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LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts) - Mary J. Blige,
Nelly Furtado, and Kirk Franklin--who will join U2 on stage--are the latest artists who have been announced to perform during the 44th Annual Grammy Awards Wednesday night (February 27) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The ceremony, which will air on CBS from 8 to 11:30 p.m. ET, will also feature newly announced presenters Celine Dion, the Backstreet Boys, Craig David, Dave Koz, Elvis Costello, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Perry, Natalie Cole, and Sheryl Crow.
The new artists join previously announced performers Alan Jackson, Alicia Keys, Alejandro Sanz with Destiny's Child, Billy Joel and Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, India.Arie, Brian McKnight (in an inspirational segment), Al Green, Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans, OutKast, Train, Joshua Bell, and U2. In addition, there will also be a performance of "Lady Marmalade" featuring Patti LaBelle, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Missy Elliott; *NSYNC will perform "Girlfriend" with Nelly; and there will be a tribute to O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
The new presenters join previously announced presenters Bonnie Raitt, Britney Spears, Diana Krall, the Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, Janet Jackson, Ja Rule, Kevin James and Ray Romano, Kid Rock, Michael W. Smith, and Trisha Yearwood.
Michael Jackson will not perform at the Grammy Awards ceremony Wednesday night (February 27). Jackson was at the center of the dramatic controversy stirred up two months ago between rival music shows the Grammys and the American Music Awards (AMAs).
The 44th Annual Grammy Awards will broadcast to a worldwide audience of more than 1.7 billion viewers in 175 countries.