The “slimmed down” but 78 category strong 2012 Grammy Awards are here, The live updates are below, starting with the red carpet pre-show at 5 p.m. EST and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. EST. We’re blogging in reverse chronological order and appreciate any feedback in the comments section at the bottom of this blog. Refresh your browser to see the latest updates. You can also tweet us @spicesofafrica
8:55 p.m. | Foo Fighters rock out LA Live
Pre-telecast big winners Foo Fighters perform their award-winning “Walk” on a stage outside of the Staples Center. Frontman Dave Grohl breaks out all of his best rock star moves — head-banging, hand-clapping, a Slayer t-shirt — yet it all feels somewhat perfunctory.
8:40 p.m. | Jay-Z, Kanye West win Best Rap Performance
Yes, it’s music’s biggest night, but two of its biggest stars are missing. Jay-Z and Kanye West won Best Rap Performance for “Otis” from their “Watch the Throne” collaborative album, but presenter Marc Anthony was left to accept the award on behalf of the missing duo. New fatherJay-Z not being there is understandable. The lack of Yeezy is just a bummer, though. Perhaps a protest for not being nominated for Album of the Year?
8:25 p.m. | Adele wins Best Pop Solo Performance
On a night that is expected to be filled with the tributes, the first comes from Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt who team up for a tender version of Etta James’ “Sunday Kind of Love.” The duo then present the first award of the telecast. No surprise here — Adele wins Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.” Her acceptance speech is short. She knows she’ll be back up there again later.
8:22 p.m. | Bruno Mars: “...have some fun!”
“Get off your rich [explative]s and have some fun!” Bruno Mars commands the audience during his energetic and fleet-footed performance that still didn’t mess up his trademark pompadour.
It’s worth noting, audience members were on their feet without prompting during Bruce Springsteen’s show-opening rendition of his new single “We Take Care of Our Own,” a politically-charged rocker that sounds much more vital when performed live.
8:12 p.m. | LL Cool J: “We’ve had a death in the family”
LL Cool J opened the 54th annual Grammy Awards with a prayer in honor of Whitney Houston. The video of Houston and the standing ovation that followed, seem to set the tone for the night.
“Whitney, we will always love you,” said Cool J.
Let the show begin.
8:10 p.m. | Springsteen opens
“America are you alive out there?!” It was an eyebrow-raising opening question from Bruce Springsteen given the events of the past 24 hours. But the Boss and the E Street Band opened the show with a supercharged version of new single “We Take Care of Our Own” that immediately brought the crowd to its feet.
Singer Bruce Springsteen performs at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (MARIO ANZUONI - REUTERS)Don’t expect to see many trophies handed out during tonight’s show. Only nine awards are unaccounted for so far. For those keeping track at home, they are: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Rock Performance, Best R&B Album, Best Rap Performance and Best Country Album.
7:57 p.m. | Whitney Houston autopsy results on “security hold”
As we move on to the awards ceremony, E! reports that we will not be getting any more information about Whitney Houston’s autopsy tonight. The autopsy results are on a “security hold,” and police are holding on to it because releasing information from the autopsy could compromise the ongoing investigation of her death. E! reminds us that the last time we heard about a security hold on a celebrity’s autopsy, it was for Michael Jackson.
7:55 p.m. | Fergie in Jean-Paul Gaultier
Fergie, nominated for Song of the Year for her collaboration on Kanye West’s “All of the Lights,” wore one of the red carpet’s more eye-popping outfits so far — a bright red see-through Jean-Paul Gaultier lace dress, with a black bra and panties peeking out from underneath.
“I had two choices. This was the safe one,” Fergie said to Ryan Seacrest.
Fergie arrived with her mom, who said she is taking the dress in stride. “I said, ‘Pick the more conservative one,’” her mom laughed. “She’s my rock ‘n’ roll rebel.”
Fergie arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
7:50 p.m. | Rihanna in Armani
Rihanna arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
7:45 p.m. | Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad
Taylor Swift, who (as we previously mentioned) has already won for “Mean,” her song about being criticized for a previous Grammy performance, tells Ryan Seacrest that she’s really excited to perform it tonight.
“It’s really a song that I wrote about one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through — criticism, rejection,” she tells Seacrest, without a hint of gloating. “The fact that I get to perform it on the Grammys is a really wonderful thing.”
She’s wearing a champagne-colored beaded and sequined dress — one of her most mature and loveliest looks so far, and according to Swift, one of her favorites. As for her future plans for her music: “You just have to let your life happen, and write about it.”
Taylor Swift arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
7:40 p.m. | Updates on Whitney, Bobbi Kristina
Bobbi Kristina, Whitney Houston’s daughter, has been released from the hospital, E! reports. Her father, Bobby Brown, is en route to Los Angeles to be with her. E! also reports that an autopsy has already been performed, but they results are on a “security hold.” It’s raising questions about whether the investigation will be going in a new direction, even though no foul play was suspected in Houston’s death.
7:27 p.m. | Nicki Minaj arrives in red nun’s habit
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
Get the full scoopon Minaj’s outfit in Celebritology.
7:17 p.m. | Celebrity reactions on Twitter
Stars are taking to Twitter to post updates from the red carpet and pre-tel ceremony, including photos, behind-the-scenes info and more. We’re collecting the best tweets here.
7:15 p.m. | Civil Wars win Best Folk Album
Here’s a name you’ll be hearing more of in 2012 — the Civil Wars. The up-and-coming country-folk duo will perform on tonight’s show and was a perfect two-for-two in the pre-tel, taking home awards for Best Folk Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The duo opened for Adele in the U.K. and has collaborated with Taylor Swift. Click Track talked to the band’s Joy Williams and John Paul White in May.
7:08 p.m. | Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose arrive in black and yellow
Wiz Khalifa, with Amber Rose, are the embodiment of Khalifa’s song “Black and Yellow” — Rose is wearing a buttercup-yellow Versace one-shoulder dress, and Khalifa is in a black-and white tux with a low-cut t-shirt underneath.
7:01 p.m. | Katy Perry in Elie Saab
Katy Perry is a little “Matchy-matchy,” according to Giuliana Rancic — she’s matched an ice-blue Elie Saab dress to her bright blue hair. Definitely an understated look for the star, who usually rocks the runway in something a little more outrageous.
Katy Perry arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
6:53 p.m. | Kelly Rowland on Whitney, winning
Kelly Rowland, wearing a nude and sheer dress embellished with beaded flowers, shared her thoughts about Whitney Houston with E!. “It’s a very somber tone tonight at the Grammys, because we lost our hero,” said Rowland. “I just hope she knows how much she impacted not just the music industry, but the world with her gift.”
Rowland is nominated tonight for best rap/sung collaboration with LilWayne for “Motivation.”
“I have four [Grammys], but I did want another one tonight,” said Rowland
6:41 p.m. | Foo Fighters win Best Rock Album
Foo Fighters are perfect so far. The Dave Grohl-led rockers took home four awards in the pre-tel, including Best Rock Album for “Wasting Light” and Best Rock Song for “Walk.” “Wasting Light” is also up for Album of the Year later this evening.
“Well we know we ain’t going home empty handed now,” joked drummer Taylor Hawkins after accepting one award.
6:40 p.m. | Corinee Bailey Rae arrives in Christian Siriano
Corinne Bailey Rae, who already won for Best R&B performance, is wearing a ruffled Christian Siriano dress tonight. “Whitney Houston was influence on really all singers my age,” she tells Giuliana Rancic. “I didn’t know what to say, just really, really sad news.”
Corinne Bailey Rae arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards . (Chris Pizzello - AP)
6:28 p.m. | Taylor Swift wins for “Mean”
Taylor Swift just won two awards — Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song — for “Mean.” Swift winning awards is no surprise at all — even the perpetually shocked Swift seemed to expect it this time around. But that it’s for this song is interesting. The song was inspired by writers who criticized Swift’s voice in live performances — with much of that criticism stemming from her performance at the 2010 Grammys. Full circle...
6:22 p.m. | Host LL Cool J on Whitney tribute
Grammy host LL Cool J spoke to E!’s Ryan Seacrest about the last-minute scramble to prepare for the Whitney Houston tribute. “We immediately had to jump in gear and figure out how we could be respectful and show her the love she deserves,” he said. “I hope that Whitney Houston’s family and her friends, first of all, appreciate what we do.”
He said that it’s difficult to keep the balance of celebrating Houston’s life, but also celebrating all of the artists who are nominated this year. “You don’t want to lay this dark cloud over their Grammy appearance,” he said. Cool J didn’t want to give up too many details about the tribute, but he did say that he got a preview of Jennifer Hudson’s upcoming performance. “It sends chills through your spine. She is obviously a different singer, different diva, but she’s the closest thing we have now to Whitney.”
6:15 p.m. | Kanye, Skrillex big winners in Pre-Telecast
As the stars arrive on the red carpet, the vast majority of tonight’s awards are being handed out at the Pre-Telecast ceremony. The big winners so far: Skrillex and Kanye West, who have each won three awards. Skrillex has become the face (and hair) of the emerging electronic music scene and took home awards Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album. West’s critically-acclaimed 2010 album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was a surprise snub in the Album of the Year category, but won for Best Rap Album. West also took home the award for Best Rap Song for his hit “All of the Lights.”
6:00 p.m. | Red carpet royalty, robots and tutus
Some early red carpet arrivers seem to be erring more on the side of silly. Zamora, a piantist nominated for best new age album, showed up wearing a scepter, cape and golden crown. PappaHugs Band posed with a life-sized robot.
Zamora, nominated for best new age album for "Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6," arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (DANNY MOLOSHOK - REUTERS)
David Sharpe, fourth from left, and the PapaHugs Band arrive at the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
Zamora, nominated for best new age album for "Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6," arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (DANNY MOLOSHOK - REUTERS)
David Sharpe, fourth from left, and the PapaHugs Band arrive at the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
Sophia Grace and Rosie, the fast-rapping young British girls famous for their appearances on Ellen and YouTube, are wearing their signaturepink tutus and glittery tops that say “Ellen.”
5:45 p.m. | “Glee” to celebrate Whitney
E! interviewed actress Amber Riley from “Glee,” because this Tuesday’s episode will include Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
“Ryan Murphy had been trying to push me to sing it,” said Riley. “It spoke to my heart .... It’s very befitting that we’re doing it this Tuesday.” Riley said that she met Houston at a pre-Grammy award event earlier this week, and she was overcome with emotion. She expects that the next episode of Glee will be imbued with emotion, as well. “We’re celebrating her passing and her legacy,” said Riley.
Also on the E!, Kelly Osbourne summed up the mood on the red carpet: “People are almost ashamed to be excited about tonight, because it is such a tragic loss.”
5:42 p.m. | Adele‘s first Grammy of the night
Adele just won her first Grammy of the night, for the Video of “Rolling in the Deep.” It surely won’t be her only win tonight. Check out the video here:
5:40 p.m. | Betty White wins first Grammy
In the pre-telecast awards, Betty White just won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word album for her book “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t).” At 90 years old, it is her first Grammy. She beat out fellow stars Tina Fey, for “Bossypants,” and Val Kilmer for his recording of “The Mark of Zorro.”
5:30 p.m. | Bobby Brown and Bobbi Kristina reportedly reunited
E! Is reporting that Bobby Brown may be with his and Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who was hospitalized earlier today for anxiety. Brown was in Mississippi on tour with New Edition when the news of Houston’s death broke yesterday. He reportedly broke down in tears at the concert last night.
5:10 p.m. | Jennifer Hudson to sing tribute to Whitney Houston
The glitz and glamour of the red carpet is overshadowed this evening with mourning over the death of Whitney Houston. Grammy producer Ken Ehrilich announced that Jennifer Hudson will perform “I Will Always Love You” as a tribute to her idol at the show. We will report more details on the tribute as they are revealed.
By | 08:44 PM ET, 02/12/2012
7:15 p.m. | Civil Wars win Best Folk Album
Here’s a name you’ll be hearing more of in 2012 — the Civil Wars. The up-and-coming country-folk duo will perform on tonight’s show and was a perfect two-for-two in the pre-tel, taking home awards for Best Folk Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The duo opened for Adele in the U.K. and has collaborated with Taylor Swift. Click Track talked to the band’s Joy Williams and John Paul White in May.
7:08 p.m. | Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose arrive in black and yellow
Wiz Khalifa, with Amber Rose, are the embodiment of Khalifa’s song “Black and Yellow” — Rose is wearing a buttercup-yellow Versace one-shoulder dress, and Khalifa is in a black-and white tux with a low-cut t-shirt underneath.
7:01 p.m. | Katy Perry in Elie Saab
Katy Perry is a little “Matchy-matchy,” according to Giuliana Rancic — she’s matched an ice-blue Elie Saab dress to her bright blue hair. Definitely an understated look for the star, who usually rocks the runway in something a little more outrageous.
6:53 p.m. | Kelly Rowland on Whitney, winning
Kelly Rowland, wearing a nude and sheer dress embellished with beaded flowers, shared her thoughts about Whitney Houston with E!. “It’s a very somber tone tonight at the Grammys, because we lost our hero,” said Rowland. “I just hope she knows how much she impacted not just the music industry, but the world with her gift.”
Rowland is nominated tonight for best rap/sung collaboration with LilWayne for “Motivation.”
“I have four [Grammys], but I did want another one tonight,” said Rowland
6:41 p.m. | Foo Fighters win Best Rock AlbumFoo Fighters are perfect so far. The Dave Grohl-led rockers took home four awards in the pre-tel, including Best Rock Album for “Wasting Light” and Best Rock Song for “Walk.” “Wasting Light” is also up for Album of the Year later this evening.
“Well we know we ain’t going home empty handed now,” joked drummer Taylor Hawkins after accepting one award.
6:40 p.m. | Corinee Bailey Rae arrives in Christian Siriano
Corinne Bailey Rae, who already won for Best R&B performance, is wearing a ruffled Christian Siriano dress tonight. “Whitney Houston was influence on really all singers my age,” she tells Giuliana Rancic. “I didn’t know what to say, just really, really sad news.”
6:28 p.m. | Taylor Swift wins for “Mean”
Taylor Swift just won two awards — Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song — for “Mean.” Swift winning awards is no surprise at all — even the perpetually shocked Swift seemed to expect it this time around. But that it’s for this song is interesting. The song was inspired by writers who criticized Swift’s voice in live performances — with much of that criticism stemming from her performance at the 2010 Grammys. Full circle...
6:22 p.m. | Host LL Cool J on Whitney tribute
Grammy host LL Cool J spoke to E!’s Ryan Seacrest about the last-minute scramble to prepare for the Whitney Houston tribute. “We immediately had to jump in gear and figure out how we could be respectful and show her the love she deserves,” he said. “I hope that Whitney Houston’s family and her friends, first of all, appreciate what we do.”
He said that it’s difficult to keep the balance of celebrating Houston’s life, but also celebrating all of the artists who are nominated this year. “You don’t want to lay this dark cloud over their Grammy appearance,” he said. Cool J didn’t want to give up too many details about the tribute, but he did say that he got a preview of Jennifer Hudson’s upcoming performance. “It sends chills through your spine. She is obviously a different singer, different diva, but she’s the closest thing we have now to Whitney.”
6:15 p.m. | Kanye, Skrillex big winners in Pre-Telecast
As the stars arrive on the red carpet, the vast majority of tonight’s awards are being handed out at the Pre-Telecast ceremony. The big winners so far: Skrillex and Kanye West, who have each won three awards. Skrillex has become the face (and hair) of the emerging electronic music scene and took home awards Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album. West’s critically-acclaimed 2010 album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was a surprise snub in the Album of the Year category, but won for Best Rap Album. West also took home the award for Best Rap Song for his hit “All of the Lights.”
6:00 p.m. | Red carpet royalty, robots and tutus
Some early red carpet arrivers seem to be erring more on the side of silly. Zamora, a piantist nominated for best new age album, showed up wearing a scepter, cape and golden crown. PappaHugs Band posed with a life-sized robot.
Zamora, nominated for best new age album for "Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6," arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (DANNY MOLOSHOK - REUTERS)
David Sharpe, fourth from left, and the PapaHugs Band arrive at the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
Zamora, nominated for best new age album for "Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6," arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards. (DANNY MOLOSHOK - REUTERS)
David Sharpe, fourth from left, and the PapaHugs Band arrive at the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards. (Chris Pizzello - AP)
Sophia Grace and Rosie, the fast-rapping young British girls famous for their appearances on Ellen and YouTube are wearing their signature pink tutus and glittery tops that say “Ellen.”
5:45 p.m. | “Glee” to celebrate Whitney
E! interviewed actress Amber Riley from “Glee,” because this Tuesday’s episode will include Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
“Ryan Murphy had been trying to push me to sing it,” said Riley. “It spoke to my heart .... It’s very befitting that we’re doing it this Tuesday.” Riley said that she met Houston at a pre-Grammy award event earlier this week, and she was overcome with emotion. She expects that the next episode of Glee will be imbued with emotion, as well. “We’re celebrating her passing and her legacy,” said Riley.
Also on the E!, Kelly Osbourne summed up the mood on the red carpet: “People are almost ashamed to be excited about tonight, because it is such a tragic loss.”
5:42 p.m. | Adele‘s first Grammy of the night
Adele just won her first Grammy of the night, for the Video of “Rolling in the Deep.” It surely won’t be her only win tonight. Check out the video here:
5:40 p.m. | Betty White wins first Grammy
In the pre-telecast awards, Betty White just won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word album for her book “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t).” At 90 years old, it is her first Grammy. She beat out fellow stars Tina Fey, for “Bossypants,” and Val Kilmer for his recording of “The Mark of Zorro.”
5:30 p.m. | Bobby Brown and Bobbi Kristina reportedly reunited
E! Is reporting that Bobby Brown may be with his and Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who was hospitalized earlier today for anxiety. Brown was in Mississippi on tour with New Edition when the news of Houston’s death broke yesterday. He reportedly broke down in tears at the concert last night.
5:10 p.m. | Jennifer Hudson to sing tribute to Whitney Houston
The glitz and glamour of the red carpet is overshadowed this evening with mourning over the death of Whitney Houston. Grammy producer Ken Ehrilich announced that Jennifer Hudson will perform “I Will Always Love You” as a tribute to her idol at the show. We will report more details on the tribute as they are revealed.
Donzaleigh Abernathy places a flower at a memorial outside the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. (Ringo H.W. Chiu - AP)
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