Chris Brown and Rihanna at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy party

Entertainment Tonight’s News Editor Wes Ferguson hits the Staples Center for a sneak peek at some of this year’s hottest Grammy performers.

“Hey everybody, I can tell you firsthand that you’re going to be blown away by this year’s tasty performances! It was a real thrill to be asked to the super-secret rehearsal stage, where I got to see Rihanna, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, Estelle and Kanye West do their thing in preps for Sunday’s big show.

“Though it was pouring rain in Los Angeles, come heck or high water the show must go on. Drenched upon my entry to the Staples Center, Rihanna’s explosive set got me heated, literally. The stage lit up with pyrotechnics and fireworks for a dazzling performance medley of her new single, ‘Live Your Life,’ finishing off with ‘Disturbia,’ which is nominated for Best Dance Recording.

“Dressed in black mid-calf boots and leggings under jean shorts, with a white tee and black blazer, Rihanna worked the stage effortlessly.

“I have to note that boyfriend Chris Brown was right there alongside me watching. He watched her every move, very obviously enamored by her. It was absolutely adorable. They must be in a pretty comfortable place in their relationship, as Ri wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup. Some couples never get to that stage, at least not in Hollywood! Of course, her natural state is stunning, even with a slight case of bedhead. It really was refreshing to see such a big star go casual.

“It’s then that I realized how tightly the production comes together. With hours before the show, crew members wheeled in a stack of stairs for the small, circular stage set up in the audience. Not much later, Kanye West and Estelle walked up those newly installed steps to practice their duet “American Boy” — they will also be presenting the Best New Artist award.

“Naturally, they didn’t want to give away the set design or a number of special treats in store, so there was no photography allowed and we had to promise not to spoil any surprises. I can tell you Katy Perry is performing her megahit ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ but the rest of the performance is under wraps. There’s a super secret element that I can’t mention — for a gossip, that’s hard to do! Without giving anything away, Katy did say, ‘Whoever came up with this [TOP SECRET] idea was out of their mind.’

“She laughed, because it was her idea. Her sense of humor shined on stage as she jumped around in a tight white tank and black sweats. Hair perfect and sounding great, she playfully teased her band and dancers as they tightened up the performance.

“Seeing how it all comes together proves that a lot of hard work goes into every single performance you’ll see Sunday night. The afternoon also proved something else: every single act I saw absolutely sang live. Everybody uses backgrounds, but there’s no fakery going on here. What you’ll see is a truly live show.

“The Grammys have always been a favorite because of the diverse musical acts that put on once-in-a-lifetime shows just for the event. This year the hottest musicians are blowing up the stage with wild and crazy antics like you’ve never seen. You don’t want to miss it!”




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