News | Entertainment
1 Feb 2026 7:00
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Grammys producer Ben Winston had to beg Trevor Noah to host the ceremony for one final time

    The Recording Academy announced earlier this month that the 41-year-old comedian would be hosting the music awards for a sixth consecutive year on February 1 and Winston revealed that he decided to turn to the former host of The Daily Show in an act of desperation as bosses were struggling to find a replacement.


    He told reporters: "After last year's show, he respectfully said, 'Look, I've done a great five years, it's time to hand the microphone off to somebody else and move on.'"

    Winston, 44, continued: "It got to December, and we hadn't found anybody that we absolutely loved. I sent him a video, and I was literally, I was on my knees in the video, and I said, 'Please look at this incredible lineup that we've got on the show - the only thing that's missing is you.'

    "Come back and do one final year, it's the last year on CBS, let's make it your last year too."

    Winston, who produced The Late Late Show with James Corden for the broadcaster, confessed that he was worried that Trevor wouldn't be persuaded by his begging - stating that "it was the longest I've ever waited for a text to come".

    The Emmy award-winner feels that Trevor's enthusiasm for the Grammys as a "music fan" makes him the ideal host of the ceremony.

    Winston said: "(He's) as excited to be in the middle of that room as we all are to watch it, and I think that's what makes him the perfect host.

    "He's been a big part of the evolution of our show, of our organisation, to be honest, because he presents so well.

    "The gravitas, the sensibility, the emotional intelligence that he has, and his interactions with the artists really has changed the tone and the tenor of our show.

    "So we're extremely thankful for his five, now going on six shows."

    Trevor previously revealed that he works tirelessly on his Grammys routine to give himself the best possible chance of success in hosting the ceremony.

    The South African funnyman told People in 2024: "Telling a joke is like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute. You have an idea of where you would like to land, but when you actually get close to the ground, you might be a little bit off from where you intended to be.

    "So I just work my a** off, try and think of the funniest things to say and ways to say them. The rest I leave to God."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     01 Feb: Brandi Glanville has debuted a striking new look after more than a year of struggling with severe facial disfigurement
     01 Feb: Taylor Russell called herself Rihanna's "little mini-me" in a playful response after she was mistaken for the singer
     31 Jan: Ilona Maher feels "ashamed" about social media influencing how she views her body
     31 Jan: Katie Price's new husband says he's the "happiest man in the world" following their whirlwind wedding in Dubai
     31 Jan: Sydney Sweeney could face criminal charges after hanging bras on the Hollywood sign
     31 Jan: Yerin Ha wasn't disappointed she didn't get to wear as many extravagant ballgowns on Bridgerton as some of her fellow stars - because she didn't have to spend as much time in hair and makeup
     31 Jan: Sarah Michelle Gellar and her daughter help each other out with their beauty regimes
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Black Ferns Sevens have demolished Great Britain 64-nil to open their Singapore World Series campaign, running in 10 tries More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Former PM Kevin Rudd says he declined Epstein invitation after latest document dump More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Brandi Glanville has debuted a striking new look after more than a year of struggling with severe facial disfigurement 6:31

    Cricket:
    The Black Caps have suffered a heavy 46-run loss to India in the 5th and final match of their T20 series in Trivandrum  6:07

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Russell called herself Rihanna's "little mini-me" in a playful response after she was mistaken for the singer 6:01

    Entertainment:
    Ilona Maher feels "ashamed" about social media influencing how she views her body 21:31

    Law and Order:
    The final victim of the Mount Maunganui landslide has been formally identified by the coroner 21:16

    Entertainment:
    Katie Price's new husband says he's the "happiest man in the world" following their whirlwind wedding in Dubai 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Sydney Sweeney could face criminal charges after hanging bras on the Hollywood sign 20:31

    Entertainment:
    Yerin Ha wasn't disappointed she didn't get to wear as many extravagant ballgowns on Bridgerton as some of her fellow stars - because she didn't have to spend as much time in hair and makeup 20:01

    Business:
    Former PM Kevin Rudd says he declined Epstein invitation after latest document dump 19:36

    Politics:
    More than 3 million new 'Epstein files' released by US government 19:36


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd