Grammys postponed to March 14 in response to Los Angeles coronavirus surge

Rolling Stone

The Trevor Noah-hosted 63rd annual Grammy Awards' Jan. 31 airdate has been scuttled over the coronavirus, which has spread rapidly in Los Angeles County in recent days. While a new date hasn't been announced, organizers  are eyeing holding the Staples Center event in March, according to Rolling Stone, which adds: "The Grammys had already planned on a limited show for 2021, forgoing an audience completely and only allowing presenters and performers on-site during the show. Nominated artists wouldn’t have been allowed on-site either, likely leading to a situation similar to the 2020 Emmys where nominees appeared and accepted awards remotely." On Monday, Los Angeles County saw a record 74,000 new coronavirus cases, resulting in ambulances waiting for hospital beds. UPDATE: The Grammys have been rescheduled for Sunday, March 14. “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. 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,” the Recording Academy and CBS said in a joint statement.