The period of the awards ceremonies is open in the United States. After the Oscars last week (marked by the slap of Will Smith, we don’t know if you’ve heard of it?), it’s the turn of the biggest night dedicated to American music to roll out the red carpet. The Grammy Awards take place on Sunday evening at Las Vegas and could see Olivia Rodrigo and Barack Obama scoop up some awards.
Olivia Rodrigo on her way to a feat, Jon Batiste favorite
The great pop sensation from the Disney series High School Musical Olivia Rodrigocan repeat the feat performed by Billie Eilish two years ago, 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 of the last James Bondbut one less than Justin Bieber or rapper Doja Cat.
The 19-year-old Californian, performer of Drivers license and of Good 4 u is expected to take to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to sing live, as are South Korean band BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, HER, Nas, and jazzman Jon Batiste, favorite this year with eleven nominations, the record for this edition.
L’interrogation Kanye West
Kanye West released an album last year, Dondaand another this year, Donda 2. But it is especially for his personal attacks against comedian Pete Davidson, in a relationship with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, which he talked about, until he was banned from posting on Instagram for… 24 hours. A beast of the stage, named this year in five categories, he can still give cold sweats to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for 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. And he finds himself face to face with folk pop star Taylor Swift, the very one he had vehemently interrupted on stage, during the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009, to come and say that Beyoncé deserved an award in her place.
Awards for the Lady Gaga + Tony Bennett duo?
Another duo of the evening, the 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 anyway), Love For Sale. In 2014, the New Yorker became the oldest album sales number one 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 doctor’s order”, but it is not impossible that he will make an appearance on Sunday with Lady Gaga.
A third potential victory for Barack Obama
The United States Constitution limits the number of terms of the American president to two, but it will not prevent Barack Obama to aim for a third Grammy in the always very eclectic category of best spoken word album. The former president, already rewarded in 2006 and 2008, returns in 2022 for the audio version of his memoirs, A promised land. In 2020, his wife, Michelle Obama, won with the audiobook Becoming.