, Jay-Z and Beyoncé also embody the difficulty of the Grammy Awards to devote R&B, hip-hop and non-white artists with prestigious awards.

Thus, despite 23 awards, Jay-Z has never won anything in a major category, and Beyoncé only has one trophy at this level.

In 2018, the Brooklyn rapper, turned producer and billionaire businessman, was even at the top of the nominations (eight), but had won nothing. The following year, the couple shunned the ceremony, which did not prevent their musical duo, The Carters, from winning a Grammy (best contemporary urban album).

4) A duo to watch

Another duo of the evening, singer and actress Lady Gaga and crooner Tony Bennett, 95, can believe in their chances with six nominations for their second album together – the 61st in the studio for Bennett! —, Love for Sale.

In 2014, the New Yorker had become the oldest number one album seller in history, thanks to his first duet with his accomplice.

After revealing in 2021 that he had Alzheimer’s disease, the Queens crooner no longer performs on stage, by order of doctorsbut it’s not impossible that he will make an appearance on Sunday with Lady Gaga.

5) A third Grammy for Barack Obama?

The United States Constitution limits the number of terms of office of the American president to two, but it will not prevent Barack Obama from aiming for a third Grammy in the always very eclectic category of the best spoken album.

The former president (2009-2017), already rewarded in 2006 and 2008, returns in 2022 for the audio version of his memoirs, A promised land (A Promised Land).

In 2020, his wife, Michelle Obama, won with the audiobook Become (coming).