Scheduled performers include Gorillaz with Madonna and De La Soul (who will appear in 3-D animated color), Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Sugarland, Jay-Z with Linkin Park & Paul McCartney, U2 with Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera with Herbie Hancock, Jamie Foxx with Kanye West, Mariah Carey with Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, John Legend, and Kelly Clarkson.

Presenters included Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Dave Chappelle, Alicia Keys, Big & Rich, Tom Hanks, Terrence Howard, Michael Bublé, Common, Matt Dillon, Queen Latifah, Ludacris, Ellen DeGeneres, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Destiny's Child, Chris Brown, Teri Hatcher, Jenna Elfman, Stevie Wonder, Ben Roethlisberger, Gwen Stefani, Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Black Eyed Peas, Carlos Santana, Chuck D, and the 2006 MusiCares Person of the Year James Taylor.

In a special tribute to Sly and the Family Stone, an all-star cast of artists come together on one stage for a not-to-be-missed performance. The salute includes Maroon 5, Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph, Devin Lima, Ciara, Van Hunt, Fantasia and Sly Stone.

Tributes to New Orleans and Wilson Pickett featured Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, U2's The Edge, Sam Moore and Yolanda Adams.

Special awards: David Bowie, Cream, Merle Haggard, Robert Johnson, Jessye Norman, Richard Pryor, and the Weavers will receive The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. Chris Blackwell, Owen Bradley and Al Schmitt will be honored with The Academy's Trustees Award. Bell Labs/Western Electric and Tom Dowd have been named recipients of the Technical GRAMMY Award. Formal acknowledgment of these special merit awards will be made during the show.