2017 Grammy performers announced: Sturgill Simpson, Chance the Rapper & more

On February 2 the recording academy announced five additional artists who will take the stage on music’s biggest night: Chance the Rapper, Sturgill Simpson, Little Big Town, William Bell and Gary Clark Jr. will perform at the 59th Grammy Awards, which will air live on CBS on Sunday, February 12.

Sign up to get Gold Derby’s free newsletter
with experts’ latest predictions and breaking news

Chance and Simpson are both newcomers to the Grammys, enjoying their first recognition this year. Chance is actually one of the most nominated artists of the year with seven bids, including Best New Artist and an impressive six noms throughout the rap field including Best Rap Album for his critically acclaimed breakthrough, “Coloring Book.” Simpson is not as fresh-faced — at age 38, he’s actually the oldest artist nominated for Album of the Year — but he nevertheless enjoys breakthrough success thanks to his third studio album and major label debut, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” which is nominated in the top category as well as for Best Country Album.

William Bell and Gary Clark will perform together. Bell is currently a two-time nominee, for Best Traditional R&B Performance (“The Three of Me”) and Best Americana Album (“This is Where I Live”). Clark has no nominations this year, but he won the Traditional R&B category in 2014 for “Please Come Home.”

Dish the Grammys with Hollywood insiders in our notorious forums

The country quartet Little Big Town doesn’t have any nominations this year either, but they have won Best Country Duo/Group Performance twice, including just last year for their crossover hit “Girl Crush,” which also earned a nomination for Song of the Year.

Says recording academy president Neil Portnow of the diverse additions, “It’s important to The Recording Academy that the Grammy stage showcases artists across all disciplines and genres, and we take pride in our ability to elevate the best in music while, at the same time, introducing audiences to sounds and songs they’d previously not heard. As fans’ access to music has increased, so has their appetite for variety expanded. This year’s lineup already reflects that—and we’re still not done!”

These names join previously announced performers The Weeknd, Daft Punk, Maren Morris, Alicia Keys, Anderson Paak, A Tribe Called Quest, Dave Grohl, Bruno Mars, Adele, John Legend, Metallica, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. The 2017 Grammy Awards are being held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The event is being hosted for the first time by James Corden, a Tony and Emmy winning performer and the host of CBS’s “Late Late Show” where he has already gotten cozy with several Grammy winners thanks to his viral segment “Carpool Karaoke.”

Make your Grammy predictions now; change them till Feb. 12

Gold Derby readers just like YOU often turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, so it’s important that you give us your predictions. You can continue to update and change your forecasts as often as you like before winner are announced on Feb. 12.  Just click “Save” when you’ve settled on your choices. You’ll compete to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate, bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. Our racetrack odds change as you make your predictions, just as they do when you bet on the Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes and more. Be sure to read our contest rules and sound off on the Grammy race in our music forum.

More News from GoldDerby

Loading