Music is a language we all understand. The industry will showcase some of its biggest stars tonight, like Adele, Beyonce, and Lizzo, at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony from Los Angeles.

A recent TV story by Jake Chapman of the ABC affiliate KIRO 7 caught my eye. A local woman named Jill Whitney Schroeder won tickets to the Grammys by donating blood at Bloodworks Northwest. Bloodworks is a great organization. I've done stories on the importance of giving blood because there is such a shortage, not just in the Seattle area. 

Whitney Schroeder got an email from the Blood Bank saying she'd won the tickets as well as round-trip airfare and accommodation at an upscale hotel. And she even got invited to an after-party celebration-not too shabby. Naturally, she didn't believe it, at first! But it was true. I'd love to attend the Grammys live. I never had that opportunity-- although I've been to my share of music events. 

It's nice to hear someone as altruistic and deserving as Whitney Schroeder won. She has been a blood donor since 2005 and told KIRO “It’s an easy thing that I can do to help the community. It’s just something that is important to me. Very important thing for me to do this.” Whitney Schroeder is hoping to see Adele and Beyonce perform but seems most excited about the fact that Trevor Noah is hosting again. 

I'll be watching right along with her from the comfort of my living room. Beyonce ("Renaissance") and Adele ("30") are battling it out for Album of the Year. Both artists received four-star reviews for their work in the UK's The Independent.

Adele from working-class North London can wrap her vocals around the base emotion we can all relate to. The album "30" is a coming of age of sorts following her divorce--offering signature ballads. Beyonce's work is a free-spirited collage that incorporates varied styles of music into a follow-up of sorts after her previous "Lemonade" record brought her husband's music mogul Jay Z's dallying into the forefront. Both women have continued to be creative and produce through the lingering pandemic. The always-popular Taylor Swift is also a nominee for Song of the Year for "All Too Well" and the effervescent Lizzo for "About Damn Time." 

As for male artists, Kendrick Lamar garnered 8 nominations, including one for "The Heart Part 5" and one of my favorites Harry Styles was nominated for "As it Was." DJ Khaled and Coldplay are up for awards. Here's a look at nominees from NPR. 

All this will be held together by Noah Trevor who has hosted twice and did a smashing job. The South African comedian and former host of The Daily Show is someone to watch. Time Magazine named Trevor 'one of the hundred most influential people in the world' in 2018. 

I'll be watching and am glad Jill Whitney Schroeder has a front-row seat.