Another year Beyoncé and Prince opened the show with a once-in-a-lifetime scene. Foo Fighters have shared the stage with jazz pianist Chick Corea. Elton John and Eminem. Usher and James Brown. Once every few years, Sting jumps in.
The 2019 ceremony, which will be broadcast on CBS from the Staples Center on Feb. 10, offers ample opportunity for producers to mix it up. Below are a few combinations that could make for meme-worthy moments.
Country singer Kacey Musgraves, who has an album of the year nomination, joins Drake for a simmering take on her “Slow Burn” coupled with his multiple nominee “God’s Plan” — with a surprise appearance by reggae album nominees Sting and Shaggy.
Loretta Lynn (nominated for country solo performance) and former President Jimmy Carter (spoken word performance) collaborate on a sung-spoken reworking of Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” with a mid-performance surprise cameo from the other Carters — a.k.a. Beyoncé and Jay Z — and another surprise appearance from Sting and Shaggy.
Nominees Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper merge “All the Stars” with “Shallow” to create “All the Stars are Shallow.” Added bonus: This combines two of the major movie songs nominated for Grammys.
Finally, producer of the year nominee Kanye West performs his track “Lift Yourself.” Joining him? Pop vocal album nominee Taylor Swift, who leaps onstage mid-song to recite West’s “Poopy-di scoop / Scoop-diddy-whoop” verse. As if that’s not enough for one performance, Sting and Shaggy could certainly provide backing vocals.
Absurd? Nothing is too crazy for Grammy.