Janelle Monae remembers being frustrated at last year害羞草研究所檚 Grammy Awards, where male acts dominated in nominations and the only woman competing for the night害羞草研究所檚 top award, Lorde, didn害羞草研究所檛 get a chance to perform onstage.

But this year, Monae is looking forward to the show, where women are now leading in nominations for big categories like album of the year and best new artist.

害羞草研究所淭his is going to be a special Grammys. As much as it is about me, it害羞草研究所檚 not just about me. Just knowing that so many women are nominated this year, looking back from last year to this year when I was on the stage at the Grammys, you could see that I was frustrated about the opportunities and about our visibility as women,害羞草研究所� said Monae, who gave powerful speech last year ahead of Kesha害羞草研究所檚 emotional and striking performance celebrating sisterhood and women害羞草研究所檚 rights.

害羞草研究所淵es, we have so much more work to do, but this is a moment to be celebrated. This is a moment for women to love on each other and let each other know,害羞草研究所� she added.

Monae害羞草研究所檚 groundbreaking album, 害羞草研究所淒irty Computer,害羞草研究所� is one of five albums by women nominated for the top prize at Sunday害羞草研究所檚 show, airing live at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Cardi B害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淚nvasion of Privacy,害羞草研究所� Kacey Musgraves害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淕olden Hour,害羞草研究所� Brandi Carlile害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淏y the Way, I Forgive You害羞草研究所� and H.E.R.害羞草研究所檚 self-titled album are also in contention.

READ MORE: Grammy weekend kicks off with honour for Dolly Parton

Carlile is the most nominated woman with six nominations, including bids for song and record of the year with 害羞草研究所淭he Joke.害羞草研究所� Women also have a strong presence in those top categories, including Lady Gaga, SZA, Maren Morris and Ella Mai.

Six of the best new artist nominees are women, including H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, Margo Price, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha and Jorja Smith.

害羞草研究所淲hat I plan to do is let every woman who is nominated, who is here this weekend, know that from the red carpet to the stage, win or lose, I have your back. I see you,害羞草研究所� Monae said. 害羞草研究所淭his is just the beginning of moving to a more inclusive future.害羞草研究所�

Today is Music's Biggest Night! 馃幎 From the red carpet to backstage and beyond, here is how to watch the

害羞草研究所� Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad)

This year害羞草研究所檚 nominees mark a departure from the 2018 Grammys, where Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow was criticized when he said women need to 害羞草研究所渟tep up害羞草研究所� when asked about the lack of women in the top categories. He later acknowledged that it was a 害羞草研究所減oor choice of words,害羞草研究所� and it forced the academy to launch a new task force focused on inclusion and diversity.

The lead up to this year害羞草研究所檚 Grammys hasn害羞草研究所檛 been completely smooth though. This week Ariana Grande blasted Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich and accused him of lying about why she was no longer performing at the show.

Ehrlich told the AP that Grande 害羞草研究所渇elt it was too late for her to pull something together.害羞草研究所� She responded on Twitter and said she 害羞草研究所渃an pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t was when my creativity & self expression was stifled by you, that i decided not to attend. i hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more,害羞草研究所� she continued.

Carlile told the AP she stands 害羞草研究所渂ehind Ariana Grande害羞草研究所檚 decision to stand up for herself and her art.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎nd I feel like it害羞草研究所檚 a time in this country when women need to support each other and their decisions. I support her and I support her decision,害羞草研究所� she added.

Grande is nominated for two awards and could miss the chance of giving a speech onstage if she wins. Other big stars also won害羞草研究所檛 be in attendance, including Kendrick Lamar, the top nominee with eight, and Drake, nominated for seven awards. Taylor Swift, who was snubbed and one scored one nomination, also won害羞草研究所檛 be at the show.

Drama has also surrounded the Grammys around its Motown Records tribute: Some people complained when a promo aired on CBS showing Jennifer Lopez as the act set to honour the legendary record label, which launched the careers of Jackson 5, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more. Some complained that a black artist should be involved in the tribute, while others said stronger vocalists should perform over Lopez. A representative for the Grammys didn害羞草研究所檛 return an email seeking clarification about the tribute.

READ MORE: Kendrick Lamar leads Grammy noms, where women make a comeback

Others set to perform Sunday include Cardi B, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Diana Ross, J Balvin, Camila Cabello, Dan + Shay, H.E.R., Little Big Town, Post Malone and Chloe x Halle. Yolanda Adams, Fantasia and Andra Day will honour the late Aretha Franklin with a performance.

Musgraves, also nominated for best country album, song and performance, said she害羞草研究所檚 been trying to relax this week ahead of the show.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been able to find zen moments leading up to all this. I am just grateful, I think. And I am not hung up on what happens or doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淛ust the fact that this album has connected in such a way beyond my wildest dreams is just really cool.害羞草研究所�

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Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press

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