GRAMMYs executive producer Ben Winston chats with ET's Denny Directo about what to expect during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which airs Feb. 2.
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00:00Can you talk to me about the performers you've announced so far?
00:03Yeah. Well, there's a lot of performers we haven't been allowed to announce yet.
00:07A lot of performers these days like to be a surprise.
00:10And we like to surprise people, too.
00:12We don't like to overhype things.
00:14But there's some phenomenal superstars who've already been announced.
00:17Billie Eilish, I think, is the one I'm so excited about as well
00:20because she's from Los Angeles.
00:22She's such a superstar.
00:25It feels like she's been around for so many years.
00:27She's only 23.
00:28Isn't that wild?
00:29And yet here she is as sort of like a Grammy legend already.
00:31Already, yeah.
00:32So she's got a very special performance that's very meaningful,
00:35and I'm excited about that.
00:36Chapel Rhone and Sabrina Carpenter,
00:38two superstars of the last year nominated across the board.
00:42We are very, very excited about the performances as they're shaping up.
00:46This week is a really sort of defining week
00:48of where we start seeing them on their feet
00:50and seeing them in action and making tweaks to them.
00:53But I think that it's going to be a very, very good year for music
00:56on the show this year.
00:57Can you tease any of those surprises you guys have in store for us?
01:00Yeah, absolutely.
01:01I think it's going to be amazing.
01:03It's going to be amazing.
01:04It's going to be amazing.
01:05It's going to be amazing.
01:06It's going to be amazing.
01:07It's going to be amazing.
01:08It's going to be amazing.
01:09Can you tease any of those surprises you guys have in store?
01:11What are you working on?
01:12Well, there's a couple of people who are going to sing together
01:14that I think could be exciting.
01:15Okay.
01:16There's still two things that we're working on
01:18that we're trying to pull off,
01:19and it's a hard, it's, you know,
01:21it'll be a last-minute thing if we can try and get this together.
01:24So there's a few things, bizarrely, that are still up in the air.
01:28There's a lot in our rundown that's still like,
01:30we hope we can get this thing, but let's see.
01:32Look, there are surprises, partly because I don't like to tempt fate,
01:37because as soon as I talk about them, you get a text going,
01:39so sorry, couldn't make this work.
01:40That's happened to me previous years I've gone,
01:42there's something we're working on, it's going to be exciting.
01:44And then you get off the phone and they're like,
01:46yeah, sorry, couldn't make it work this year.
01:48Next year, you know, Joni Mitchell is a good example of that.
01:50You know, Joni Mitchell was on the show last year and was phenomenal.
01:54But actually, we were talking to her about being on the year before.
01:56So you never know.
01:58So often you're working on things and then they come off at different times.
02:02But all I'd say is, although we are having our seatbelts on this week
02:06because we're moving so fast,
02:08I think it's going to be a really powerful and exceptional show this year.
02:11And I hope everybody feels that we do it right.
02:14You know, it sounds like anything can happen up until the day of the show on Sunday.
02:18So I've got to ask you a question, Ben, on behalf of The Beehive.
02:21Beyoncé has not performed at the Grammy's since 2017.
02:25Is there hope that Beyoncé will celebrate Cowboy Carter with a performance?
02:29Has she been asked?
02:30I would always want Beyoncé to be on the show, of course.
02:34So, you know, it would be beyond our wildest dreams.
02:36At the moment, there is no performance planned for Beyoncé, sadly.
02:39But she's a huge story this year because that album is phenomenal.
02:43Nominated for Best Album, as well as Country Album, Record, Song.
02:56Last year was a special year because we got to see her win more Grammy's than anyone's ever won ever.
03:02And so we have the Grammy's and her have a really special relationship.
03:06And I long may that continue.
03:08And hopefully one day we'll see her back on that stage.
03:10I know you got a wild week.
03:12It's Grammy's week.
03:13It's Grammy's week.
03:14It's one of my favorites.
03:15So I am happy to know that they're proceeding and actually happening.
03:18But, of course, with a renewed purpose this year.
03:21Talk to me about why you think it was important that the Grammy's proceed as planned.
03:26Of course, now with the wildfire relief efforts in your mind.
03:31Yeah, I was never in doubt that if it was safe to do the show.
03:34Firstly, you know, this hasn't been the easiest time to work in this industry over the last few years.
03:39With pandemics and strikes and many other things.
03:42And there's actually about 6,500 people who take a wage in some way.
03:47Local Los Angelinos, whether they be drivers or stage builders or choreographers or dancers or makeup artists.
03:53All these people who have been affected by what's happened.
03:57And actually the last thing they need is to lose a wage for a few weeks.
04:00So I was very insistent for them that we did the show.
04:04But more than that, I actually thought what better thing than to be able to celebrate the city of Los Angeles.
04:11And the spirit that we're really feeling in the city right now.
04:14To salute the first responders in such a significant way that we can do on the night.
04:19And also raise some really needed funds.
04:22Because we've got a slot on CBS on Sunday night with some of the biggest stars in the world there in the room.
04:29And what better use of our time than actually doing some good.
04:34You know, I know this is the Grammys.
04:36But the way I see it is when the fires started happening.
04:39It was so amazing to see how quickly the L.A. community was showing up for each other.
04:44And I feel like the Grammys is a big part of that community.
04:47Here's the thing I'd say.
04:48You know, when you go through good times and bad.
04:50Especially bad. Let's talk about bad.
04:51Because the wildfires have really affected all of us so much here in this city.
04:55It's not movies that you're watching.
04:57Or TV shows apart from the news.
04:59You're not tuning into your local podcast to make you feel better.
05:02You're listening to music.
05:03You're listening to the albums.
05:04You're listening to the songs that affect you.
05:07In our highest times, in our lowest times.
05:09Music is the consistent.
05:11So actually I think that on Sunday.
05:13Looking back at the year of music.
05:15Can actually bring a real emotional beauty to the situation that we're all experiencing right now.
05:21And I hope that we get that right.
05:23And do it well.
05:24And do everybody proud.
05:25Because that's what we're hoping to do.
05:27Was there a lot of pivoting as far as the preparation and the planning for this show?
05:31After the fires?
05:32There was a little pivoting, sure.
05:34We definitely.
05:35Yes, things changed after the fires.
05:37We weren't making the same show that we were when we sat down on January the 3rd.
05:42When we came back from our break.
05:44So truthfully when the fire started probably on the 4th or 5th of January.
05:47Around then.
05:49It was very clear that if the show was going to happen.
05:51It was going to focus quite a lot on what was going on in Los Angeles.
05:54So yes, I wouldn't say it pivoted so much.
05:56As we were very aware of what's going on right now in this city.
06:00And want to make sure that we reflect that.
06:02So I think we'll get the balance right.
06:04I hope we do.
06:05We know that it's a responsibility to do so.
06:08But I think it will be a really impactful evening.
06:10Speaking of that balance.
06:11With Trevor Noah returning as host of the Grammys.
06:13For the 5th year I believe, right?
06:14In a row.
06:15What direction did you give him as far as what kind of tone this show should have this year?
06:20Well, Trevor is someone who I've loved working with.
06:23You don't need to tell Trevor much.
06:25Because he is that brilliant.
06:26He has an emotional awareness that a lot of hosts don't.
06:30So he really understands what people are going through.
06:32He's also super smart.
06:34And that really helps.
06:35And at the same time he's very, very funny.
06:37And finally he loves music.
06:38He's a super fan.
06:39So therefore actually just being in that room for him.
06:42You can see the boyish enthusiasm and excitement that he has for the show.
06:47So I think he's going to get the tone exactly right on this year when it really matters.
06:51Lastly, you know the Grammy Awards always takes the time, right?
06:54To remember the ones we lost in the past year.
06:56I know of course you had a close relationship with Liam Payne.
06:59Can you share if there might be some plan for a tribute for Liam or One Direction?
07:05Yeah, it's a very difficult time.
07:08Losing Liam was very, very tough.
07:10No doubt about it.
07:11He was the most beautiful, wonderful boy and loved him very, very much.
07:17There isn't a One Direction performance.
07:19No, there isn't.
07:20He is, of course, in our memoriam without question.
07:23And actually that's a very sad thing for me when you're going through sort of the rehearsals
07:28and you're seeing the clips and a guy who has literally sat in this office four weeks before that tragedy happened.
07:35Seeing him on that screen is not something I would ever have imagined would be the case.
07:41And so, yeah, it's extra sad this year for many people, not just me, of course, who love Liam.
07:47But yeah, seeing him on that screen will be a very sad moment.
07:51No question.