
As with pretty much everything else in the last year, the 2021 Grammy Awards (opens in new tab) will look very different from past ceremonies. This time around, host Trevor Noah (opens in new tab) will be emceeing from an undisclosed location somewhere in Los Angeles with only a small audience of nominees, performers, and their plus-ones, in stark contrast to the typically jam-packed, star-studded event that's been held at the Staples Center for the last two decades. Beyond the obvious differences in venue and audience size, the show will also be missing some very familiar faces. At least one of the world's biggest musicians will be skipping the event due to ongoing beef with the Recording Academy: After being completely left off this year's nomination sheet, The Weeknd announced (opens in new tab) that not only will he stop attending the ceremony this and every year in the future, but he also won't even allow his music to be considered for awards.
Other musicians, meanwhile, will be absent from the night's proceedings due to social distancing restrictions, if they weren't nominated for any awards or tapped as performers this time around. In this category, unfortunately for us all, is Rihanna (opens in new tab). Her decision not to attend the 2021 Grammys doesn't seem to be part of an explicit boycott of the event, but rather is likely due simply to the (devastating) fact that she hasn't released any new music in quite some time. As the Navy is undoubtedly all too aware, it's been more than half a decade since she put out her last album, Anti, which was nominated for eight Grammys in 2017 (though snubbed for Album of the Year).
And though Rihanna has barely even mentioned releasing her ninth album (opens in new tab) in recent years—and a representative told the New York Post (opens in new tab) this weekend that they "haven't heard anything" about new music—she hasn't exactly been twiddling her thumbs. In the last year, Rih expanded her expert- and fan-loved Fenty Beauty line into skincare with the launch of Fenty Skin (opens in new tab), and also continued to roll out plenty of sexy new additions to her Savage X Fenty lingerie line. Honestly, now that we know what Rihanna is capable of outside of music—to wit: the skincare wizardry that is the Fenty Skin Flash Nap eye cream and, most recently, the absolutely stunning Valentine's Day-themed Savage X Fenty drop (opens in new tab)—it's almost enough to make us stop commenting "R9????" on every single one of her social media posts. Almost.
Andrea Park is a Chicago-based writer and reporter with a near-encyclopedic knowledge of the extended Kardashian-Jenner kingdom, early 2000s rom-coms and celebrity book club selections. She graduated from the Columbia School of Journalism in 2017 and has also written for W, Brides, Glamour, Women's Health, People and more.
-
Mexico City, A Vibrant Cultural Hot Spot, Is the Perfect Travel Destination
This epicenter of art, history, and food should be on every culture enthusiast's bucket list.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
Can Light Therapy Get Rid of My Acne?
Blue and red light are where it’s at.
By Samantha Holender
-
The Best Slip Dresses for Any Season
The humble slip dress could be the most versatile dress you own.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash
-
'Firefly Lane' Season 2: Everything We Know
In the immortal words of Tully Hart, "Firefly Lane girls forever!"
By Andrea Park
-
The 30 Best Movies on Hulu Right Now
From 'Fight Club' to '10 Things I Hate About You.'
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
Queen Elizabeth Has Passed Away at 96
After a 70-year reign, the queen passed away at her home in Balmoral, Scotland.
By Jenny Hollander
-
The 50 Best '80s Movies
An official ranking of the decade's standout films.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Elizabeth Lail and Dustin Milligan Compete in 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The stars of 'Mack & Rita' could barely hold it together during a round of trivia.
By Brooke Knappenberger