Joni Mitchell’s remarkable comeback continues with the announcement today (Jan. 28) that she will perform for the first time ever at next week’s Grammy Awards, while promos aired during CBS’ broadcast of the NFL’s AFC Championship game seem to indicate that both Taylor Swift and SZA will be next.
Mitchell, 80, has been nominated for best folk album for her surprise 2022 Newport Folk Festival performance. She will play alongside Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, U2, Travis Scott, Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Luke Combs, and Billy Joel. It will be her debut performance at the Grammys.
Mitchell previously received the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
Meanwhile, SZA leads with nine—a nod in each of the Big Three categories, as well as four of the five categories in the R&B field and one each in Pop and Rapis over Taylor Swift who has six. For SOS and Midnights, respectively, they are vying for the album of the year award. The Recording Academy confirmed Mitchell’s participation, but Swift and SZA have not received an official statement.
Nobody in the industry doubts that Taylor and SZA will perform, but according to the Recording Academy, nothing is official just yet. However, according to our insiders at the Academy, both performers will take the stage.
During the second quarter of the Chiefs vs Ravens game, CBS announcers were quick to note that Taylor Swift would be among the attendees at next Sunday’s Grammy Awards for a possible record-breaking Album of the Year win. She and SZA later appeared during a fourth quarter on-air promo featuring other previously confirmed performers, but they were advertised only as being “all in one room” at Crypto.com Arena.
The Grammys performer lineup now encompasses Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Luke Combs, Billy Joel, Olivia Rodrigo, Burna Boy, Travis Scott and U2 live from their residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere.
