However, Grammy voters may be reluctant to reward someone so controversial.Īnd his Marshall Mathers LP is competing with an unusually diverse group of Best Album nominees. "In theory what everybody dreams of is the meeting of something that's commercially successful and creative." "On paper Eminem is a Grammy voter's dream," said Alan Light, editor-in-chief of Spin magazine. Viewers will have to hang tight until the end of the show to find out just how much support Grammy voters are willing to give a controversial performer like Eminem. But he also has the pressure of making sure the event goes smoothly, no matter who gets the awards. This year's host, Jon Stewart, has no shortage of material for his signature sarcasm. The academy will give out awards in 100 categories, the bulk of which are handed out off camera. The Grammys are, of course, intended as a celebration of the best in music. The reason we love awards shows is that it's showbiz without the script," said O'Neil, who says this one is guaranteed to be a "doozy." "Elton's capable of something outrageous and it's not going to be passive moment. She is expected to be eclipsed by the Eminem-Elton duet. For once, the Material Mom is not expected to be the one raising eyebrows during her performance. Also on the bill as performers are U2, Paul Simon, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, and Madonna.
The current hoopla and media attention on the rapper is casting a shadow over the other nominees at this year's event. The only past Grammy scandals he could compare it to involved the omission of deserving performers, like Elvis Presley. "This really is without precedent," said Grammy historian Tom O'Neil. The album topped the charts in 2000, but enraged women's and gay-rights activists, who say his violent lyrics are misogynistic and homophobic. But this year it can no longer be criticized for avoiding edgy performers - not with Eminem up for four honors, including the prized Album of the Year award for The Marshall Mathers LP. NARAS normally gets flak for its conservative choices. Sir Elton paid tribute to the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury by singing a duet with Axl Rose, the Guns N' Roses lead singer who has used anti-gay lyrics.
Many gay-rights activists have expressed anger with John over his decision to perform with Eminem, but it's not the first time the British singer has teamed up with an artist known for homophobic lyrics. In all, the academy will give out awards in 100 categories, but most of them are presented off camera. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences actually began handing out awards this afternoon. Members of GLAAD will be part of an Eminem protest outside Los Angeles' Staples Center during the broadcast, which begins at 8 p.m. The gay-rights Web site quoted a source close to Eminem as saying the bleached blond bad boy would don the T-shirt along with John. Eminem and John plan to take to the stage tonight wearing Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation T-shirts, according to the. The two may dispel some of that criticism - or add to the frustration - by making a strong fashion statement.