SA’s Trevor Noah returns as Grammy host with consolation and nervousness

Trevor Noah feels extra comfy internet hosting the Grammy Awards for a third-straight yr, however the former “The Each day Present” host nonetheless has some nervousness about main the ceremony with big-time acts like Beyoncé, Adele and Harry Kinds wanting on.

“The nerves are available in since you’re standing in entrance of not simply a number of the greatest, however a number of the largest performers on the earth,” mentioned the Emmy winner. Noah expects his diligent preparation to get him by means of Sunday’s present.

“Nerves are a part of what I do,” the comic mentioned.

Noah returns for his third internet hosting stint on the Grammys, which airs dwell from Crypto.com Area on Sunday on CBS and Paramount+. The ceremony returns to Los Angeles after relocating to Las Vegas for the first-time ever due to rising COVID-19 instances and omicron variant.

“I used to be relieved Trevor got here again as a result of it makes my job extra satisfying and simpler,” mentioned Ben Winston, the present’s govt producer. He known as Noah an “absolute professional” who he mentioned can pivot gracefully at any second on an evening celebrating music’s greatest.

“He reassures me on a disturbing evening when a set hasn’t been in-built time and I say to his ear ‘Sorry about that. I want you to go an additional 90 seconds as a result of Woman Gaga’s orchestra isn’t in.’ He’ll simply naturally circulate, make a joke, stand up and sit at any person’s desk and chat with them,” Winston mentioned. “That’s a really troublesome process which only a few individuals may do — and positively can’t do together with his comedy and appeal that Trevor has.”

Totally different expertise

Noah mentioned annually of internet hosting the Grammys has supplied a unique expertise due to the logistical challenges stemmed from the pandemic. However he mentioned the intimate however socially-distanced in-person award present in 2021 helped him construct a rapport with music stars — particularly when telling his jokes.

Final yr’s ceremony in Las Vegas was a hybrid mannequin that included followers.

“Yearly, I discover that I develop a unique rapport with the individuals within the room,” he mentioned. “That opens you up to some extra jokes and some extra conversations in a means the place individuals perceive the context of who you might be in relation to them. It means you get to have a bit of little bit of enjoyable with out anyone feeling such as you’re dunking on them.”

As a music fan, Noah is wanting ahead to testing the favored performers who will hit the stage together with Dangerous Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile.

Beyoncé heads into the ceremony with a number one 9 nominations, together with report and track of the yr nods for her track “Break My Soul.” Kendrick Lamar has the second-most nominations with eight, whereas Adele and Carlile enter the present with seven nods.

Kinds, Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, The-Dream and mastering engineer Randy Merrill every acquired six nominations.

“We love having Trevor as a result of he is so darn good at it,” mentioned Harvey Mason jr, the CEO of the Recording Academy. “He’s so personable, he’s so humorous. I don’t know the way he does what he does. He by no means stumbles, he by no means hesitates. He’s at all times so earnest and heartfelt. He’s additionally a music man. You see him when he’s not on digital camera. He’s singing, he’s dancing, he’s rapping. I really feel like he’s one in every of us now.”