Janelle Monae remembers being frustrated at last yearsa国际传媒檚 Grammy Awards, where male acts dominated in nominations and the only woman competing for the nightsa国际传媒檚 top award, Lorde, didnsa国际传媒檛 get a chance to perform onstage.

But this year, Monae is looking forward to the show, where women are now leading in nominations for big categories like album of the year and best new artist.

sa国际传媒淭his is going to be a special Grammys. As much as it is about me, itsa国际传媒檚 not just about me. Just knowing that so many women are nominated this year, looking back from last year to this year when I was on the stage at the Grammys, you could see that I was frustrated about the opportunities and about our visibility as women,sa国际传媒� said Monae, who gave powerful speech last year ahead of Keshasa国际传媒檚 emotional and striking performance celebrating sisterhood and womensa国际传媒檚 rights.

sa国际传媒淵es, we have so much more work to do, but this is a moment to be celebrated. This is a moment for women to love on each other and let each other know,sa国际传媒� she added.

Monaesa国际传媒檚 groundbreaking album, sa国际传媒淒irty Computer,sa国际传媒� is one of five albums by women nominated for the top prize at Sundaysa国际传媒檚 show, airing live at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Cardi Bsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒淚nvasion of Privacy,sa国际传媒� Kacey Musgravessa国际传媒� sa国际传媒淕olden Hour,sa国际传媒� Brandi Carlilesa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒淏y the Way, I Forgive Yousa国际传媒� and H.E.R.sa国际传媒檚 self-titled album are also in contention.

READ MORE: Grammy weekend kicks off with honour for Dolly Parton

Carlile is the most nominated woman with six nominations, including bids for song and record of the year with sa国际传媒淭he Joke.sa国际传媒� Women also have a strong presence in those top categories, including Lady Gaga, SZA, Maren Morris and Ella Mai.

Six of the best new artist nominees are women, including H.E.R., Chloe x Halle, Margo Price, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha and Jorja Smith.

sa国际传媒淲hat I plan to do is let every woman who is nominated, who is here this weekend, know that from the red carpet to the stage, win or lose, I have your back. I see you,sa国际传媒� Monae said. sa国际传媒淭his is just the beginning of moving to a more inclusive future.sa国际传媒�

Today is Music's Biggest Night! 馃幎 From the red carpet to backstage and beyond, here is how to watch the

sa国际传媒� Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad)

This yearsa国际传媒檚 nominees mark a departure from the 2018 Grammys, where Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow was criticized when he said women need to sa国际传媒渟tep upsa国际传媒� when asked about the lack of women in the top categories. He later acknowledged that it was a sa国际传媒減oor choice of words,sa国际传媒� and it forced the academy to launch a new task force focused on inclusion and diversity.

The lead up to this yearsa国际传媒檚 Grammys hasnsa国际传媒檛 been completely smooth though. This week Ariana Grande blasted Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich and accused him of lying about why she was no longer performing at the show.

Ehrlich told the AP that Grande sa国际传媒渇elt it was too late for her to pull something together.sa国际传媒� She responded on Twitter and said she sa国际传媒渃an pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚t was when my creativity & self expression was stifled by you, that i decided not to attend. i hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more,sa国际传媒� she continued.

Carlile told the AP she stands sa国际传媒渂ehind Ariana Grandesa国际传媒檚 decision to stand up for herself and her art.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淎nd I feel like itsa国际传媒檚 a time in this country when women need to support each other and their decisions. I support her and I support her decision,sa国际传媒� she added.

Grande is nominated for two awards and could miss the chance of giving a speech onstage if she wins. Other big stars also wonsa国际传媒檛 be in attendance, including Kendrick Lamar, the top nominee with eight, and Drake, nominated for seven awards. Taylor Swift, who was snubbed and one scored one nomination, also wonsa国际传媒檛 be at the show.

Drama has also surrounded the Grammys around its Motown Records tribute: Some people complained when a promo aired on CBS showing Jennifer Lopez as the act set to honour the legendary record label, which launched the careers of Jackson 5, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more. Some complained that a black artist should be involved in the tribute, while others said stronger vocalists should perform over Lopez. A representative for the Grammys didnsa国际传媒檛 return an email seeking clarification about the tribute.

READ MORE: Kendrick Lamar leads Grammy noms, where women make a comeback

Others set to perform Sunday include Cardi B, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Travis Scott, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Diana Ross, J Balvin, Camila Cabello, Dan + Shay, H.E.R., Little Big Town, Post Malone and Chloe x Halle. Yolanda Adams, Fantasia and Andra Day will honour the late Aretha Franklin with a performance.

Musgraves, also nominated for best country album, song and performance, said shesa国际传媒檚 been trying to relax this week ahead of the show.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e been able to find zen moments leading up to all this. I am just grateful, I think. And I am not hung up on what happens or doesnsa国际传媒檛 happen,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淛ust the fact that this album has connected in such a way beyond my wildest dreams is just really cool.sa国际传媒�

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Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press

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