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Alicia Keys, Frank Ocean to Perform at Grammy Awards

Recording Academy announces performers for the big show.

The Recording Academy definitely upped the ante for this year’s Grammys by announcing a list of performances by all five nominees for Album of the Year. This includes Frank Ocean and Alicia Keys.

The "Thinking About You" singer let the news of his Grammy debut slip prematurely, tweeting, “cut my finger now I can't play with two hands at the Grammys,” following his fight with fellow nominee Chris Brown. Viewers will be watching anxiously to see if the singer brings up the altercation with Brown, which is still under investigation. Ocean is tied for most nominations along with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, Kanye West, Jay-Z, fun. and Mumford & Sons, who each have six.

Fourteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys will also be hitting the stage with Maroon 5, who have two Grammy noms themselves. After releasing her fifth studio album, Girl on Fire, in November, Keys has been everywhere lately and will also be singing the national anthem at the 2013 Super Bowl.

Justin Timberlake is also slated to be featured on the 55th annual show to perform his first single, “Suit & Tie” featuring Jay-Z, after a six year hiatus. “Did you hear yet?! Been itching to get back on the BIG stage. Can't wait for this one… @thegrammys,” Justin tweeted in reference to the gig.

To add to the Grammy mania, CBS will air an hour-long special, titled The Grammys Will Go On: A Death in the Family. The program will take a behind-the-scenes look at how Whitney Houston's death affected the 2012 Grammy Awards and detail the scramble show producers endured to come up with a tribute worthy of the legend. Interviews with a host of music stars, such as LL Cool J, Jennifer Hudson, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, will be featured in the program as well.

The Whitney special will air on the network February 9, the eve of the music awards.

UPDATE:

As of February 1st the RIAA has awarded Frank Ocean's Channel Orange gold status. It has sold over 500,000 since it's July release. Ocean's Def Jam debut album produced the hit singles "Bad Religion," "Pink Matter,"  and "Thinkin' Bout You." The latter being Grammy nominated for Record of the Year. The Odd Future crooner has also began production on the video for "Forrest Gump," his latest single off the album. Judging by photos released seen on hip-n-more.com, the video seems to stay true the song's namesake.

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(Photos from left: Island Def Jam, Paul Morigi/Getty Images for BET)

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