Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson Top Grammy Performer Poll

Fans can't wait for their Aretha Franklin tribute, with Lady Gaga and Eminem's performances the next most anticipated.
By Kyle Anderson


Christina Aguilera
Photo: Getty Images

The 53rd annual Grammy Awards are almost here, and while the hardware tends to be the main event, the roster of performers is one of the most star-studded and high-profile in the show's history. Eminem, Dr. Dre, Cee Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Drake, Arcade Fire, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry, Muse, B.o.B, Usher, Bob Dylan and Bruno Mars are among the heavy hitters who will be taking the stage Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

But which performance is creating the most buzz among fans tuning in to watch the show? Earlier this week, the MTV Newsroom blog posed just such a question, and the results are now in.

As soon as voting began, the competition became a war of attrition between supporters of Lady Gaga and hard-core devotees of Eminem. But once the producers announced that there would be a tribute to Aretha Franklin led by Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson, the competition suddenly morphed into a three-way dance.

After hundreds of thousands of votes were cast, the Aretha Franklin tribute (also featuring Florence Welch, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams) finished in first place with 45 percent of the total vote. It's a pretty impressive finish, especially considering that the performance wasn't announced until after voting began.

Lady Gaga ended up in second place with 23 percent, with Eminem just behind her with 20 percent. Perhaps fueled by the buzz over the release of "Never Say Never," Justin Bieber made a late run and managed to cobble together 9 percent. Katy Perry was the only other Grammy performer to pick up more than a single percentage point, and poor Miranda Lambert ended up bringing up the rear.

All of Sunday night's Grammy performances promise to be electric, but fans can barely contain themselves for Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga and Eminem.

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

Related Photos Related Artists

Lil Kim Gina Gershon Vinessa Shaw Stacy Keibler

Lady Gaga Emerges From Egg To Perform 'Born This Way' At The Grammys

Surprisingly sparse performance lets brand-new single shine on Grammy stage.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga performs at the Grammys on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

After arriving on the red carpet in an egg, incubating for her big performance, Lady Gaga hit the Grammy stage. She emerged from the egg in a high ponytail, gold bra top and long skirt, her makeup all black and gold. Her dancers wore similar yolk-colored tunics.

Check out pictures of Lady Gaga's Grammy arrival here.

The performance was surprisingly sparse for the typically over-the-top performer, allowing her brand-new single, "Born This Way," to shine.

Midway through the song, an organ emerged from the stage floor and Gaga put a surprisingly dark, horror-movie-like spin on the notes of the song and then belted out the rest of the bridge as her dancers surrounded her. The disco vibe of the tune kicked back in as her dancers ripped off their tunics and danced around her. Before leaving the stage, Gaga put on her trench and hat as the song faded out. Gaga and her dancers ended the performance with their paws up as an homage to all her Little Monsters watching from home.

It was Gaga's premiere live performance of "Born This Way" after debuting the track Friday. It serves as the lead single from her May album release of the same name. The song was written and co-produced by Gaga; Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow also got co-production credits on the track.

"I wrote ['Born This Way'] in 10 f---ing minutes," she explains in the upcoming issue of Vogue. "And it is a completely magical message song. And after I wrote it, the gates just opened, and the songs kept coming. It was like an immaculate conception."

What did you think of Gaga's performance? Let us know in the comments!

For the Grammy Awards winners list, analysis, interviews, fashion and more, stick with MTV News during the big show and beyond.

Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists

Brittany Lee Shiri Appleby Samaire Armstrong Rozonda Thomas

Rihanna Dress at Grammys (Video)

Everyone is talking about Rihanna?s Grammy dresses! She looked fabulous through out the night! Check out pictures along with video here! Rihanna looked amazing last night at the 53rd annual Grammys, and we have pictures and several videos below for you to enjoy! Rihanna first rocked out the red carpet wearing a smokin? Jean Paul Gaultier gown [...]

Daniella Alonso Marley Shelton Georgianna Robertson Tila Tequila

LISTEN: Taylor Swift and Owl City's Adam Young Exchange Musical Valentines

LISTEN: Taylor Swift and Owl City's Adam Young Exchange Musical Valentines

This is so cute we can hardly stand it: After realizing that Taylor Swift's love song "Enchanted" was about him, Adam Young -- better known as the man behind the band Owl City (and the hit single "Fireflies") -- re-recorded "Enchanted" with lyrics about his crush on Taylor. Listen to it here!

Although Swift released the song "Enchanted" back in October (on the album Speak Now), the 21-year-old singer hadn't previously identified the song's subject. "(It's) about this guy I met it New York City," she told Yahoo! Music last October. "And meeting him, it was this overwhelming feeling of: I really hope that you're not in love with somebody." However, Taylor offered a couple of clues to the mystery man's identity: She capitalized the letters A-D-A-M in the album's lyric booklet, and used the word "wonderstruck," which Adam had used in an email to her, in the lyrics for "Enchanted." Young, 24, got the hint.

In a new entry on the Owl City blog, Young writes an open letter to Swift, explaining that he was too shy to tell her his feelings when they met. Instead, he wrote and recorded a new version of the song she wrote for him.

"I'll be the first to admit I'm a rather shy boy and since music is the most eloquent form of communication I can muster, I decided to record something for you," Young blogs.

"Everything about you is beautiful," he continues. "You're an immensely charming girl with a wonderful heart and more grace and elegance than I know how to describe. You are a true princess from a dreamy fairy tale; a modern Cinderella. I’m terribly sorry it’s taken me such a long time to reply but I figured Valentine’s Day was the perfect time to write this note to you and simply say… I was enchanted to meet you too."

Young's version of the song even includes the line "Taylor, I was so in love with you." Wow -- talk about putting it all out there! We don't know if Taylor has agreed to be Adam's valentine -- but if anything could take her mind off ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal, it's a romantic gesture like this one. And anyhow, it's about time a guy wrote a song about her for a change! Watch Taylor Swift sing "Enchanted" on her NBC Thanksgiving Day special, below.


Do you think Taylor Swift should be Adam Young's valentine? Chime in below!

Kelly Monaco Victoria Pratt Alexis Bledel Jamie Lynn Sigler