Madonna and Gorillaz to Open the Grammys

[W-OLF]

NEW YORK (AP) - The Grammy Awards will open with a meeting of the Material Girl and the virtual world.

Madonna and the Gorillaz will perform together for the first time at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The 47-year-old pop star will sing with the Gorillaz, who will be appearing in 3-D animated color. The brainchild of Blur frontman Damon Albarn, the Gorillaz are a melding of rock and hip-hop that represents band members as cartoon alter-egos created by animator Jamie Hewlett.

Paul McCartney has been added to the list of performers, the Recording Academy announced Thursday, who also include Mariah Carey, John Legend, Kanye West, Bruce Springsteen, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Coldplay, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, Sugarland and Jamie Foxx.

It will be McCartney's first ever performance at the Grammys, the Academy said. This year, he is nominated for three awards, including album of the year for "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard."

The Gorillaz are nominated for four Grammys, including record of the year for "Feel Good Inc.," which features De La Soul.

Madonna, who has won five Grammys, released "Confessions on a Dance Floor" in November. She is not nominated this year.

The Grammys will be broadcast by CBS on Wednesday (8 p.m. EST).
credit The Grammys.com

[the madscotsman]

Cue publicity stunt.