Trevor Noah on returning as Grammy host: Ready, but with a few nerves

LOS ANGELES -- Trevor Noah feels more comfortable hosting the Grammy Awards for a third consecutive year, but the former "Daily Show" host still has some nervousness about leading the ceremony with big-time acts like Beyoncé, Adele and Harry Styles looking on.

"The nerves come in because you're standing in front of not just some of the best, but some of the biggest performers in the world," the Emmy winner said. Noah expects his diligent preparation to get him through Sunday's show.

"Nerves are part of what I do," the comedian said.

Noah returns to host the Grammys, which airs live from Crypto.com Arena Sunday on CBS and Paramount+. The ceremony returns to Los Angeles after moving to Las Vegas for the first time because of rising COVID-19 cases, particularly the omicron variant.

Ben Winston, the show's executive producer, called Noah an "absolute pro" who can pivot gracefully at any moment.

"He reassures me on a stressful night when a set hasn't been built in time and I say to his ear 'Sorry about that. I need you to go an extra 90 seconds because Lady Gaga's orchestra isn't in.' He'll just naturally flow, make a joke, get up and sit at somebody's table and chat with them," Winston said. "That's a very difficult task which very few people could do -- and definitely can't do with his comedy and charm that Trevor has."

Noah said each year of hosting the Grammys has offered a different experience, because of logistical challenges caused by the pandemic. But, he said, the intimate but socially distanced in-person award show in 2021 helped him build a rapport with music stars -- especially when telling his jokes.

"Every year, I notice that I develop a different rapport with the people in the room," he said. "That opens you up to a few more jokes and a few more conversations in a way where people understand the context of who you are in relation to them. It means you get to have a little bit of fun without anybody feeling like you're dunking on them."

As a music fan, Noah is looking forward to checking out the popular performers who will hit the stage: Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile.

Beyoncé heads into the ceremony with a leading nine nominations, including record and song of the year nods for "Break My Soul." Kendrick Lamar has the second-most nominations with eight, while Adele and Carlile enter the show with seven each. Harry Styles, Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, The Dream, and mastering engineer Randy Merrill each received six nominations.

"We love having Trevor because he's so darn good at it," said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. "He is so personable; he's so funny. I don't know how he does what he does. He never stumbles, he never hesitates. He's always so earnest and heartfelt. He's also a music guy. You see him when he's not on camera -- he's singing, he's dancing, he's rapping. I feel like he's one of us now."