South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Noah to strike balance at Grammys
The Grammy Awards show is a festive vibe celebrating music’s best, but host Trevor Noah says it may touch on some serious topics such as the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
“I think the show is going to find the right place and the right space to do something,” said the Emmy winner, who will host the April 3 show in Las Vegas. He believes some musical artists will express their thoughts on Ukraine along with other meaningful topics that are “close to their hearts.”
“It’s one of those interesting balances in life we try to achieve, which is acknowledging what’s happening in the world whilst allowing yourself the grace to celebrate some of the moments that are also going on,” said the comedian and host of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” on Comedy Central.
Noah said most of his show’s coverage has focused on Ukraine, so he’s looking forward to an entertaining night at the Grammys — a place where world issues can be acknowledged as well.
“I think it’s also important for us to be able to take a break from everything,” he said. “That’s the ultimate quandary we face. Is it important to highlight issues around the world? Definitely. It’s also important to celebrate things that are happening in the world.”
Noah returns for his second hosting stint at the Grammys, which will broadcast live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The ceremony shifted from Los Angeles to Las Vegas because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant in January.
Last year, the Grammys had a music festival vibe with parts of the show held
outdoors in an intimate in-person setting with music artists mixed with taped performances.
But for the upcoming ceremony, Noah anticipates a hybrid model that includes fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “I think the live element does bring in an energy but then you do sacrifice a little bit of that intimacy,” he said.
“But it’s nice to have fans cheering for their favorite artist,” he said. “It’s nice to see the performances because one of the biggest reasons the Grammys is my favorite award show is that it is a live music festival.”
With the show being in Las Vegas, Noah calls the city a “perfect place to have a celebration.” He expects an entertaining show with several performers set to hit the stage, including Olivia Rodrigo, BTS, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow and Brandi Carlile.
Jon Batiste is the leading
nominee with 11 nods in a variety of genres including R&B, jazz, American roots music, classical and music video. Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and H.E.R. are tied for the second most nominations with eight apiece.
“I think it’s going to be a celebration of an industry coming back to life,” Noah said. “I think a lot of the artists will enjoy Vegas. Nobody lives there. There’s an element of this (show) that’s like a music camp. I think it’s going to bring a different energy, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
March 27 birthdays:
Actor Julian Glover is 87. Actor Austin Pendleton is 82. Actor Michael York is 80. Director Quentin Tarantino is 59. Actor Pauley Perrette is 53. Singer Mariah Carey is 53. Actor Nathan Fillion is 51. Singer Fergie is 47. Actor Brenda Song is 34. Singer Kimbra is 32. Singer Halle Bailey is 22.