Grammys Add Rihanna, Underwood, Blige to Performance Lineup

After avoiding the wrath of the Writers Strike, the Grammys announced today what musicians will perform at their picket-free awards ceremony February 10th. Confirmed performers include the previously announced Foo Fighters, who will play "The Pretender" with My Grammy Moment winner and an orchestra conducted by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, and Beyoncé, who may or may not duet with Tina Turner. Also taking to the Grammy stage will be Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige & Aretha Franklin as part of a gospel tribute, and Rihanna, who will be backed by a reunited the Time (of Purple Rain fame). Left off the current lineup is Amy Winehouse, who was rumored to perform in some capacity (a duet with Kanye?) before today's rehab announcement question marked her presence at the ceremony.

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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