After 23 years of separation, hit ‘80s band, the Police, are “sending out an S.O.S.” to reunite Sunday as the opening act of the 49th annual Grammy Awards. The nation will be able to watch “every breath“ and “every step” singer Sting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers make during their first performance since 2003 for the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Even after five Grammy wins and many nominations, this historic performance will mark the first at the Grammys for the Police.

Previous opening acts include Madonna and the Gorillaz in 2006, an all-star performance featuring the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani, Los Lonely Boys and Franz Ferdinand in 2005, a duet by Prince and Beyoncé in 2004 and the reunion of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in 2003.

Other performers this year include Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend, Ludacris, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Carrie Underwood, and Justin Timberlake both solo and with the winner of the “My GRAMMY Moment” competition.

Three finalists for the “My GRAMMY Moment” competition were announced Sunday by The Recording Academy during the Super Bowl Pre-Game Show.

The top finalists are Africa Miranda, 30 of Montgomery, Ala., Brenda Radney, 22 of Staten Island, N.Y. and Robyn Troup, 18 of Houston, Texas. Fans can vote for one of the unsigned artists to make a debut performance with Justin Timberlake at the Grammy’s. Polls are open on music.yahoo.com/mygrammymoment until 9:59 p.m. ET Feb. 11. Viewers will also be given a two hour window during the live airing of the Grammys to send up to 10 votes via text message and the winner will be announced live before taking the stage with Timberlake.

Nominees for Record of the Year are “Be Without You” Mary J. Blige, “You’re Beautiful” James Blunt, “Not Ready to Make Nice” Dixie Chicks, “Crazy” Gnarls Barkley and “Put Your Records On” Corinne Bailey Rae. Last year’s Grammy for Record of the Year went to  Green Day for“Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

Nominees for Album of the Year are “Taking the Long Way” Dixie Chicks, “St. Elsewhere” Gnarls Barkley, “Continuum” John Mayer, “Stadium Arcadium” Red Hot Chili Peppers and “FutureSex/LoveSounds” Justin Timberlake.

Last year’s Grammy for Album of the Year went to U2 for “How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.”

Nominees for Song of the Year are “Be Without You” Mary J. Blige, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” Carrie Underwood, “Not Ready to Make Nice” Dixie Chicks, “Put Your Records On” Corinne Bailey Rae and “You’re Beautiful” James Blunt.

Last year’s Song of the Year Grammy went to U2 for “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.”

Nominees for Best New Artist are James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogene Heap, Corinne Bailey Rae and Carrie Underwood and last year’s Best New Artist Grammy went to John Legend.

Presenters this year include the Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Nelly Furtado, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Pink and Rihanna. Other presenters are Joan Baez, current Lifetime Achievement Award honoree; Melissa Etheridge, two-time Grammy winner; Jennifer Hudson, Golden Globe winner; Chris Rock, three-time Grammy winner; Stevie Wonder, 24-time Grammy winner and Grammy winner Queen Latifah.

CBS will air the 49th annual Grammy Awards live at 8 p.m. ET Sunday from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound and supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide and XM Satellite Radio. The Grammy’s will also be covered online at GRAMMY.yahoo.com.

 

— Mandy Thomas

Special to The Tech Talk