Grammy Awards host Alicia Keys rolls out the red carpet as the seating chart is revealed ahead of Sunday's ceremony
Grammys host Alicia Keys took part in the ceremonial red carpet rolling at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles ahead of Sunday's 61st annual event.
The 38-year-old singer beamed in a long sleeved black dress with dark pantyhose and purple heels. She had her locks neatly pulled back into a ponytail and wore a thick pair of gold earrings at the ceremony.
The Manhattan native, whose real name is Alicia Augello Cook, was accompanied by a number of industry luminaries in the ceremony, including the Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, Grammys producers Ken Ehrlich and Chantel Sausedo, and CBS's Jack Sussman.
Girl on fire: Grammys host Alicia Keys, 38, took part in the ceremonial red carpet rolling at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles ahead of Sunday's 61st annual event
The Empire State of Mind songstress said at the gathering that the event 'will be about the celebration and the power of music.'
Keys said she's hoping to bring 'a sense of community ... to the stage' on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
Share this article
'So many times you come to these things as an artist and you're juggling so many things and there's so much pressure on you,' said Keys. 'I would love to ensure the peace and the good energy in the room so that our shoulders can all drop and we can feel the true blessing of having music as a universal language.'
According to Rolling Stone, Keys said she feels hosting the show is a natural moment with her own past experience as a 15-time Grammy winner.
Confident: The singer beamed in a long sleeved black dress with dark pantyhose and purple heels
Group effort: Keys (center) was flanked by (L-R) Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, Grammys producers Ken Ehrlich and Chantel Sausedo, and CBS's Jack Sussman
Kickin' it: The star and organizers seemed in great spirits ahead of the ceremony
Goals: The Empire State of Mind songstress said at the gathering that the event 'will be about the celebration and the power of music'
Jazzy: It's the If I Ain't Got You performer's first time hosting the award show, which has been helmed by LL Cool J and James Corden in recent years
'I have been so blessed to have been on this stage before, multiple times, and understand what it is, what it feels like, what the artists are going through ... it feels like it’s the right thing.'
She said that she has 'really plunged all the way in, to help bring [her] energy to the stage so that it feels genuine' ahead of Sunday's proceedings.
It's the If I Ain't Got You performer's first time hosting the award show, which has been helmed by LL Cool J and James Corden in recent years.
'We're all very excited, and the energy you're going to feel is far different than anything you've ever felt,' Keys said.
Special: Keys said she was excited about a wealth of 'so many amazing nominees, particularly women nominees' this year
Dynamic duo: Cardi B will sit right in back of Jennifer Lopez at the luxe ceremony
Icons: Placards for artists such as Drake and Quincy Jones were displayed
All-stars: Placards for a number of musical artists were set in place ahead of Sunday
She said that a wealth of 'so many amazing nominees, particularly women nominees' - which include Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves and Janelle Monae as Album-of-the-year contenders - 'is so incredibly magnificent and so many are my friends.'
Amid the placards set up for the Sunday event included earmarked spots for Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Camilla Cabello, Dolly Parton and Chris Stapleton.
The Grammys air Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
