Grammy Awards 2012: 10 burning questions
She had 2011’s top-selling album in “21” and is the favorite to win album of the year, yet she also hasn’t performed live for about five months. Sidelined since October due to vocal trauma, Adele will return to the stage on the Grammy telecast. A soulful traditionalist, Adele uses her vocals as a powerful instrument. She can belt, but she’s no over-singer, as she wields her bluesy rasp for wise-beyond-her-years phrasing rather than showboating. She underwent surgery in November, and how she’ll sound is one of this year’s most-watched story lines. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
By Todd Martens
For the first time in seven years, the Grammy Awards are doing away with their no-host format and have turned to the rapper-turned-actor, who has served as host of the Grammy nominations concert for the last four years. The last host, back in 2005, was Queen Latifah. But before her, it was a grab-bag of comedians, including Jon Stewart, Rosie O’Donnell and Oscar’s go-to-man Billy Crystal. LL Cool J should be an affable choice, but in a show heavy on musical performances, why risk anything to slow it down? (Valerie Macon, AFP/Getty Images)
