Dispatches from backstage at the Grammy nominations*
Ne-Yo, whose "Year of the Gentleman" was nominated for Album of the Year:
Why this album was so successful? "I was trying to do something that everybody could get into...I kind of pride myself in my diversity. I'm part of a movement that's trying to eradicate all these different genres of music to where we just eventually have two. I think we're definitely moving in that direction."
The best moment so far this year? "There's been so many. It's hard to choose just one. Maybe Barack Obama becoming president."
Backstage reactions from the Jonas Brothers, B.B. King and more after the jump.
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Kathy Griffin, whose "For Your Consideration" was nominated for Best Comedy Album:
If Kathy Griffin's nomination tonight was any indication of how far the D-Lister has come over the last few years, there's always a PR girl to bring her back to reality. As she approached the platform backstage, the star wrangler mispronounced Griffin's name as "Griffiths."
Kathy rolled her eyes and laughed. It's a common mistake she's grown accustomed to, but she quickly shifted focus away from herself and onto Britney Spears.
"I think Britney Spears is a wreck. I thought that documentary was insane."
She managed to score herself a sweaty wristband from Foo Fighter's front man Dave Grohl, sporting it proudly on her wrist. Hey, it matched her flowing black dress.
So, what will she wear the big night? "This is my Grammy dress because I didn't think I'd get nominated."
Thoughts on the Jonas Brothers? "The Jonas Bros are adorable and, like them, I'm not ready to lose my virginity."
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Speaking of the Jonas Brothers, who were nominated in the best new artist category (after releasing three albums), they made a stop backstage post-nominations, talking about gearing up for a 2009 world tour.
"We see a bright future ahead," said youngest brother Nick Jonas.
As to which is better -- performing during the halftime show at a Dallas Cowboys football game (they hail from Texas) or being nominated for a Grammy -- the boys gave the perfect political answer.
"They're both absolutely amazing," Joe Jonas said.
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B.B. King might have had difficulty hearing questions posed to him backstage (Hey! Give the man a break. He's 83!), but he managed to talk as effortlessly as his fingers do when they strum his guitar.
Sitting in a fold-down chair and sporting a gold-threaded jacket and signature bow tie, King offered his thoughts on why music will continue to thrive, no matter through what medium listeners receive it.
"I once heard music soothes the savage beast ... and music, today, is still doing that," he said.
--Yvonne Villarreal
Photo of Ne-Yo courtesy www.yearofthegentleman.com; photo of Griffin by Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty; photo of the Jonas Brothers by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; photo of B.B. King by Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times
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