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American Morning
Getting Ready for Grammy Awards
Aired February 27, 2002 - 09:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Now, at tonight's Grammy Awards Ceremony, rock legends U2 and newcomer Alicia Keys are among the most nominated artists. Both of those are Jack's favorite artists, I know. There are probably a bunch of nominees you may never have heard of before.
CNN's entertainment reporter, Jodi Ross, tells us the driving force behind this year's awards is girl power.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JODI ROSS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: They're sisters and ladies. The queens are king. This year the "G" in Grammy could stand for girl.
EMIL WILBEKIN, "VIBE": There were a lot more women coming out on the scene in 2001, and the music that they were making was much more soulful, much more heartfelt, and extremely popular.
ROSS: So popular that females dominate top categories like best new artist, song of the year, and the R&B field.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Women, definitely.
ROSS: Leading the pack are newcomers Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys, and India.Arie with 17 nods among them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last year I couldn't get in, see what I am saying?
ROSS: The trio posed for a recent cover of "Entertainment Weekly," headlining the musical story of the year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say it's a girl's world.
WILBEKIN: It's new, it's hip-hop, it's urban. These women have dreadlocks, or braids, and they wear really funky clothes, and it's very artistic. It's not, kind of, this cookie cutter "sex bomb" image that we're used to females having to wear in the music industry. These women are very powerful and strong.
ROSS: In both lyrics and attitude. An eye for an eye is Blu Cantrell's empowering message. Rapper Eve is making no apologies, and Mary J. Blige is taking command of her life. MARY J. BLIGE, SINGER: I'm not perfect, and there will be drama, but there will be no more negative drama, because I know, you know, the secret to keeping it under control, and that is controlling my emotions.
WILBEKIN: I think we're seeing a change of, not just packaged flossy (ph) bling bling, but actually substance, soul, and real music.
ROSS: That's an encouraging trend for nominees and veteran singer/songwriters like Tori Amos, Melissa Etheridge, and Stevie Nicks.
STEVIE NICKS, SINGER: I would say it is probably all about song writing, you know, and that is what I love about this year, is that there really are some wonderful song writers.
MICHAEL GREENE, PRESIDENT, RECORDING ACADEMY: This crop of nominees should make us all very optimistic, that our membership really took the time to look deeply and acknowledge that, wow, here's power, here's prowess.
ROSS: As for Alicia, Nelly, and India, they are just proud to be front and center on a Grammy evening which could become lady's night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is a beautiful thing to see.
ROSS: Jodi Ross, CNN Entertainment News, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: I heard a rumor Jack Cafferty was actually hanging out with Mary J. Blige and Sean "Puffy" Combs just the other night at Bungalow 8. I don't know if it's true.
And joining us now from Los Angeles, KTLA Entertainment Editor Sam Rubin. He is going to reveal what's inside the Grammy goody bag each performer and presenter will get tonight, among many other scoops he is going to give us -- Sam, this is kind of a behind-the-scenes at the Grammy.
SAM RUBIN, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, KTLA: Indeed it is. In fact, this is really behind-the-scenes. This, Anderson, here, is the artist's entrance, and even though it is early in the morning in Los Angeles, they start Grammy rehearsals in just a couple of hours, they run through the show completely before they actually -- be giving out these awards. They start at 1:00 in the afternoon, there's a four- hour non-televised ceremony.
What is important, of course, during the ceremony, where do people sit? You see the -- you know, the seating chart of where the stars will be, inside staples (ph), and the big surprise, of sorts, the Olympian Sarah Hughes, front row center, right next to Janet Jackson and then several other stars who have got very, very good seats.
COOPER: Wow, the Backstreet Boys were like, all the way in the back, there.
RUBIN: I noticed that. They are in about fourth or fifth row, whereas 'NSync and Britney are up front. I don't know if they are aware of that yet.
COOPER: No respect for those Backstreet Boys. Now, who is performing tonight?
RUBIN: We are going to see 18 live performances. The ones, I think, people are really look forward to, U2, Bob Dylan is supposed to be terrific. I saw 'NSync and the rapper Nelly do a duet together. Nelly Furtado singing almost a capella, which was terrific. Should be a lot of good performances. Dave Matthews Band did a great number. The country song, Allen Jackson, the song about September 11th, I think, might resonate particularly with this crowd, that might be a show highlight. One rule about the Grammys, you have to sing live, so this criticism about lip sinking and the like, that won't take place here. They require that you sing live.
COOPER: So clearly, Britney Spears will not be performing.
Now I heard you were -- you went back stage to a lot of the luxury boxes, where some of the fat cats are kind of hanging out.
RUBIN: Well, fat cats getting fatter. They are going to spend an enormous amount of money tonight on just celebration, including the food. You go into these luxury boxes, and you see extraordinary edibles. I think, 400 pounds of lobster and shrimp. Seafood from all over the place. Caviar, of course. Champagne magnums have been rolled in.
So, this is a very long afternoon, evening at the Grammys, but the food and drink make it go by a little bit quicker, I think.
COOPER: I got to tell you, that looks like Star Jones' dressing room at the View.
RUBIN: That's just on the weekends, actually.
COOPER: That's right. I've been hearing rumors about this goody bag that some of the stars are getting. It is valued like $16,000. What is in this goody bag?
RUBIN: It is $17,000. Here, Anderson, let me show you what the goody bag looks like. It's several bags all put together. You get your iPod. You get your Bop It Extreme. This -- over the 100 of these bags have been put together for the -- quote, unquote -- "talent." The people who are performing and presenting.
Apparently there are bags, as well, for the executives. So -- I'm not sure if theirs is quite as large and as lavish, but that's one reason they want people to -- people, I should say, want to perform and present, because you get all this stuff.
COOPER: Do they provide a little U-Haul for you to cart away that stuff? RUBIN: They will actually deliver it to you.
COOPER: All right. Sam Rubin.
RUBIN: Company called Distinctive Assets that puts this all together, so -- we say that, Anderson, in the hopes they will send you and me one.
COOPER: Well, I know. I was going to say, I haven't seen any of this goodness flowing my way.
RUBIN: Well, we'll see what we can do.
COOPER: All right. I appreciate that. Sam Rubin, thanks a lot...
RUBIN: Thanks so much.
COOPER: ...for your behind-the-scenes look at the Grammys.
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