Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch Will Join Together in a Rousing Celebration of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin on the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards®

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As a "valentine" and "get-well card" to Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and GRAMMY® Legend Award recipient Aretha Franklin, four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, four-time GRAMMY winner and Latin GRAMMY® winner Christina Aguilera, GRAMMY winner Jennifer Hudson, country superstar Martina McBride, and current nominee Florence Welch will join together on the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards® in celebration of the 18-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee's music and ongoing legacy.  The special segment will feature individual and collective performances of some of the Queen of Soul's classic hits and will add to the stellar lineup for Music's Biggest Night®.  Current nominee Esperanza Spalding will also perform in a special number with members of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Camp.  Two-time GRAMMY and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner Marc Anthony, GRAMMY and Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx, seven-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Mayer, actor Pauley Perrette, and actor/singer Donnie Wahlberg have been added as presenters to the music industry's premier event.  The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).  The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.  Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.  For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®'s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110104/LA23911LOGO)

Adams, Aguilera, Hudson, McBride, Spalding, and Welch join previously announced performers and nominees Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Muse, Katy Perry, and Barbra Streisand in a rare performance; nominees Justin Bieber and Usher, with Jaden Smith; nominees B.o.B, Bruno Mars, and Janelle Monae; nominees Drake and Rihanna; nominee Cee Lo Green, with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Jim Henson Company Puppets; and Mick Jagger with Raphael Saadiq.  Previously announced presenters include current three-time GRAMMY nominee Dierks Bentley, pop singer/actor Miley Cyrus, singer/actor Selena Gomez, two-time Emmy® winner Neil Patrick Harris, nine-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Norah Jones, three-time GRAMMY winner Kris Kristofferson (who will introduce Streisand's performance), six-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee John Legend, two-time GRAMMY winner and actor LL COOL J, current nominee Nicki Minaj, nominee Paramore, actor Seth Rogen, and current nominee Blake Shelton.

First-time nominees Spalding and Welch each have one nomination: both are up for Best New Artist.

Arcade Fire, Bieber, B.o.B, Jagger, Lambert, Mars, Monae, Muse, Paltrow, and Smith will be performing on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, and all five Album Of The Year nominees are set to perform on Music's Biggest Night: Arcade Fire, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, and Perry.

Additionally, the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place from 1 – 4 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally on www.grammy.com/live and on www.youtube.com/thegrammys beginning at 1 p.m. PT. Well-attended by nominees and industry VIPs, current GRAMMY nominees Bobby McFerrin and Esperanza Spalding will co-host the star-studded ceremony, which will feature performances by current nominees including Afro-Colombian hip-hop trio and Latin GRAMMY® winner ChocQuibTown; blues musician and five-time GRAMMY winner Buddy Guy; singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Cyndi Lauper; American roots musician Maria Muldaur; contemporary blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd; trombone and trumpet player Trombone Shorty; legendary gospel and soul singer Mavis Staples; jazz musician Kirk Whalum; and R&B singer/songwriter and GRAMMY winner Betty Wright.  Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the night in approximately 98 categories will be current nominees performance artist Laurie Anderson, pop singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, electronic/dance music artist and remixer BT, actor/comedian Kathy Griffin, and Latin Jazz musician Wayne Wallace.  The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event.

The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy.  Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Louis J. Horvitz is director, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers.  Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs.  The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.  For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.  For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

SOURCE The Recording Academy