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Showbiz Tonight

Special: Grammys Showdowns

Aired February 12, 2011 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

A.J. HAMMER, CNN HOST: Right now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the great Grammy Showdowns.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN HOST: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT teams up with the Recording Academy, the people behind the Grammys, to reveal the biggest, best, most explosive star showdowns expected Sunday.

HAMMER: The showdown between Eminem and Jay-Z. Is this the year for `Em`s big recovery or does Jay-Z have the blueprint to Grammy gold.

ANDERSON: The Grammy showdown between Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Will it be a teenage dream come true for Katy or monster wins for Gaga?

HAMMER: The most bizarre Grammy showdowns, Michael Jackson versus John Mayer? And Justin Bieber versus Susan Boyle.

ANDERSON: A special edition of TV`s most provocative entertainment news show, the great Grammys showdown -

HAMMER: Starts right now.

Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer coming to you from New York City.

ANDERSON: Hello, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. And this is a special edition of "Showbiz Tonight," the great Grammys showdown. Let me tell you that tonight is going to be an extraordinary night as the recording academy hands out the Grammys to the biggest and best music stars.

HAMMER: And tonight, "Showbiz Tonight" is teaming up with the recording academy to bring you the remarkable showdowns that will make the Grammys this year a show of Sunday showdowns to remember.

And we begin with a showdown between Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. I mean, how do you choose? They`re up against each other in several categories which is why "Showbiz Tonight" can tell you, you better brace yourself for the lady versus Katy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): One rocketed to fame in a meat dress. The other rocks a cupcake top. Now Lady Gaga and Katy Perry they have something else in common besides an edible wardrobe. They`re going head to head at the Grammys in four big showdowns.

KEITH CAULFIELD, "BILLBOARD": They`re two of the biggest female stars we have in pop music these days.

HAMMER: It`s the California girl versus the Fame Monster. For the best female pop vocal performance category Lady Gaga`s "Bad Romance" is up against Perry`s song with Snoop Dog "California Girls."

"California Girls" is also nominated in the best pop vocal collaboration category where it`s up against Gaga`s duet with Beyonce "Telephone." There will also be showdowns between Lady Gaga and Katy Perry at the Grammys for best pop vocal album and for the big Grammy enchilada, album of the year. Despite the showdowns, Katy Perry tells "Showbiz Tonight" she loves Gaga.

KATY PERRY, SINGER: I`m the hugest Lady Gaga fan.

HAMMER: But all`s fair in love and Grammys so expect a great Grammy night showdown when the California girl faces the Fame Monster.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: So who will bring home the most Grammy gold? Will it be Gaga or will it be Katy. Let the great debate begin.

With me in New York is John Norris. He`s a former MTV correspondent and host of the great web site, noisevox.org. Also with me, legendary rapper Salt-n-Pepa who were the first female rappers ever to win a Grammy. Salt- n-Pepa are currently on their "Legends of Hip-Hop" tour. You must check them out.

All right. Guys, you can`t deny. This is a great Grammys showdown between Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Salt, I want to start with you, who are you going for in this particular showdown?

SALT: Well, I was talking to Pepa and I said "if you go strictly with vocals, it`s hard because they both sing really well and they`re both very talented. They`re both controversial. But I say Lady Gaga because of the outfits, you know, like the hats and the, you know, she`s like the Madonna of this era.

HAMMER: But should that matter so much to walk away with the most Grammys? What do you think, Pepa?

PEPA: I think, I just think Lady Gaga. I mean only because like she said, visually, she`s great. She`s awesome. She`s forward. You know, as far as she put a new meaning to express yourself. I mean, for God`s sakes, she`s a Halloween costume. You know, everybody`s Lady gaga. Katy Perry is not walking around (INAUDIBLE)-

HAMMER: I just want to see how she topped the old meat dress that she wore last year. Let me go to you John Norris. This ladies have won a Grammy, you yourself have covered the Grammys for a long time. They are up for four categories, who do you think gets the most?

JOHN NORRIS, MUSIC JOURNALIST: I think at the end of the night, Gaga`s going to win more. And Gaga won two last year, let`s remember, in the dance category and the electronic dance album. She sees herself as something more than just a dance artist in those larger pop categories. So I think they`re going to award her this year. I see her maybe winning two of those. I think Katy`s best chance is in the collaboration category with Snoop Dogg for "California Girls." This is a terrific song and Snoop can do no wrong, as far as I`m concerned.

HAMMER: Well, of course, the big enchilada of the night is album of the year. That`s the one everybody wants to win but they have some tough competition. Eminem is up for album of the year as well. So do you think it is a sure win for either Gaga or Katy in that category?

SALT: I think Eminem will probably sweep the night. I don`t know. That guy`s unstoppable.

PEPA: He is. He can take a break and come back and everyone jumps right on Eminem. I mean, that is a tough competition between - but don`t sleep on Katy. I mean, she`s still edgy. But you know, Gaga is so worldwide and crazy. I mean, her name speaks for itself. It`s self-explanatory. Gaga. You see like, gaga.

SALT: She is the full entertainment package. She does it all.

HAMMER: What`s your take on album of the year with Eminem in there?

NORRIS: You`re going to think I`m crazy. You guys all are because I think that Katy and Gaga sort of cancel out the pop vote in album of the year. I think Em is going to do all right but I truly believe it`s between - you can`t go against country at the Grammy awards.

HAMMER: True.

NORRIS: Between Lady Antebellum and my personal pick, Arcade Fire. And I`m so happy today of their album of the year nomination.

HAMMER: All right. Let me kick it out to Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Now, Brooke, Eminem has more than just the showdown with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to worry about, doesn`t he?

ANDERSON: He certainly does, A.J.. Because Eminem will also be taking on Jay-Z. Eminem has got a total of 10 nominations, more than anyone else. And this big showdown with Jay-Z in four categories including record of the year that will definitely make this one Gramny night to remember.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON (voice-over): Seven-time Grammy winner Jay-Z says we should be afraid of what he`s going to do next. While 11-time Gramny winner Eminem is boasting he`s not afraid. These two rap giants face each other in four categories in a Gramny clash of the hip-hop titans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody wants a good hip-hop beat.

ANDERSON: Jay-Z`s "Empire State of Mind" is up for a best rap song collaboration, best rap song and record of the year while Eminem`s hit duet with Rihanna "Love the Way you Lie" is competing with "Empire State of Mind" in all three of those categories. So who has the edge?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Since I`m from New York, I definitely have to go with "Empire State of Mind."

ANDERSON: There`s also a Jay-Z-Eminem showdown in a fourth category at the Grammys, best rap album.

KEITH CAULFIELD, BILLBOARD: For best rap album, I think Eminem - I think it`s a lock for Eminem.

ANDERSON: So all eyes will be watching to see who comes out on top in the great Grammy night showdown. Te clash of the hip-hop titans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: A clash of the hip-hop titans indeed. So who will take home record of the year. Pop culture specialist Tanika Ray is with me now in Hollywood. And the legendary Salt-n-Pepa are back with us in New York. In 1995, they won the Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or a group.

All right, ladies, while Eminem and Jay-Z will be battling it out in four categories, all eyes are on the showdown for record of the year. Eminem featuring Rihanna for "Loving the Way You Lie," and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for "Empire State of Mind."

Pepa, who do you think is going to take home the Grammy for record of the year? Eminem or Jay-Z?

PEPA: Well, I have to say, you know, I represent New York, "Empire State of Mind." But Eminem, hands down, I mean, that`s a bad guy to actually be able to have Rihanna sing that hook, "Love the Way you Lie" after she went through what she went through with Chris Brown.

ANDERSON: It totally worked. Salt, what do you think?

SALT: Well, I`m also partial to "Empire State of Mind." And kudos to Jay-Z for doing it as long as he`s been doing it. And still nominated for Grammys, probably it will be Eminem. But I think the collaboration on both sides were brilliant.

ANDERSON: Yes, it`s going to be a tough competition between these guys. I want to note we can`t forget how personal the Grammys are for Eminem with his entire album "Recovery." In fact, just before "Recovery" was released, Eminem told me about how he hit rock bottom after getting out of rehab. Watch what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMINEM, HIP-HOP ARTIST: That`s when I overdosed, got out of the hospital, relapsed a short time after that. Basically scared the (INAUDIBLE) out of myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Eminem`s personal story is so intertwined with his album. Could that be a factor in the vote? Who do you say, Eminem or Jay-Z?

TANIKA RAY, POP CULTURE SPECIALIST: 100 percent. You know what, first of all 100 percent. First of all, big ups to Salt-n-Pepa and you girls are right on the nose. When it comes down to it, I think it`s about the full picture of the artist. And especially for Eminem, this is his comeback. He hit the dumps. He went away. He found himself. He revitalized his art and he came back enslated in the "Billboard" charts. And as great as Jay-Z was with Alicia Keys, it was a great song. I think it peaked maybe in June. And I think the Eminem to get Rihanna to expose herself - that`s the most we`ve ever heard her talk about -

ANDERSON: And it`s Eminem`s time, like you say. Eminem and Jay-Z are also battling it out for best rap album. They`re going to be against the likes of Drake, the Roots, B.O.B., Pepa, Eminem or Jay-Z, for best rap album?

PEPA: Oh, gosh!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we all love Jay-Z. We all love Jay-Z.

PEPA: I do love Jay-Z. (INAUDIBLE) Eminem is just very open, forward, personal. He`s in your face.

ANDERSON: All right. It`s his moment. Eminem all the way down the list for these girls. Tanika Ray, Salt and Pepa, thanks.

HAMMER: More big Grammys showdowns coming up on this special edition of "Showbiz Tonight" including Chris Brown`s Grammy showdown with himself. Remember two years ago right before the Grammys, Brown brutally beat Rihanna. Now he`s up for three awards. Will he finally redeem himself.

ANDERSON: Justin Bieber versus Drake. They`re both so young. They`re both Canadian and they`re even friends. And they`re both up for best new artist. And Bieber also battles Susan Boyle in one of the weirdest Grammy showdowns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going with Bieber on this one as opposed to Susan Boyle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we`re leaning more towards Susan Boyle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: Well, Susan Boyle and Justin Bieber have some stiff competition for the battle for best pop vocal album. They`re also up against Lady Gaga, John Mayer and Katy Perry. So who do you want to win? Well, we asked you to text us and to vote on our (INAUDIBLE) Facebook page and you say the winner should be Lady Gaga and her album "The Fame Monster." You`re watching a special edition of "Showbiz Tonight," great Gramny showdowns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: That`s Chris Brown`s "I can Transform You" off "Graffiti," his Grammy-nominated R&B album. The question we`re asking tonight, will the Grammys lead to Brown`s redemption. Welcome back to the special edition of "Showbiz Tonight, the Great Grammys Showdown." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.

ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Now the great Grammy showdown between Chris Brown and himself. Just hours before the Grammy Awards two years ago, Chris Brown got into that now infamous fight with his then-girlfriend Rihanna, beat her up and later pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

Now two years later, Brown is up for three Grammys, including best contemporary R&B album. So, could this year`s Grammys lead to Chris Brown`s redemption? Pop culture specialist Tanika Ray is with me here in Hollywood. Hey, one of his nominations is for his song "Deuces" in the best rap song category. He is up against Rihanna and Eminem for their smash hit "Love the Way you Lie." it`s about domestic abuse. Tanika -

RAY: Awkward!

ANDERSON: Ironic.

RAY: It`s very ironic. But here`s the thing like you said, redemption for Chris Brown. And he should be very proud of himself that he`s even in the game and that he`s nominated. That is the most he can hope for after two years of this incident, being the anniversary of this incident. You know what, it`s still not a joyful place for Chris. And I love the fact that he`s up against Rihanna. I think Eminem and Rihanna will take it 1,000 percent over "Deuces."

ANDERSON: Do you think he has a chance at winning a Grammy -

RAY: Absolutely.

ANDERSON: And taking one step towards repairing his image?

RAY: I do. Remember Eminem took him like five or six years for redemption.

ANDERSON: That`s true.

RAY: So it`s going to take a little bit longer for Chris to be accepted in all of those circles.

ANDERSON: It`s not going to be immediate. Maybe he is a little bit further along.

RAY: He is on the path.

ANDERSON: And the judge in this case has praised his process. All right. Tanika Ray, good to see you.

RAY: Absolutely. Thanks. Me too.

HAMMER: Now on some of the weirdest Grammy showdowns we`ll be seeing including 49-year-old Susan Boyle against 16-year-old teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber and John Mayer up against the late Michael Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER (voice-over): 13-time Grammy winner Michael Jackson up for a posthumous 14th award. His biggest competition? Seven-time winner John Mayer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best pop male vocal performance, you have Michael Jackson for "This Is It" and John Mayer with "Half my Heart."

HAMMER: In another strange Grammy showdown, it`s a battle of the Youtube stars. Justin Bieber who rocketed to fame with his musical Youtube videos.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HAMMER: Is up for best pop vocal album for "My World 2.0."

(MUSIC PLAYING)

HAMMER: Susan Boyle who became a worldwide Youtube tear-jerker is up against Beebs for her first album "I Dreamed a Dream." So which of these viral superstars will we soon call Grammy winners?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m going with Bieber on this one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I`m going to lean more towards Susan Boyle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not sure if either one of them will actually win this category.

HAMMER: Young versus old, dead versus alive. It`s the weirdest Grammy showdowns.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: Plenty of Grammy showdown weirdness going on there. So who will win? Syndicated radio host Carlos Diaz is with us from Hollywood and with me in New York, Carolina Bermudez, who is the co-host of radio`s "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show." All right. Carolina, so we got Bieber and Boyle. This has to be one of the wackiest showdowns for best pop vocal album. Who do you think is taking that Grammy home?

CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, CO-HOST, "ELVIS DURAN AND THE MORNING SHOW": I think this is the Grammys and we`re going to go on sheer singing talent alone. And if we`re going to do that as much of a believer as I am, I`ve got the going with Susan Boyle. I really believed that she did a remarkable job this year. She`s a new artist. And she had great sales and she`s a fantastic singer. But you know, who doesn`t love the Bieber?

HAMMER: And this is tough competition. I think tougher than a lot of people think. All right. So it`s Boyle over Bieber for Carolina. Carlos, do you have Grammy night Bieber fever?

CARLOS DIAZ, SYNDICATED RADIO HOST: Well, A.J., you know, I always have Bieber fever constantly. But you know, I`ve got to go with - if I had to choose between the two of them, I`d choose Justin Bieber because the guy had been a phenomenon for the past year and a half. But I kind of like Bruno Mars, you know, "Love You the Way You Are" kind of thing. Come on, it`s Valentine`s weekend, let`s show the love for that. But I would say, if you`re going between the two, I`m going with Bieber fever.

HAMMER: All right. Well, speaking of Bruno Mars. Let`s talk about this. The Michael Jackson-John Mayer Grammy showdown and the best male pop vocal performance category does have stiff competition including Bruno Mars for "Just the Way You Are," Adam Lambert`s "What Do You Want From Me?" and then of course, you can`t rule out Michael Buble for "Haven`t Met You Yet." Caroline, do you think Michael Jackson or John Mayer necessarily have this one in the bag?

BERMUDEZ: No, not necessarily. I think it`s a tough position to be in. I mean, you`re going up against the king of pop. I mean, that`s a really, really tough spot. But I think that John Mayer, obviously, he is a favorite of the Grammys. I mean, he`s won what? Five or this is his sixth nomination.

HAMMER: Yes.

BERMUDEZ: So you know, you look at someone like that and you say, maybe he has a chance. I think that they`re really going to honor Michael Jackson. This is their first time to be able to do that. And I think Michael might take this one home.

HAMMER: Quickly, Carlos, do you think Michael`s going to get a posthumous Grammy coming his way?

DIAZ: I would like to see Michael Jackson win this. He`s done a lot for the Grammys. You know, it would be a great salute to Michael.

HAMMER: It will be interesting to see what happens there, for sure. Carlos Diaz, Carolina Bermudez, I thank you both.

ANDERSON: This special edition of "Showbiz Tonight" continues with Justin Bieber in another great Grammy showdown against Drake.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: They`re both young. They`re both Canadian. These two are even friends. And they`re both up for best new artist.

And there`s a huge Grammy showdown in the best female country vocal category, Carrie Underwood versus Miranda Lambert.

HAMMER: Lambert and Underwood are facing some very tough competition in the best female country vocal category, Jewel, Leann Rimes and Gretchen Wilson are also nominated. So who do you want to win?

Well, we asked you to text us and to vote on our "Showbiz Tonight" Facebook page. You want Carrie Underwood to win best female country vocal. You`re watching a special edition of "Showbiz Tonight, Great Grammy Showdowns."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: Drake, Justin Bieber, brace yourself for their Grammy showdown in the best new artist category. Welcome back to the special edition of "Showbiz Tonight, the Great Grammy Showdowns."

With me here in Hollywood is Alex Da Kid, who is a multi-Grammy nominated producer and in New York, John Norris, who is a former MTV correspondent and his music web site is noisevox.org.

Alex, buddy, you are nominated yourself for five Grammys. Congratulations, including record of the year for Eminem`s "Love the Way you Lie." Can I have a high five for those five Grammy nominations. Who do you think, best new artist, Bieber or Drake?

ALEX DA KID, MULTI-GRAMMY NOMINATED PRODUCER: I`d have to say Drake. I think for me as a fan of hip-hop and stuff, I definitely appreciate what he`s done in hip-hop and how he came in the game with (INAUDIBLE) and stuff. But you know, Justin Bieber has got a fantastic audience as well. But I`ll have to go with Drake.

ANDERSON: All right. John, Alex is going with Drake. Who do you think is going to take home the Grammy for best new artist?

NORRIS: I`m going to have to agree with Alex, Brooke. I think it`s going to be Drake. Now, with all respect to Justin for what he`s achieved certainly but here`s a stat for you. In the last 15 to 20 years, every time a teen-oriented artist has been nominated for best new artist including Hanson, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, on and on, including Taylor Swift, of course, won album of the year last year, they have not won the award for best new artist. So I wouldn`t say that portends too well for Justin. And I think Drake, it would be nice to have a hip-hop artist win best new artist. I think the Grammys are going to go that way.

ANDERSON: All right. I think the Grammys are going with Drake. Hard to compete with that Bieber fever. We`ll see what happens.

I want to move now to the country diva showdown between Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. These two are battling it out for best female country vocal performance. Alex, who`s your pick here?

DA KID: I have to go with Miranda.

ANDERSON: Yes.

DA KID: I heard the nominations and she`s got fantastic legs. So that kind of sways my opinion.

ANDERSON: I thought you were going to say voice.

DA KID: That, too. But I go with the legs all the time.

ANDERSON: All right. The legs over the voice. Well, it was nearly a dead heat between Miranda and Carrie on our "Showbiz Tonight" Facebook page when we asked our viewers who they think should win. Miranda was slightly ahead, though. I don`t know if it was because of the legs or the voice. John, do you agree that Miranda is going to be the winner?

NORRIS: Well, I don`t know if legs are going to be the main criteria there among Grammy voters but we`ll see about that. I`m going to go with Carrie. Because, you know, I think a lot of times if you`re a past Grammy winner that, works in your favor. Carrie`s won a couple of Grammys in the past. I think she`s just wonderful, probably my favorite of all the "American Idol" alumni past winners. I think she`s the one who has really just done an amazing job in the post-"Idol" career. And so that "Temporary Home" song and video touched a lot of people, I think. So I`ll go with Carrie.

ANDERSON: Absolutely. She`s certainly very well-respected.

OK. Alex Da Kid, John Norris, thank you both for your insight. We appreciate it. Good to see you.

HAMMER: Well, that`s it for this special edition of "Showbiz Tonight, The Great Grammy Showdown." I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.

And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Remember to tune in to the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards tomorrow night. And then watch a special live edition of "Showbiz Tonight" Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN. We`ll have all the big surprises and the very latest star reaction to the Grammys. See you then.

END