Ken Ehrlich To Continue With The Annual Grammy Awards Through 2020

Ken Ehrlich

Grammy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich has extended his long-term commitment to The Recording Academy through 2020. Ehrlich, who is currently executive producing the upcoming 59th Annual Grammy Awards, began working on the telecast nearly 40 years ago, when he produced the 22nd GRAMMY Awards in 1980 for Pierre Cossette Productions.

It was on that night that he paired Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand to perform “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” in what would soon become known as a Grammy Moment. His signature touch, Ehrlich’s Grammy Moments continued in the ensuing years, with pairings such as Eminem and Elton John; Prince and Beyoncé; and Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Joe Walsh. Today, Grammy Moments are an anticipated hallmark of Music’s Biggest Night®, helping make it one of the most-watched entertainment specials in television history.

“Ken is not just a producer, but a true creative visionary who summons the power of live music and television in a way that allows him to transport audiences, both in the house and in their living rooms,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “He has played a critical role in shaping the GRAMMY Awards over the past 37 years, and we’re proud to announce our continued partnership, and excited to see what he’ll do next.”

“Every year, Ken manages to come up with amazing pairings, great production surprises, and an uncanny ability to cover the breadth of our diverse musical landscape, and we are excited about the prospect of continuing to call on Ken for those moments,” added Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. Since 1973, the CBS Television Network has been the television home of the GRAMMY Awards.

In addition to the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, Ehrlich has also produced a number of tribute specials presented by The Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures, and CBS: Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life—An All-Star GRAMMY Salute, The Beatles: The Night That Changed America—A GRAMMY Salute, and Sinatra 100—An All-Star GRAMMY Concert. Continuing that tradition, Ehrlich is currently producing a tribute to the iconic Bee Gees, Stayin’ Alive: A GRAMMY Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees, which takes place on Feb. 14, just two days after the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Taking place at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and hosted by television personality and performer James Corden, the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The Grammy Awards are produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich is executive producer, Louis J. Horvitz is director, Ben Winston is a producer, and David Wild and Ehrlich are the writers.