I've been working on The Grammy Awards -- Music's Biggest Night -- for well over a decade, and yet for me -- and for many millions of viewers all around the world -- the Grammys never grow old. Indeed, the Grammy broadcast recalls those memorable lines by Bob Dylan in "My Back Pages" -- the Grammys were so much older then, they're younger than that now. In truth, working with our longstanding -- and only occasionally sitting -- Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich and our tireless production team along with Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow and his whole winning team -- as well as our most heroic yet still thoroughly badass host LL Cool J, I've enjoyed an all-access pass to a new golden era when the Grammy Awards have gotten better and better at celebrating our present, honoring our past, and building toward the future.
That may help explain why a groundbreaking group like Daft Punk will on Sunday night make its second TV appearance ever on the same show where it made its first -- The Grammy Awards. This year, for instance, I am tremendously excited to see everyone from a 17-year-old from New Zealand named Lorde to two guys from Liverpool named Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr who helped redefine the very concept of a teenager way back in the '60s.
Even with all the changes and challenges in the music business today, I remain thoroughly convinced that our passion for music and our need for the inspiration, the solace and the pure creative joy it provides are stronger than ever. We need music -- and the global spotlight the Grammy Awards bring -- now more than ever.
This year has been especially thrilling -- and exhausting -- since for the first time we're filming a second Grammy TV event on Monday: The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute. This celebration of all that Beatles mean to us yesterday and today airs February 9 -- 50 years to the day and to the hour of The Fab Four's historic first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and on the same network, CBS.
I sincerely hope you will all watch and love both shows just as much as we love working on them. All kidding aside, it is a true honor to work on shows that honor great music and the men and woman who make it. All that said, here are Ten Reasons To Watch The Grammy Awards Sunday night. As always, please add you reasons or favorite past Grammy Moments below:
1) We have two -- count 'em two -- Beatles performing on the Grammy stage.
We hope this fabulously thrilling turn of events will make viewers forgive the fact that we don't have Freddie & The Dreamers or any of Herman's Hermits.
2) It's technically possible that a really cool and wildly talented power couple of superstars could surprise us and join the Grammy festivities -- and that neither one of them will be a Kardashian.
3) In terms of other world leaders, we're keeping things classy: President Vladimir Putin likely won't be there, but her majesty Queen Latifah probably will.
4) As far as the world's great spiritual leaders, Lorde herself will be walk with us on Sunday. Lorde has a really cool voice -- and from what I hear, she moves in mysterious ways.
5) As far as we know, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would never threatened to close down any of the roads to The Staples Center. And for your safety, absolutely no Lamborghini drag racing under the influence allowed in the vacinity. In other words, unlike the Miami police, we have not yet booked Justin Bieber.
6) We have some very bright musicians performing on the bill this year. For example, Taylor is Swift. Robin is not at all Thicke. And Keith is actually rather Urbane.
7) Recent research proves televisions give off a considerable amount of heat, and for many of you on the East Coast, that will be a good thing because to quote a great song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
8) How about Carole King with Sara Bareilles? Metallica with classical piano great Lang Lang? Highwaymen Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson with Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton? Robin Thicke with Chicago? Kendrick Lemar with Imagine Dragons? Also Queens Of The Stone Age rocking the Grammys with Nine Inch Nails, Lindsey Buckingham and Dave Grohl?
9) You want more? Okay, how about Katy Perry singing a smash that at the top of the charts? Hunter Hayes with a great new song you have to hear, and the amazing Pink creating another great Grammy Moment for the ages. Also Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and some amazing guests will come together for a performance that I guarantee you everyone will be talking about on Monday morning.
10) Because despite somehow getting to #10 on this list, when it comes to The Grammy Awards, you really have to see it all and hear it all and tweet it all for yourself. See you Sunday night.