The 63rd edition of the Grammy Awards won’t be taking place later this month as originally announced. The music award ceremony has been rescheduled to March 14 because of the worsening COVID pandemic in Los Angeles. The announcement was made in a joint statement by the Recording Academy, CBS, and show producers. 

The awards were originally slated to take place on Jan. 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and to be broadcast on the CBS network, with comedian and The Daily Show host Trevor Noah hosting.

“After thoughtful conversations with health experts, our host, and artists scheduled to appear, we are rescheduling the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards to be broadcast Sunday, March 14, 2021,” the statement reads. “The deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles, with hospital services being overwhelmed, ICUs having reached capacity, and new guidance from state and local governments have all led us to conclude that postponing our show was the right thing to do. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show.” 

The announcement was signed by Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy chair and interim president and CEO, Jack Sussman, CBS executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming, and Ben Winston, Grammy Awards executive producer of Fulwell 73 Productions.

“We want to thank all of the talented artists, the staff, our vendors, and especially this year’s nominees for their understanding, patience, and willingness to work with us as we navigate these unprecedented times,” the press statement adds.

Selena, the late “queen of Tejano music,” will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award along with other music greats, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Lionel Hampton, Marilyn Horne, and Salt-N-Pepa.

Selena’s 1993 album, Live, won best Mexican-American album at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards, the first time a female Tejano artist won the category. The singer died tragically in 1995 as she was getting ready to crossover into the general mainstream market, which she did with the pop album Dreaming of You released four months after her death.  Don Juan Demarco, the film which marked the singer’s Hollywood acting debut as part of a cast that included Johnny Depp, Marlon Brando, and Faye Dunaway was also released after her death.

The coveted music prize recognizes the best of music every year, with 83 categories being honored this time around. It also includes special awards. Among the artists competing in the Latin music categories this year are: Bad Bunny, Camilo, Kany García, Ricky Martin, Debi Nova, Bajofondo, Cami, Cultura Profética, Fito Paez, Lido Pimienta, Alejandro Fernández, Lupita Infante, Natalia Lafourcade, Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, Christian Nodal, José Alberto “El Ruiseñor,” Edwin Bonilla, Jorge Celedon & Sergio Luis, Grupo Niche, and Víctor Manuelle.

— Latin Heat News Service

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By Nina Castillo

With a career that spans over 70-year Rita Moreno has consistently knocked down barriers for generations of Latinas and women of color with her undeniable talent, boundless energy, and stubborn perseverance.  She has already reached EGOT status, one of only 11 people to have received the four major entertainment honors—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Now she will add a Peabody Career Achievement Award to her collection—the first Latinx performer to do so, officially making her a PEGOT, tonight when she is celebrated at the 78th Peabody Awards in New York

Moreno has forged a vibrant career spanning seven decades and several mediums, starting with her breakthrough role as Anita in 1961’s West Side Story for which she received an Oscar; a Grammy Award for the Best Album for Children (The Electric Company Album); a Primetime Emmy for The Rockford Files, and a Tony Award for The Ritz which played on Broadway. But at 87 years old she is busier than ever, and don’t expect her to be slowing down anytime soon.

Her recent three year run as the tough matriarch Lydia on the Netflix reboot of Norman Lear’s comedy series One Day at a Time has only served to solidify her as the most respected Latinx performers in the history of television and film and has introduced her to younger audiences. 

The visibility has lead her back to the project that launched her career. Moreno will return to the next big-screen in the latest adaptation of West Side Story that Steven Spielberg is directing. Not only will play Valentina, a take on the original peace-making shop keeper Doc role, only it will be expanded to a bigger role, but she is also on board to serve as executive producer.

The Puerto Rico-born actress shattered culture and color barriers in the pre-Civil Rights era, becoming one of the few artists of color to reach mainstream audiences on the big screen, the stage, and in their living rooms.

Born Rosa Dolores Alverio in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Moreno began acting at an early age and by her teens was landing small roles in film and on Broadway. By her 31st birthday, she had become the first Latina to win an Oscar for best-supporting actress for her role in West Side Story. A versatile artist who could dance, sing, and tackle comedy and drama, Moreno’s multi-faceted talents found her working with directors such as Mike Nichols, performing alongside Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, and James Garner.

Moreno has used her celebrity status to raise awareness around issues that affect her community, including diabetes and heart disease. In 2017, she contributed to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s song “Almost Like Praying,” the proceeds of which went to benefit Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Maria. 

The documentary Dolores is also receiving a Peabody tonight. For the complete list of Peabody Award Recipients CLICK HERE

The Peabody Awards honor radio and television stations, networks, online media, producing organizations, and individuals from around the world. Established in 1940 by a committee of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Peabody Award was created to honor excellence in radio broadcasting.

For more information on the awardees, the full scope of the organization’s work and how to submit your project next year CLICK HERE.

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