Book Joni, Rescuing Mariah From Traffic: The Making of the 2024 Grammys

As Killer Mike was led away in handcuffs after an alleged run-in with a security guard shortly before the 2024 Grammys began, executive producer Ben Winston was locked in his production truck, dealing with his own emergencies, thanks to stormy weather. in Los Angeles. “It was about 4:45, we're going live in 15 minutes,” he says Rolling Stone Music now,” and Patrick Menton, the EP's partner overseeing talent, says, “We're not sure SZA will be back in time for her appearance — she went to a hotel to impress her and can't get back in. Burna Boy was stuck in traffic, he might not make it. And you certainly won't have Maria [Carey]Casey [Musgraves], Christina Aguilera and Lizzo. All stuck in motion.' If we don't have Mariah Carey presenting this award in the first part, what are you doing? In the end, they took a golf cart and got Mariah Carey out of her SUV stuck in traffic, with four people running to the side with umbrellas, to make sure she didn't get so wet that she couldn't go on stage. We literally drove a golf cart the wrong way up the highway and bought her back, so she made it in time.”

In his new episode Rolling Stone Music now, Winston – who hosted his fourth Grammy ceremony this year – walks us through the build-up to a massive, well-received awards ceremony, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, answering reviews and more. Some of his revelations follow. to listen to the full episode, go here for your podcast provider of choice, listen Apple Podcasts the Spotifyor just press play above.

Joni Mitchell's idea to play originally came about recent years Grammy. “Brandy Carlyle said to me, about six months before the last Grammys, 'Johnny's going to come back out a little bit, do some festivals with me. Do you think we could get her to sing at the Grammys?' And I said, 'Wow, that would be amazing,'” Winston recalled. “And then, coming up to the Grammys last year, we didn't even talk about it. It was just clear that it wasn't going to happen and it wasn't right.” But after Winston saw Mitchell perform at the Hollywood Bowl in October, he became determined to revisit the idea for this year's show. Mitchell gave an unforgettable, incredibly emotional performance at the awards – and ended up having a good time in the process. “He enjoyed the adulation he received,” he says. “She sat there on that throne in her dressing room. People came to greet her – Olivia Rodrigo came and paid her respects.”

To start the show, the producers only considered one idea besides Dua Lipa: They tried to get the Rolling Stones. “It was the Rolling Stones doing 'Angry' or Dua Lipa,” Winston reveals. “That's what I was thinking. I tried — I had a conversation with the Stones. This time he didn't make it. But honestly, even before we knew the Stones weren't going to happen, I really thought it was worth starting with Dua Lipa anyway, because it would just be such a big piece and it was such a huge number.”

Miley Cyrus' spectacular performance had not been announced for one simple reason – Winston was afraid she might leave the show. After the first rehearsal, Winston recalls, “She came off the stage and I met her backstage and I said, 'Honestly, Miley, that was incredible. Really, this is going to be an amazing time.' And he said, “Yes, me I think so I'll do the show.” I looked at her as if to say “She's turning me on, is she kidding?” Oh my God. I actually think it was more about, 'I reserve the right to walk away from it if I don't love it,' and she's the superstar, really.”

Tracy Chapman's appearance alongside Luke Combs was months in the making. “Five months ago, [exec producers] Raj Kapoor and Patrick Menton said, “Look, there might be interest from Tracy.” And they worked very closely alongside that camp to make sure that happened, to make sure that he felt good about it. He brings this happy, amazing energy, this calmness to the set. And it happened. Sometimes we thought it was too good to be true when he agreed to do it.”

Trevor Noah had to rewrite his opening monologue on the fly, with many of the stars he was supposed to see in the audience remaining on the move. “I was telling Trevor, because I'm in Trevor's ear,” says Winston, “I'm going, 'Look, just so you know, Meryl's not here, Taylor's not here, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are not here . Yet. A lot of your jokes about them, you can still tell them, you just have to change the context.' He's so fast and so sharp, and then I'd say in his ear, “He's coming in, he's on your right shoulder!” And you'll see him look around and say, 'There he is!'”

Winston takes criticism seriously for the decision not to include the Best Rap album category in the broadcast, and explains the decision-making process at length. Among other factors, he wanted to include the Best R&B album category for once and saw Jay-Z's award as a big hip-hop moment at the show. “I may have been wrong,” says Winston. “Maybe I should have put a rap album in there. I can't get everything right all the time, right? But all these decisions are made with pure honesty and an open heart.”

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