The 63rd annual Grammy Awards became the latest victim of the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday, with the Jan. 31 Staples Center ceremony rescheduled for March.
“After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021,” according to a statement from the Recording Academy. “The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do.
“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show. We want to thank all of the talented artists, the staff, our vendors and especially this year’s nominees for their understanding, patience and willingness to work with us as we navigate these unprecedented times.”
The Grammy website earlier listed the amended show date as March 21, but the academy subsequently removed that reference, then issued the statement setting the telecast for March 14.
The announcement means two major entertainment industry award shows — the Grammys and the Screen Actors Guild Awards — will be held on the same day.
There was no immediate word on what format the Grammy show will take. The Grammy ceremony, set to originate from Staples Center hosted by comedian Trevor Noah, was already anticipated to be a largely remote affair, similar to other recent awards shows, including the Emmys.
Beyonce is the top nominee this year, with nine nods including record and song of the year for “Black Parade,” while Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch and Taylor Swift each have six. Final voting for the Grammys ended Monday.