LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on the 61st annual Grammy Awards, which are being presented Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles (all times local):
12:40 p.m.
Grammy nominees and performers are making their way to the red carpet under gray skies and rain drops in downtown Los Angeles.
Some attendees are toting furry coats to ward off temperatures in the lower 50s.
The forecast calls for a chance of rain over the next three hours when the carpet reaches its apex and awards are being handed out before the telecast begins at Staples Center.
The red carpet is tented with black chandeliers hung from the ceiling so once under cover attendees need not worry about the weather.
Shaggy, who is hosting the premiere ceremony where dozens of awards will be presented ahead of the telecast, noted the cool weather in his opening remarks, noting his efforts to bring warm Jamaican weather weren’t successful.
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3 a.m.
Janelle Monae remembers being frustrated at last year’s Grammy Awards, where male acts dominated in nominations and the only woman competing for the night’s top award, Lorde, didn’t get a chance to perform onstage.
But this year, Monae is looking forward to the show, where women are now leading in nominations for big categories like album of the year and best new artist.
Monae’s “Dirty Computer” is one of five albums by women nominated for the top prize at Sunday’s show. Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile and H.E.R. also in contention.
Women also have a strong presence in song and record of the year, including Lady Gaga, SZA, Maren Morris and Ella Mai.
H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, Margo Price, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha and Jorja Smith are also up for best new artist.