Grammy Awards executive producer Ben Winston has a lot of his plate this week.
“It’s a real buzz making this show,” the English TV producer tells PEOPLE exclusively, days ahead of music’s biggest night on Sunday, Feb. 2. “Three and a half hours of live television, probably about 25 music performers in around 18 different performances. Plus you’re giving out 10 awards or so and the world is watching. It’s definitely a stressful one, but I love it.”
That said, this year is bringing some added pressure, given the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires, which caused the producers to reimagine the show as a fundraiser for those impacted.
Courtesy CBS and The Recording Academy
“Obviously the first thing we had to check was that it was safe to do so. We had so many conversations with the mayor’s office and police force, ambulance, fire service to check that they were happy with it happening and we weren’t going to use any of their resources and make sure that there was no burden on them,” he explains. “We’re trying to make sure that we deal and approach the fires and what’s happened in Los Angeles in a really appropriate way.”
Another motivation to go forward with the show? “There’s probably around 6,500 Angelenos that in some way take a wage from the Grammys happening,” he revealed. “I actually think that the last thing any of those people need is to be told that they’ve lost their wage for the month.”
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Though the show must go on, he admits it took some convincing for many stars who were naturally hesitant to sign on to perform on the heels of the crisis.
“The artists wanted to know how we were approaching it. I think they wanted to know what our plan was. I met with a few artists teams just to reassure them and tell them layout of the plan. And there wasn’t a single artist that on hearing that plan went, ‘Actually, I’m out’. They were like, ‘That sounds great!'”
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Last week nominees Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, RAYE, Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira and Teddy Swims were announced as confirmed performers. On Thursday, Taylor Swift was announced as a presenter. Others, like musical heavyweights like Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar may or may not turn out.
Says Winston, “we’ve still got a few things hanging in the balance. There’s a few performers who are going, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to do it. I hope I can get there.’ We try and add performers at the last minute to other performances that still exist. We’re still getting our Quincy Jones tribute together. That’s a big one.”
He continues, “Even once the show goes on air, stuff will happen. Somebody won’t show up or somebody will be late, or you’ve got to switch the order because the set wasn’t ready. That’s partly what adds to the stress of it.”
Courtesy CBS and The Recording Academy
So as the man with the master plan, is he nervous? “I do feel nervous,” admits Winston who also produces The Kardashians. “But I always feel nervous before the Grammys. I always say, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t do it next year.’ Then as soon as it comes around I’m like, ‘Ah, let’s do it again if they’ll have me.'”
Nerves aside, “I feel like we’re in good shape,” he says — due in large part to host Trevor Noah. “It’s so important that we have him. He has this emotional intelligence that means he’ll just get the tone right. He’s super, super smart and also very, very funny.” In all he says, “It’s going to be a really impactful show on Sunday and yeah — I’m really excited about it.”
The Grammy Awards takes place on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena. Viewers can tune in live on CBS and Paramount+.
