Join us for the world’s biggest music awards bash, where Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Iggy Azalea and Beyoncé are vying for awards and the likes of Madonna, Rihanna and Kanye West are set to perform
See all our 2015 Grammys coverage here
8.17pm ET
Anna Kendrick is here giving an intro to Ariana Grande who is performing Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart. THERE IS DRY ICE (lots of dry ice).
8.16pm ET
Sam Smith’s Petty Problem and Adele doppelgangerness
“”About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam,” Petty wrote. “All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by. Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement.
“The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it,” Petty continued. “How it got out to the press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less. In these times we live in this is hardly news. I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all.”
Smith’s management appears to be marketing him as the male Adele. It makes sense – they do have much in common. Adele’s guitarist Ben Thomas plays in Smith’s band; Adele collaborators Fraser T Smith and Eg White have written and produced on Smith’s album In The Lonely Hour; both defy the size-zero cut-and-paste pop star stereotype. Most importantly, for both artists the voice is paramount.
Do the comparisons create a pressure? “No. No way. The thing I take from theAdele stuff is the honesty, the fact that she just sings from her heart, because my music is completely different.”
8.15pm ET
Here’s a funny anecdote as told by Taylor Swift (to Rolling Stone) about how she became bbz with our Sam:
“We were front row watching watching Ariana Grande, loving her performance. We’re both pretty animated when we’re watching other artists. At the end of her performance, she did some dance move that was so sexy and so cool, and at the same time, Sam and I both screamed out “YAS BITCH YAS!!” and then looked at each other and died laughing. I had this feeling that we’ll be friends for life.”
8.14pm ET
In case you missed Rihanna turning up dressed as a giant blancmange ...
8.11pm ET
He’s thanking his mum and dad now. He told Seacrest that was the one he wanted. Could be the first of many tonight.
8.11pm ET
WINNER! Best new artist - Sam Smith!
8.09pm ET
Best new artist is up now, with Taylor Swift dishing it out. Here are the runners…
Best new artist
Bastille
Iggy Azalea
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith
8.08pm ET
LL Cool J is assuring everyone that after taking a trip on the highway to hell, things are only going up from here. HAHAHAHAHA, thanks Ladies Love Cool James.
8.07pm ET
Lady Gaga seemed to really, really enjoy that. Tony Bennett was non-plussed
8.06pm ET
Devil horns are the order of the day
Now THAT is how you kick off a show. @acdc going big. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/b4753XcoOj
8.05pm ET
They’re banging out a slo-mo version of Highway To Hell with a nice bit of pyrotechnics. Pharrell is loving this and staying curious apparently…
8.03pm ET
And… we’re off. AC/DC get things up and running
All you need to know is that @acdc is opening thr grammys pic.twitter.com/Hj8wgc0Fbc
7.51pm ET
we're going to stunt. pic.twitter.com/8z1nRNf9VE
Wiz Khalifa has brought his son and his mum with him (perhaps in a bid to out cute Juicy J). He’s stolen the microphone and doesn’t want to give it back. “The boy’s a natural! cries Seacrest!”.
7.50pm ET
Iggy is long gone now but she could have caused the biggest stir tonight if she would have the best rap album. Here’s the skinny.
Banks became uncharacteristically emotional during the exchange. She said: “I feel just like in this country whenever it comes to our things – like black issues or black politics or black music or whatever – there’s this undercurrent of kinda like a ‘fuck you’.” She said that Azalea seemed to be ripping off Nikki Minaj’s Reloaded by titling her own album re-release Reclassified. Banks called it “cultural smudging”, her phrase for appropriation. Then she took the Grammy Awards to task for its nomination of Azalea and awarding of the rap record of the year to Macklemore, a moment that led Forbes to declare that “Hip-Hop Is Run by a White, Blonde, Australian Woman.”
The message to white kids, Banks said: “is, ‘You’re great. You’re amazing. You can do whatever you put your mind to.’ And it says to black kids, ‘You don’t have shit. You don’t own shit, not even the shit you created yourself.’”
7.44pm ET
Her dogs are called Space Jam and Joey…
7.41pm ET
Monitor Twitter: Iggy Azalea just showed up.
Who wore it better #Grammys pic.twitter.com/i4ItPr69gg
7.38pm ET
Kanye and Kim are here looking like a “pair of curtains” according to Alex Needham. They’ve both gone for the “heavy cleavage” look.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian on the red carpet. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/OyllLP5Fst
7.34pm ET
She's never going out of style @taylorswift13 looking amazing in Elie Saab #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/bIeWeYp8Yi
Seacrest is talking to Taylor Swift and has opted for his go-to question: “are you nervous?” Swift, just like everyone else, says “yes” before Seacrest plays some old “VT” of Swift using the phrase Shake It Off when she still had curly hair (so circa 2010).
7.32pm ET
Apologies for calling Glen Campbell “the late” – he is, of course, happily still with us. Thanks for the commenters who pointed that out.
7.29pm ET
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have shown up. Tony looks like he isn’t really too sure what the hell is going on, but assures Seacrest that they have a great understanding because they’re both Italian-Americans. Here’s a picture of their feet that Tony posted.
Red carpet here we come! @ladygaga #Grammys2015 pic.twitter.com/ifo1lzs0iX
7.26pm ET
Here’s some slow motion Madonna via the Grammys Vine account, which is slow-moing everything in sight.
7.21pm ET
Nicki Minaj owns it in Tom Ford. #winning #Grammys pic.twitter.com/5CMf3RxcMQ
Nicki Minaj has to be prised away from Katy Perry by Seacrest who is struggling to deal with our Nicki. She isn’t making eye contact and the whole thing is very, very uncomfortable. He’s asking her if she makes love to her own music. Urrrrgggghhhh.
7.19pm ET
Katy Perry has finally got off that huge flying star and put down the sharks after her Superbowl performance.
7.13pm ET
Ok, here’s a quick guide to who is presenting and performing tonight.
7.08pm ET
Chris Brown doing his best Dennis Rodman #Grammys pic.twitter.com/ShfQHbyvnn
Chris Brown shows up sporting a double nose stud, green hair, a dinner jacket and a burgundy fedora. Apparently, he painted a mural of himself next to Michael Jackson, which is in no way weird.
7.07pm ET
Pharrell got best urban contemporary album. Paramore scooped best rock song for Ain’t it Fun. Tenacious D (!) got best metal performance for The Last in Line, and Jack White got best rock performance for Lazaretto. Finally, Lady Gaga will be pleased – Cheek to Cheek, her duet with Tony Bennett, scooped best traditional pop vocal album.
7.03pm ET
More Madonna!
Madonna – telling you to shove your ageism up your arse since time immemorial. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/4P19m9E6aV
7.00pm ET
Pharrell really does love those shorts. If it ain’t broke don’t lengthen it, etc…
A brief history of @Pharrell in shorts on the red carpet. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/a06Ioc7HKF
7.00pm ET
St Vincent by St Vincent, Guardian music critics’ best album of the year, won best alternative music album. Carrie Underwood took best country song for Something in the Water. Kendrick’s i won two awards - best rap song and best rap performance. So it’s not looking too hot for Iggy so far ...
That moment you learn Iggy didn't win Best Rap Album ... pic.twitter.com/AIQrwIPbLc
6.57pm ET
Ed Sheeran no Red Carpet do Grammy. #RedCarpetE pic.twitter.com/tCPW3wDZq6
Ed Sheeran’s here! He’s dressed like a barman and he looks petrified while he talks about playing with Questlove and Herbie Hancock. Seacrest is trying to calm him down by talking about the MASSIVE VENUES HE’S PLAYING ON HIS NEXT TOUR. Thanks Ryan, that’ll do it.
6.56pm ET
Chick Corea won his 21 and 22nd(!) Grammys for best jazz instrumental album for Trilogy and best improvised jazz solo for Fingerprints. You’ll be pleased to hear that Winds of Samsara by Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman got best new age album, while Glen Campbell got best country song for I’m Not Gonna Miss You.
6.54pm ET
+@Pharrell just arrived, styled to the max! #GRAMMYLive http://t.co/Q0TDdXnCdr pic.twitter.com/jIe47fLr3q
The man who is absolutely not Gwen Stefani’s boyfriend Pharrell is here explaining why he’s wearing shorts (apparently it’s something to do with a “tan line” and Adidas). Seacrest is asking him how he stays “in front of the vibe”, apparently you’ve got to stay curious. Curious and cerebral.
6.52pm ET
OK, more awards. Rosanne Cash won two: best Americana album for The River and the Thread, and best American roots song for A Feather’s Not a Bird. She said onstage that the last time she got one, Reagan was in power.
6.49pm ET
"@ComplexMusic: Juicy J came through with his parents. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/H9p0s8xIPI" Yooo
Juicy J is here and he is not annoyed he didn’t win. He’s got his mum and dad here! His dad is over the moon and they look very nice. I wonder if she’s heard his lyrics to Bandz A Make Her Dance?
6.48pm ET
That’s the end of the first tranche of awards.
6.47pm ET
Max Martin, who masterminded a bunch of blockbusters this year including Taylor Swift’s 1989, has just won best producer. He thanked his mentor, the late Denniz PoP and all “the artists who make me look a whole lot better than I deserve.”
6.47pm ET
Jhene Aiko is here now being asked to decide who is a bigger “goof ball”; Chris Brown or Omarion. She doesn’t really give an answer and looks a bit annoyed to be asked such a pointless question. They’re all working together on new music apparently.
6.46pm ET
There’s even an award for best regional Mexican music album (including tejando) and it was won by Vicente Fernández’s Mano A Mano - Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernández.
6.44pm ET
Best musical: Beautiful, the Carole King Musical. Best comedy album: Mandatory Fun – “Weird Al” Yankovic. The amazing Malala Yousafzai can add a Grammy for best children’s album to her groaning awards cabinet, for I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed the World. Angelique Kidjo won best world music album for Eve and posed splendidly with her prize.
6.44pm ET
Gwen Stefani is here now explaining that she had to explain to her kids that Pharrell Williams isn’t her boyfriend.
Performing tonight, @gwenstefani hits the red carpet on http://t.co/Q0TDdXFd4Z pic.twitter.com/g3ruuw3MKY
6.39pm ET
There’s frantic bluegrass courtesy of Old Crow Medicine Show happening on the live stream, suggesting that we’re into the country tranche of awards. Before that, let’s run down some more winners so far. Best score soundtrack: The Grand Budapest Hotel. Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: Frozen.
6.36pm ET
While we’ve been posting, Beyoncé just got a second gong – Drunk in Love got best R&B song.
6.35pm ET
"I hate boring fashion." —@charli_xcx #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/7MYd7BLPE7
Charli XCX is here now explaining her outfit and how much she loves Gwen Stefani. When she’s asked what she loves and hates the most about the business she answers thusly; she hates misogyny, and loves making music. Fair enough.
6.34pm ET
Some more of those 83, yes 83 awards. Best music film went to 20 Feet From Stardom. Best music video went to Pharrell’s Happy. Best choral performance went to The Sacred Spirit of Russia. Beyonce has won her first going - for best surround sound album, whatever that may mean. the Tiesto remix of John Legend’s All of Me won best remixed recording. Let it Go from Frozen won best song written for visual media.
6.32pm ET
Prom king and queen. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/WbnGyBjLnX
Seacrest is back with Ariana Grande and Big Sean now. She’s “just excited to be here”, she doesn’t want to say anything about her upcoming tour, but she confirms “SHE IS VERY EXCITED”.
6.30pm ET
And the award to the three best & most stylish sisters goes to: @HAIMtheband #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/FamKkQ3C5s
Haim are here now, even though Danielle was involved in a car accident. They are now sharing an anecdote about how a teacher once told them they’d never get on SNL, and they have, so take that teacher.
6.26pm ET
OK, if you want a multiscreen experience (and you live in the States) you can watch the actual awards ceremony on the website and the red carpet on E! Which is what we’re doing.
In terms of the actual awards, let’s do a recap. Joan Rivers just won a posthumous award for best spoken word album, beating an eclectic (to say the least) shortlist including James Franco, John Waters, Jimmy Carter, Gloria Gaynor and Elizabeth Warren. Eminem and Rihanna just won best rap/sung collaboration for The Monster. As we speak, Kendrick Lamar has won best rap song for i. And Eminem has won best rap album, beating Iggy Azalea.
Iggy Azalea has not won the Grammy Award for best rap album. Civilization endures.
6.24pm ET
Charli XCX has hit the red carpet too and is wearing what looks like a cross between a tracksuit and suit. Fancy (sorry).
oh hello there @charli_xcx #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/6NgQ1j5wmp
6.21pm ET
We’re back and Nick Jonas is here talking to Seacrest, and reveals he’s about to tour with Iggy Azalea and Tinashe. He sounds gutted.
6.17pm ET
Ryan Seacrest, eh? What a guy. Kathy Griffin recently stopped by Letterman and shared and anecdote about our red carpet host and Anderson Cooper. She certainly doesn’t think he’s got much going on upstairs.
6.15pm ET
Madonna is wearing a quite remarkable outfit. We’re talking veil, thigh-high boots, matador-style shoulder pieces and boobs pretty much out. She looks like Napoleon and Josephine combined. Nas, who’s standing next to her, looks positively terrified. If she’s wearing that just to turn up, what’s her stage outfit going to be like?
Matador + Mad Max = Madonna tonight #Grammys pic.twitter.com/4igYs5ZHpp
6.07pm ET
In Los Angeles at the Staples Center they’ve already been dishing out the awards for two hours – we’ll recap some of those awards as we go. You can watch a live stream of the event (might not work in some territories) here. Notable winners so far include Aphex Twin, for best electronic/dance album, and Frozen, which got best soundtrack. As we speak, the stars are promenading down the red carpet. We’ll be watching both that and the ceremony itself, as well as rounding up the reaction on Twitter and elsewhere. Do send us your thoughts, either in the comments below or on Twitter. We’re at @alexneedham74 and @lanre_bakare.
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