LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trevor Noah is more comfortable hosting the Grammy awards for the third year in a row, but the former host of “The Daily Show” he’s still a little nervous about headlining big names like Beyoncé, Adele and Harry.
“The nerves kick in because you’re standing in front of not just some of the best, but some of the biggest artists in the world,” said the Emmy winner. Noah hopes his diligent preparation will get him through Sunday’s show.
“Nerves are part of what I do”said the comedian.
Noah returns for his third hosting stint at the Grammys, which air live from Crypto.com Arena on Sunday on CBS and Paramount+. Ceremony returns to Los Angeles after moving to Las Vegas for the first time due to rising COVID-19 cases and the omicron variant.
“I was relieved that Trevor was back because he makes my job more enjoyable and easier”said Ben Winston, executive producer of the show. He called Noah a “absolute professional” which, he said, can gracefully turn at any time on a night that celebrates the best of music.
“He soothes me on a stressful night when a set hasn’t been built on time and I whisper in his ear, ‘I’m sorry. I need you to go an extra 90 seconds because Lady Gaga’s orchestra isn’t here. He will flow naturally, make a joke, get up and sit at someone’s table and chat with them.”Winston said. “That’s a very difficult task that very few people could do, and they definitely can’t do it with the comedy and charm that Trevor has.”
Noah said each year of the Grammys has offered a different experience due to logistical challenges stemming from the pandemic. But he said the intimate but socially distanced in-person awards show in 2021 helped him establish a relationship with music stars, especially when cracking jokes about him.
Last year’s ceremony in Las Vegas was a hybrid model that included fans.
“Every year, I notice that I develop a different relationship with the people in the room,” said. “That opens you up to a few more jokes and a few more conversations in a way that people understand the context of who you are in relation to them. It means you can have a little fun without anyone feeling like you’re getting in on them.”
As a music fan, Noah is looking forward to seeing the popular artists taking the stage including Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile.
Beyoncé heads into the ceremony with nine major nominations, including record and song of the year nominations for her song. “Break My Soul”. Kendrick Lamar has the second most nominations with eight, while Adele and Carlile enter the show with seven nominations.
Styles, Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, The-Dream, and mastering engineer Randy Merrill each received six nominations.
“We love having Trevor because he’s so good at it,” said Harvey Mason jr, executive director of the Recording Academy. “He’s so nice, he’s so funny. I don’t know how he does what he does. He never stumbles, he never doubts. He is always so serious and sincere. He is also a music guy. You see him when he’s not on camera. He’s singing, he’s dancing, he’s rapping. I feel like he is now one of us.”
KJ