Fans to help determine who will perform with Justin Timberlake on the GRAMMY Awards
GRAMMY.com
After a thorough evaluation process, The Recording Academy today announced the Top 12 finalists in the "My GRAMMY Moment" campaign, which is a historic opportunity for unsigned artists to vie for a special performance slot on the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards with multi-GRAMMY nominee Justin Timberlake. The public can log on to Yahoo! Music, the official online partner of the GRAMMY Awards, to view the video submissions, bios and photos of the 12 hopefuls, and vote for their Top 5 favorites. The results of this round will be announced on Jan. 17.
"We received an overwhelming number of video submissions for 'My GRAMMY Moment' and the Top 12 finalists selected reflect a diverse group of talented individuals from across the country," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "The Recording Academy has always supported new and developing artists and now, with the accessibility and popularity of the Internet, we are able to include music fans to make the important decision of bringing the field to five hopeful candidates, then again down to three talented finalists and, eventually, one amazing artist."
Over the next several weeks, fans will continue to narrow the field from five to three finalists by voting online at Yahoo! Music. The top three finalists will be announced during Super Bowl weekend and each will rehearse with Timberlake during GRAMMY Week in Los Angeles. The public will choose their favorite performer via online and text message votes during the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards, held on Feb. 11 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The winner will be announced live on the show before his/her "GRAMMY Moment" with Timberlake. Please click here for more information about the rules.
The 12 finalists are: Candace Devine (27), Burbank, Calif.; Amanda Dunn (26), Charlotte, N.C.; Jillian Gaudious (25), Long Branch, N.J.; Candice Jackson (25), Austin, Texas; Jessica James (18), Warner Robins, Ga.; Africa Miranda (30), Montgomery, Ala.; David Moore (18), Orlando, Fla.; Brenda Radney (22), Staten Island, N.Y.; Philip Ray (28), Oakland, Calif.; Jayne Rio (20), Vallejo, Calif.; Robyn Troup (18), Houston, Texas; and Mandy Ventrice (21), Pittsburg, Calif.
