GRAMMY.com
Thirteen-time GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney will perform for the first time in the history of the GRAMMY telecast during the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards, it was announced today by The Recording Academy. Comedian/talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres — a past GRAMMY nominee and host — will introduce the unprecedented McCartney performance. The Recording Academy also announced today that Kelly Clarkson will perform for the first time on the GRAMMY telecast, and R&B newcomer Ciara will join the lineup for the previously announced tribute to Sly And The Family Stone; both are up for multiple GRAMMY Awards.
Newly announced presenters include GRAMMY nominee Destiny's Child, R&B newcomer Chris Brown, Golden Globe-winning actress Teri Hatcher ("Desperate Housewives"), Golden Globe-winning actress Jenna Elfman ("Courting Alex"), 2006 MusiCares Person of the Year James Taylor, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, GRAMMY-winning singer/guitarist Bonnie Raitt, and actress/singer/songwriter Jennifer Love Hewitt ("The Ghost Whisperer").
Hosting the GRAMMY Pre-Telecast ceremony are revered rock guitarist Steve Vai and TV personality Giselle Fernandez; presenters for the Pre-Telecast include nominees Jars Of Clay, Shirley Caesar, Nnenna Freelon, and Delbert McClinton; and K-Mozart radio personality and conductor/composer John Santana.
McCartney, Clarkson and Ciara join previously announced performers Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West — all with eight nominations each; Madonna with Gorillaz; Bruce Springsteen; U2 and Mary J Blige; Coldplay; Faith Hill and Keith Urban; Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock; Sugarland; Jamie Foxx with Kanye West; an all-star tribute to Sly And The Family Stone featuring Maroon 5, Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone, John Legend and Devin Lima; and Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir join Mariah Carey. Previously announced presenters include Big & Rich, Michael Bublé, Common, Matt Dillon, Tom Hanks, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, and Ludacris. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
The GRAMMY Awards — the music industry's premier event — will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at www.grammy.yahoo.com.
