The Greatest Showman #885 - Participate

The Grammy Awards have begun.

The annual musical extravaganza was opened by veteran rock star Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce is a true icon in the United States. Not only has he won numerous Grammys and Oscars as a singer, but his appeal remains unshakable. Worldwide, his albums have sold over 120 million copies.

Tonight, tasked with the heavy responsibility of opening the Grammy ceremony, Bruce did not disappoint. One golden hit after another filled the air. Within 60 seconds, the audience was transformed into a party atmosphere.

Everyone swayed to the rhythm, singing loudly and fully immersed in the music, just like at the Brazilian Carnival. The audience was electrified! Unlike the formal tone of film and TV award shows, this music event encouraged the crowd to roll up their sleeves, get out of their seats, raise their hands, and dive into the fun.

Bruce Springsteen's opening performance was a lively, vigorous, and mighty start—setting the tone for the entire ceremony.

After the opening performance, rapper James Todd Smith (known as LL Cool J), the first official host of the Grammys in nearly seven years, appeared in a black suit. With a somber tone, he began the evening's opening remarks: "Unfortunately, someone in our extended family has left."

On the big screen, Whitney Houston's masterpiece, "I Will Always Love You," filled the arena. The audience listened in silent admiration, paying their respects. After the tribute, James remarked, "Whitney, we will always love you."

From Bruce Springsteen to Whitney Houston, and including host James Todd Smith, the 54th Grammy Awards opened with a wave of retro nostalgia. These three figures were a powerful reminder of the music world's last glory days in the 1990s.

Next up, Bruno Mars, representing the present and the new generation of 21st-century artists, made his appearance. In the first 20 minutes, the Grammys had already taken a dazzling turn from the past to the present.

The awards ceremony officially began after the performances.

For Renly, tonight was simply a sideshow. He knew he had received six nominations—people around him had repeatedly mentioned it, "six" was firmly etched in his mind. However, he didn't focus on the details. He didn't remember the nominations specifically, nor did he care too much—they were merely side attractions.

His mindset was calm, and he was at ease. In fact, Renly spent the evening chatting with little Alex and Annie. The word "chat" doesn't quite capture it. They were more engaged in watching the performances, asking questions when they were curious, and Renly would answer thoughtfully.

But honestly, Renly's knowledge of the music industry was just average.

Among the first awards, Taylor Swift, who had risen to fame recently, won Best Country Singer and Best Country Song. Last year, she swept five Grammy trophies, but this year her momentum had slightly waned, and she only won Best Country Album.

Meanwhile, the indie folk duo The Civil Wars snagged the Best Country Group Performance and Best Folk Album for their self-titled song, "Barton Hollow."

It's worth noting that if Annie hadn't reminded him, Renly might not have noticed, but "Don Quixote" had earned its first nomination—Best Folk Album.

So, when the presenter announced the "Courtyard Valley" award, Renly wasn't disappointed or surprised. He applauded in congratulations and shared with Annie, "Their first album was great. The second one seems worth looking forward to. I should pick up a vinyl copy."

Undoubtedly, in the country category, Taylor was the biggest winner. But the Civil Wars' triumph continued the momentum for this year's Grammy ballad.

In the rock category, Grammy favorites U2 and Bruce Springsteen didn't release any albums last year, allowing Spitfire to shine. The band swept the rock categories, winning Best Rock Performance, Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album, along with Best Long-form Music Video.

Spitfire easily took home every award in the rock category.

When they triumphed over Coldplay, Murphy Sons, Radiohead, and others to win Best Rock Song, Spitfire's frontman, David Gru, delivered a heartfelt speech, paying tribute to the now-closed Sound City Studios.

"I have to thank Butch Vig for recording this song. Twenty years ago, we recorded Nirvana's 'Nevermind' at Sound City. Two decades later, we're back in the garage finishing the album. The fall of Sound City marks the end of an era," David said. "But tonight, I'm happy because I'm seeing another piece of work recorded at Sound City receiving well-deserved recognition."

David then turned to Renly. "Renly Hall, everyone wonders why you're here, but I must say, you're a true music lover. You understand the soul of the music and the magic of Sound City beyond what's recorded on a computer."

The audience reacted with a mix of surprise and curiosity, as Renly wasn't exactly a figure they expected to hear about in this context.

Annie, perplexed, asked, "Renly, do you know him?"

"We've met before," Renly smiled.

Renly and David had briefly spoken when recording "Cleopatra" and "Ophelia" at Sound City, but they had no real ongoing connection. Renly never expected David to remember him, let alone be so complimentary. Renly began to wonder if perhaps Herbert Jones had been talking about him to David.

Just when Renly thought the rock awards were over, his name echoed through the speakers: "Renly Hall, 'Don Quixote'."

In an instant, the spotlight shifted. The cameraman zoomed in on Renly, capturing him in the glare of the stage lights. Everything happened too quickly, without warning. Even Renly, usually so composed, had a flash of confusion.

This wasn't part of the pre-planned ceremony.

Annie and Alex were ecstatic, clapping and screaming, "Renly! Renly!" Their voices echoed throughout the venue, cutting through the applause.

After a brief moment of shock, Renly gathered himself, saw the announcement on the big screen, and realized it: Best Alternative Album Award for Don Quixote.

This was Don Quixote's second nomination of the night, beating out Bon Iver, Radiohead, The Foster Family, and Death Cab for Cutie. Renly had won his first Grammy trophy.

Surprised, overwhelmed, and confused, Renly took a steady breath and rose from his seat, heading down the aisle toward the stage.

Tonight, Renly was the center of attention, though not a superstar. His seat was on the left side of the third row, positioned between American indie band The Black Keys and British singer Robyn. It wasn't a prime spot, but it wasn't a remote one either.

Renly smiled and apologized to The Black Keys as they congratulated him. As he made his way toward the aisle, he noticed one person standing in the central area, clapping vigorously—it was Ludacris.

The two had worked together on Fast and Furious 5, but Ludacris had always been a supporting player to Vin Diesel. Beyond acting, Ludacris was also an accomplished rapper with three Grammys under his belt.

Renly couldn't help but smile as Ludacris gave him a standing ovation.

As Renly reached the stage, he saw presenter Katy Perry beaming. With open arms, she hugged him and said, "Don't worry, I got it right. Congratulations!"

Katie then handed Renly his Grammy, continuing, "This is your moment! Congratulations!"

Renly's smile carried a mix of disbelief, humility, and gratitude. "Thank you, and I wish you all the best for the future," Renly responded.