How The Grammys Really Feels That Beyonce Isn't Performing
Beyoncé Knowles Carter may be set to make history at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, but fans shouldn't get excited for the star to make an appearance. After rumors swirled the world would be graced with Queen B's presence at the 2021 Grammy Awards (in large part thanks to Megan Thee Stallion), the Recording Academy is confirming there are not any surprise plans in place for the artist to appear on the Grammy stage. Beyoncé is nominated for nine Grammys, including Record of the Year (twice), Song of the Year, and Best Music Film for her 2020 movie Black is King (via Grammys).
The Formation artist could potentially make history three different ways, according to Newsweek. With just four Grammy wins at the 2021 ceremony, Beyoncé would hold the record for the woman with the most Grammy wins (she currently has 24 Grammys and 79 total nominations). The previous record holder was country singer Alison Krauss. Add just one more win to those five and Beyoncé adds on the title of record Grammy wins for any living artist. Quincy Jones currently holds the title with 28 Grammys.
If Beyoncé manages nearly a clean sweep, scoring eight awards at music's biggest event, the "Crazy In Love" singer would have the most Grammys of any artist alive or dead (can you say legend?).
Unfortunately for the Recording Academy, the historical night is missing one key ingredient: Beyoncé herself.
It's unusual for the most-nominated artist to skip the Grammys
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Recording Academy interim chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. revealed that Beyoncé Knowles Carter will be breaking tradition and not performing on the Grammy stage at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards despite leading the way in nominations. "It's unfortunate, because she's such a big part of the Recording Academy," said Mason to the publication. "We absolutely wish we had her onstage."
According to the Times, the absence of the most-nominated artist performing at the famous award ceremony has only happened twice before with Kendrick Lamar in 2019 and Jay-Z in 2018. The Carters have had a rocky relationship with the Recording Academy after Beyoncé's album of the year snub two years in a row for Beyoncé and Lemonade, and Jay-Z's eight award loss at the 2018 Grammys. The rapper even name-dropped the award show in his single "Apes**t" with the lyrics, "Tell the Grammy's f**k that 0 for 8 s**t."
Beyoncé is not the first and probably won't be the last artist to ditch the award show, as other big-name singers like The Weeknd speak out about their issues with the Grammys. Mason Jr. revealed one unnamed artist he asked to perform refused, "Because she was like, 'I got snubbed three years ago, and I'm still annoyed about it." Any guesses who that might be?