Jay-Z And Linkin Park Set To Mash Up Grammy Stage
One of hip-hop's most valuable players will team up with some of rock's heaviest hitters in Los Angeles to mash up the stage at Wednesday's 48th annual Grammy awards.
The Recording Academy announced Monday that Grammy-winners Jay-Z and Linkin Park would hit the Grammy stage to perform "Numb/ Encore." The track is up for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award, contending with Ciara and Missy Elliott's "1, 2 Step," Common, Kanye West and John Legend's "They Say," Destiny's Child, T.I. and Lil Wayne's "Soldier," and Gwen Stefani and Eve's "Rich Girl."
On Tuesday (February 7), it was revealed that New Orleans musical legends Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and Irma Thomas would lead a special all-star tribute to the storm-ravaged metropolis they've long called home. They'll be joined onstage by Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, U2 guitarist the Edge and soul singer Sam Moore to recognize the sounds that have emerged from the Big Easy over the course of its celebrated musical history.
Previously announced performers include Mariah Carey, Coldplay, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Paul McCartney, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera with Herbie Hancock, Jamie Foxx with West and Madonna with animated group Gorillaz (see [article id="1522950"]"Madonna's Oddest Collab Yet: Singer To Perform At Grammys With Gorillaz"[/article]). The Grammys will also feature an all-star tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, featuring Legend, Maroon 5, Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.
It was also announced this week that Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys -- nominated for five awards -- and comedian Dave Chappelle would all be taking the stage this year as presenters. Apple's Extraordinary Machine and Crow's Wildflower are both nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, and Crow's tune "Good Is Good" is up for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Previously announced presenters include Destiny's Child, Queen Latifah, Ludacris, Chris Brown, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Bublé, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, actors Tom Hanks, Terrence Howard and Matt Dillon, actresses Jennifer Love Hewitt, Teri Hatcher and Jenna Elfman, and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, who will be introducing McCartney's performance.
Keys' Best R&B Album nod for Unplugged pits her against Earth, Wind and Fire's Illumination, Fantasia's Free Yourself, Legend's Get Lifted and Stevie Wonder's A Time to Love. The Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category has Alicia in the running for her track, "Unbreakable," alongside Amerie, Beyoncé, Carey, and Fantasia. "If This World Were Mine," from Keys and Jermaine Paul, will be vying for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and "If I Was Your Woman" with contend with Carey's "Mine Again," Fantasia's "Summertime," Aretha Franklin's "A House Is Not a Home," and Legend's "Stay With You" for the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance prize. Keys could also walk away with the Best R&B Song award for "Unbreakable." She's facing stiff competition from Destiny's Child ("Cater 2 U"), Fantasia ("Free Yourself"), Legend ("Ordinary People"), and Carey ("We Belong Together").
This story was originally published at 9:42 AM EST on 02.06.2006.
The show's over, but there's still plenty of Grammy goodness right here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest green-carpet and onstage moments, find out what went down at the celeb-packed parties, and share your thoughts on the performers, winners and losers.
