Jan 17 2008 03:06 AM ET

Grammys expected to go on with Amy Winehouse, Beyonce

Filed under: Television and tagged: , , ,

Amybeyonce_lThe Hollywood Insider has confirmed that troubled singer Amy
Winehouse (pictured, left) plans to appear at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10. She’s nominated for six
statuettes, but there had been concern that her legal woes would
prevent the Brit from obtaining a visa to enter the U.S. That tangle
seems to have been worked out, but it’s still unknown whether she’ll
perform.

The Grammys have bigger issues to deal with, anyway. Putting together this year’s half-centennial bash has become particularly thorny, thanks to — what else? — the writers strike. The Golden Globes were reduced to a press conference because of the strike, but the Recording Academy insists that, regardless of WGA approval, it’s forging ahead with the ceremony.

If the WGA doesn’t allow its writers to pen dialogue for the CBS
telecast, insiders say viewers can expect a banter-light,
performance-heavy ceremony. The Foo Fighters are the only act confirmed
so far. They’ll be playing an orchestral version of the
Grammy-nominated song “The Pretender” as part of the annual My Grammy Moment
contest. Other performers are expected to be announced any day now, but
we hear that offers are out to Michael Bublé, John Legend, and Chris
Daughtry for what’s shaping up to be a marathon of tributes and duets.
“It’s been business as usual,”says a source familiar with the
bookings.”Even the parties are still a go.”

But if the WGA announces that writers will picket
the event, all eyes will turn to nominees such as Beyoncé (pictured,
right), Justin Timberlake, and Jon Bon Jovi — all of whom happen to be
members of the Screen Actors Guild — for guidance. (UPDATE: In a statement released Thursday, Beyoncé’s father/manager Matthew Knowles said the singer would attend and perform at the Grammys.) SAG has vowed that
its members will not cross a WGA picket line. Will these
musician-actors show up? One industry exec bets that, in the end, the
stars’ music loyalties will win out: “While artists respect the
writers, they will still attend the awards. The Grammys are a highly
coveted celebration and a symbol of credibility to their peers.” Grammy
organizers, not to mention legions of music fans, are surely hoping
that’s right.

If the WGA doesn’t allow its writers to pen dialogue for the CBStelecast, insiders say viewers can expect a banter-light,performance-heavy ceremony. The Foo Fighters are the only act confirmedso far. They’ll be playing an orchestral version of theGrammy-nominated song "The Pretender" as part of the annual My Grammy Momentcontest. Other performers are expected to be announced any day now, butwe hear that offers are out to Michael Bublé, John Legend, and ChrisDaughtry for what’s shaping up to be a marathon of tributes and duets."It’s been business as usual,"says a source familiar with thebookings."Even the parties are still a go."

But if the WGA announces that writers will picketthe event, all eyes will turn to nominees such as Beyoncé (pictured,right), Justin Timberlake, and Jon Bon Jovi — all of whom happen to bemembers of the Screen Actors Guild — for guidance. (UPDATE: In a statement released Thursday, Beyoncé’s father/manager Matthew Knowles said the singer would attend and perform at the Grammys.) SAG has vowed thatits members will not cross a WGA picket line. Will thesemusician-actors show up? One industry exec bets that, in the end, thestars’ music loyalties will win out: "While artists respect thewriters, they will still attend the awards. The Grammys are a highlycoveted celebration and a symbol of credibility to their peers." Grammyorganizers, not to mention legions of music fans, are surely hopingthat’s right.

Comments (31 total) Add your comment
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  • BoyCottTheWriters!

    Good– I will be SO angry if they cancel the grammys! Especially the 50th anniversary. We don’t need the writers for the show– more performances, and less stupid jokes and talk– can only improve the grammys anyway. I am really sick of the writers ruining everything for so many people! Do they really care about who they are hurting? The grammys should have nothing to do with the writers strike– and for them to exploit the few singers like beyonce or justin timberlake- to further their own agendas- makes me hope none of their demands are met.

  • Twist

    I hope the strike cancels both the Grammy’s and the Oscars. Hollywood needs to realize its small place in this large world. The excess is immoral.

  • Twist

    I hope the strike cancels both the Grammy’s and the Oscars. Hollywood needs to realize its small place in this large world. The excess is immoral.

  • Snsetblaze

    You know, if the Grammys did not have Beyonce, Jon Bon Jovi or Justin Timberlake, I’d be okay with that. Why not showcase more of the new artistsn nominated or those artists in other categories that we’d never get to see before (i.e. folk, comedy, classical, jazz, blues, latin, for examples).

  • Kristen

    The banter on the Grammy’s is always painful to watch anyway, so I’m glad to not have any “writers” participating. Maybe they can get some winners at the pre-televeised-show awards to present, or even perform now. Furthermore, if the writers picket, and SAG won’t cross the picket lines, and this keeps me from having to look at Justin Timberlake.. then the writer’s strike has been totally worth it for me.

  • Deborah

    Amy Winehouse might appear? Oh good, now I really have no reason to watch.

  • Ben

    Good for the Grammys!
    The writers do not have the right to rule the entire entertainment industry.

  • Fatima

    Twist – Why are you here? I don’t mean to be rude, but if you’d actually like them to cancel the biggest tradition in movies, I really don’t understand why you would even be at an entertainment site that talks about celebrities all day.

  • Paige

    I am sick of both Justin Timberlake and Beyonce Knowles. Both are overrated. Why does the industry treat these two like they are the cream of the crop. I would fine if neither one of them showed up. Give other artist that have real talent and make better music a chance to shine.

  • Dean

    The writing for the awards shows so stupid anyways.The banter is phony.The Grammys is a music show.We do not need to hear stupid dumbass banter.

  • mrt

    these awards are just like the rest fixed in favor of those who are either political or sleeping with some producer.

  • kelly

    all awards are so predictable, that’s why nobody cares anymore, it’s about who you know and they lost all credibility just like the media

  • kelly

    all awards are so predictable, that’s why nobody cares anymore, it’s about who you know and they lost all credibility just like the media

  • deedee

    agree their is a bias towards certain people and they are no loner relevant.

  • mm

    twist is right hollywood is so self absorbed and just a popularity contest

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