NEW YORK (Grammy Official Website) - Among the first performers announced for the 46th Annual Grammy Awards telecast are Justin Timberlake,
Christina Aguilera, and The White Stripes, and an exclusive, Grammy segment dedicated to funk, featuring OutKast,
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Robert Randolph & The Family Band, it was announced today by the Recording Academy.
The music industry's premier event will take place on February 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (EST/PST). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at Grammy.com.
Justin Timberlake currently holds five nominations: Album Of The Year (Justified), Record Of The Year ("Where Is The Love?" with the Black Eyed Peas), Best Pop Vocal Album (Justified), Best Pop Male Vocal Performance ("Cry Me A River"), and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Where Is The Love?").
Two-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera currently holds nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Beautiful"), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("Can't Hold Us Down" with Lil' Kim), and Best Pop Vocal Album (Stripped).
As a group, The White Stripes earned three nods, including Album Of The Year (Elephant), Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal ("Seven Nation Army"), and Best Alternative Music Album (Elephant). In addition, Jack White earned a fourth nomination in the Best Rock Song category as songwriter for "Seven Nation Army."
In a tribute to "old school" soul and funk - and the far-reaching influence these genres have had over many of today's top-nominated artists - the Grammys will feature a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration that will put established legends onstage with new superstars. In keeping with the Grammy tradition of creating outstanding and unique "Grammy moments" - including in recent years Eminem and Elton John, the Clash tribute, Lady Marmalade featuring Patti LaBelle, and the Simon and Garfunkel reunion - OutKast, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Robert Randolph & The Family Band will perform together for the first time in an exclusive Grammy segment.
Among the stellar artists in this segment, three acts are current nominees. Three-time Grammy winners OutKast currently hold six nominations, including Album Of The Year (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), Record Of The Year ("Hey Ya"), Best Rap Album (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below), Best Urban/Alternative Performance ("Hey Ya"), Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, and Best Short Form Music Video ("Hey Ya").
Six-time Grammy winners Earth, Wind & Fire are currently nominated in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category for "Hold Me," and Robert Randolph & The Family Band hold noms for Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Squeeze") and Best Rock Gospel Album (Unclassified).
