Shakira, Wyclef Jean, Lionel Ritchie and More Grammy Awards Performers Announced

Press release
Source: Rogers & Cowan

For the first time in GRAMMY® history, international sensation and current nominee Shakira will perform, and fellow nominee Wyclef Jean will join her; current nominees Chris Brown, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson will take the stage in a special GRAMMY Moment segment paying tribute to the tradition of great male R&B artists; and nominees Rascal Flatts will perform with previously announced nominee Carrie Underwood in a tribute to country rock on the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards, it was announced today by The Recording Academy®.

Also, new presenters added to the all-star lineup include current nominee Natasha Bedingfield, current nominee and 12-time GRAMMY winner Tony Bennett, current nominee comedian Lewis Black, Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage, current Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Ornette Coleman, two-time GRAMMY Award winner LeAnn Rimes, current nominee Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls), three-time GRAMMY winner Seal, and actor David Spade.

The music industry's premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 11, 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 XM Satellite Radio, and covered online at GRAMMY.yahoo.com.

Previously announced performers includeChristina Aguilera, Beyoncé , Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend,Ludacris, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake (solo performance and with the winner of the "My GRAMMY Moment" competition), the Police, and Carrie Underwood. Previously announced presenters include Joan Baez, The Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Nelly Furtado, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, P!nk, Rihanna, Chris Rock, andStevie Wonder.

Two-time GRAMMY-winning and seven-time Latin GRAMMY-winning international sensation Shakira and three-time GRAMMY winner Wyclef Jean are nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for "Hips Don't Lie." Newcomer Chris Brown has two nods: Best New Artist and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Chris Brown. Four-time GRAMMY winner Lionel Richie is up for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "I Call It Love," and Best R&B Album for Coming Home. GRAMMY winner and music legend Smokey Robinson is nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Timeless Love. Country music sensation Rascal Flatts is up for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "What Hurts The Most."

The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions in association with Ken Ehrlich Productions for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Walter C. Miller is producer/director, Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer, David Wild is the writer, and Tzvi Small is supervising producer. Musical directors for the telecast and pre-telecast are Rickey Minor and Larry Batiste, respectively.

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®(WhatsTheDownload.com). For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com .

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