Beyonce to perform at Grammys; Kanye, Bieber may not show up

The Recording Academy president discusses the latest news regarding Sunday's Grammy Awards.

February 8, 2017 at 6:18AM
FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2016 file photo, Beyonce Knowles arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden, in New York. Beyonce announced on her Instagram account, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, that she is expecting twins. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2016 file photo, Beyonce Knowles arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden, in New York. Beyonce announced on her Instagram account, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, that she is expecting twins. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Beyonce is set to perform on Sunday's Grammys
Beyonce is set to perform on Sunday's Grammys (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Grammys folks are slowly rolling out the announcement of performers for Sunday's ceremonies. Everyone expects Beyonce, who received a leading nine nominations, to perform and yes she will, Grammy poobah Neil Portnow confirmed to the Star Tribune.

In an interview late Tuesday, he said Beyonce's pregnancy with twins will not prevent her from appearing.

"She was probably aware [of her pregnancy] at the time we put it together," said the president of the Recording Academy. "She's strong and smart. She'll find a balance of what's reasonable to do."

Portnow is aware of the rumors that Kanye West and Justin Bieber are not planning to attend – dare we say "boycotting?" – Sunday's awards despite multiple nominations for each, including album of the year for Biebs.

"We have seats for them," Portnow said. "They've asked for them."

Saying those two stars have their opinions and their plans, he said he won't know until they show up.

Portnow said the only people who are considered to officially confirm their attendance are performers and presenters.

One certain no-show is Drake, who is nominated for album of the year for "Views." He is on tour in Europe, Portnow said.

about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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