Paul McCartney to Perform at the GRAMMY Awards for the First Time

Press release
Source: Rogers and Cowan

Thirteen-time GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney will perform for the first time in the history of the GRAMMY telecast during the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards, it was announced today by The Recording Academy®. Comedian/talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres-a past GRAMMY nominee and host-will introduce the unprecedented McCartney performance. Others added to present include seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, GRAMMY-winning singer/guitarist Bonnie Raitt, and actress/singer/songwriter Jennifer Love Hewitt ("The Ghost Whisperer").

McCartney joins previously announced performers Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West-all with eight nominations each; Madonna with Gorillaz; Bruce Springsteen; U2 and Mary J Blige; Coldplay; Faith Hill and Keith Urban; Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock; Sugarland; Jamie Foxx with Kanye West; an all-star tribute to Sly And The Family Stone featuring Maroon 5, will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone, John Legend and Devin Lima; and Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir join Mariah Carey. Previously announced presenters include Big & Rich, Michael Buble, Common, Matt Dillon, Tom Hanks, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, and Ludacris. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.

For the first time in GRAMMY history, multi-GRAMMY winner and pop/rock legend Paul McCartney will grace the GRAMMY stage for a special performance. McCartney is up for three GRAMMYs: Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album (Chaos And Creation In The Backyard) and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Fine Line"). McCartney also was honored with The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990 and President's Merit Award in 2004.

The GRAMMY Awards-the music industry's premier event-will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at www.grammy.yahoo.com.

The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions in association with Ken Ehrlich Productions for The Recording Academy. John Cossette and Ken Ehrlich are executive producers, Walter C. Miller is producer/director, Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer, and Tzvi Small is executive in charge of production.

Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as The Recording Academy, is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs - including the creation of the national public education campaign What's The Download® (www.WhatsTheDownload.com). For more information, please visit www.grammy.com.