5 Grammy storylines to watch ahead of Sunday’s awards show

LAS VEGAS — With a star-studded lineup of performers on deck, Sunday’s 64th Annual Grammy Awards will highlight a diverse talent pool while remembering those lost within the past year, including legendary Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

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Notably absent from the telecast’s performers – which include Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, J Balvin, Brandi Carlile, John Legend, Chris Stapleton, Jon Batiste, Silk Sonic Nas, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood and others – will be the Foo Fighters, who were scheduled to perform during the ceremony following completion of their South American tour. The band confirmed Tuesday, however, that they are taking an indefinite hiatus to mourn the passing of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died March 25 in Bogota, Colombia.

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In addition to airing from Las Vegas for the first time, the ceremony promises a host of potentially history-making moments, including the following:

Olivia Rodrigo could pull off only the third sweep in Grammy history.

Pop darling Rodrigo’s debut album, “Sour,” has been nominated for seven awards, including best new artist, album of the year, song of the year and record of the year.

If she takes top honors in all four of those categories, considered the Grammys’ four biggest prizes, 19-year-old Rodrigo would become the second-youngest artist to do so, trailing only Billie Eilish who swept the Big Four in 2020 at the age of 18, CNN reported.

Christopher Cross is the only other artist to ever sweep the Grammys’ Big Four, which he did in 1981, while Norah Jones came close in 2003, taking best new artist, album of the year and record of the year, NPR reported.

Ye gunning for Jay-Z’s record, from afar.

Ye, also known as Kanye West, was pulled from the performance lineup in late March after organizers cited his “concerning online behavior,” but that doesn’t mean he won’t unseat Jay-Z as the winningest hip-hop artist in Grammy history.

As it stands, Jay-Z holds 23 career Grammy wins and has three nominations heading into Sunday’s show, including two with Ye for “Donda” and best rap song for “Jail,” CNN reported.

Meanwhile, Ye has 22 Grammys and is nominated for five more, including album of the year for “Donda,” the network reported.

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BTS ready to extend its string of first with a win.

Despite their global success and intensely loyal fan base, K-pop sensation BTS has never won a Grammy and face stiff competition to take their first in the best pop duo/group performance category, NPR reported.

The boy band made history in 2021 by earning a nomination in the category, the first Korean pop stars to do so, but if their album “Butter” take the best pop duo/group performance title, BTS will become the K-pop act to win a Grammy, CNN reported.

Jon Batiste could beat Michael Jackson, Santana single-year records.

Bandleader, pianist and composer Jon Batiste leads the 2022 Grammy nominations with 11, including record of the year for “Freedom,” album of the year, best improvised jazz solo and best R&B album.

Should he win at least nine of his 11 nominations, Batiste would surpass the single-year records of both Michael Jackson and Santana. Jackson won eight Grammys in 1984, while Santana tied that mark in 2000, CNN reported.

Tony Bennett still going Grammy strong.

Crooner Tony Bennett, at 95, is the oldest artist ever to release an album of new material, and if he wins any of his five nominations during Sunday’s ceremony, that could translate into another Grammy record.

Bennett, who already holds 18 Grammys dating back to his 1963 album of the year win for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” is again nominated for album of the year for his collaboration with Lady Gaga for their cover of Cole Porter’s “I Get a Kick Out of You,” NPR reported.

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