U2 MAKES BEE LINE TO GRAMMYS

It’s official. U2 will perform on the Grammy telecast, and the buzz around town is that the band will open the show, which takes care of producer Ken Ehrlich’s need for a boffo lead-in.

With this primetime network showcase on the heels of Bono and company’s widely seen and much-buzzed-about performance at the pre-inaugural concert, aired live and repeatedly rerun by HBO, the setup for the band’s March 3 album No Line on the Horizon (Interscope) now rivals that for Springsteen’s Working on a Dream.

Also announced as performers by the Recording Academy this morning are Kid Rock, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Rihanna. They join the already confirmed Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood and, somewhat surprisingly, Radiohead.

As for Ehrlich’s trademark all-star pairings, this year’s show will feature a hip-hop summit meeting, as Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West come together to perform their hit single "Swagga Like Us." Additionally, T.I. and Justin Timberlake will appear together, while Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl will be behind the drum kit for Paul McCartney.

The list of announced presenters now comprises Simon Baker (lead of CBS' The Mentalist), Jack Black and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as nominees Duffy, Josh Groban, jazz legend Charlie Haden and Gwyneth Paltrow. Chris Martin’s better half is nominated for Best Spoken Word Album for Children (Brown Bear and Friends).