The Grammy Awards will be held this Sunday, and several New Jersey artists will be represented.

The awards follow a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic all but shut down live music, shaping a very different awards show. There is also some controversy surrounding the award itself.

Blues artist Bettye LaVette of West Orange has been nominated for a Grammy five times. She says that she hopes that his year brings for her first win for her album “Blackbirds.” It is an album that pays tribute to female artists who influenced her.

First-time nominee Ant Clemons of Willingboro is up for Best R&B Album for his debut release “Happy 2 Be Here." He told News 12’s John Bathke earlier this year that he is more than happy to be nominated.

“I’m in history just being nominated,” he said. “I can’t believe it. And I’m just honestly super grateful.”

Nominations were announced back in November, but the ceremony was postponed from January to March 14 because of the pandemic. Comedian Trevor Noah will host the event from Los Angeles, reportedly with live and prerecorded appearances.

More than 20 performances are expected including Harry Styles, BTS, and Taylor Swift. Swift posted that she is quarantining with her co-nominees including Bergen County native Jack Antonoff, ahead of their Grammy performance.

“We are quarantining in the same house, we're testing every day and it's really exciting, honestly, to play music,” Swift said.

The Grammys are not without controversy. Singer The Weeknd has said he will boycott the awards going forward over transparency in the judging process. This after his album was snubbed. It is a concern echoed by some other artists as well.