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Music

Report: Lorde Isn't Playing the Grammys Because She Wasn't Offered a Solo Slot

According to Variety, the New Zealand singer was approached to be part of an ensemble performance. Her counterparts in the Album of the Year category—all male—will all perform solo tonight.
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Lorde's second album, Melodrama, is up for Album of the Year at tonight's 60th Annual Grammy Awards. But unlike her male counterparts in the prestigious category, the New Zealand singer isn't scheduled to perform live at the ceremony. According to a report from Variety, Lorde was approached by the Grammys to perform as part of an ensemble of musicians, rather than performing solo. She turned that offer down.

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One of Variety's sources said that the 21-year-old singer, born Ella Yelich O'Connor, was approached to perform as part of a tribute to Tom Petty, possibly performing "American Girl." The other nominees in the AOTY category—JAY-Z, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and Bruno Mars—will all play solo tonight.

Lorde's mother, Sonja Yelich, seemed to allude to the snub on Twitter on Friday, posting a photograph of a New York Times piece about the Grammys and the number of women it nominates for its awards.

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