“The only thing that’s missing is you,” producer Ben Winston recalls telling the “Daily Show” alum.

Grammys producer literally got on his knees to beg Trevor Noah to host 1 last time

"The only thing that's missing is you," producer Ben Winston recalls telling the "Daily Show" alum.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 26, 2026 5:36 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Trevor Noah hosting the 2025 Grammy Awards. Credit:

Amy Sussman/Getty

The organizers of this year's Grammy Awards ain't too proud to beg — that is, at least when it comes to securing their much-loved, soon-to-be six-time host with the most, Trevor Noah.

The Recording Academy announced earlier this year that the comedian would make his final run as host for music's biggest night, which was the work of a *lot *of coaxing, executive producer Ben Winston told reporters at a press conference Monday.**

"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 recalled.

The British-born producer noted that he and fellow producers, including Raj Kapoor and Jesse Collins, had "a few conversations" with different people to take over Noah's spot for the upcoming award show, but couldn't land on anyone who had the former *Daily Show* host's je ne sais quoi.

Trevor Noah at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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

Luckily, Noah is into a little begging. As Winston happily relayed, the 41-year-old comedian "texted back, 'Sure, let's do it. See you there. Can't wait."

Still, the Emmy winner isn't ashamed to admit he was worried the video wouldn't sway Noah, saying that "it was the longest I've ever waited for a text to come."

The producer gushed about Noah's enthusiasm for the ceremony as a "music fan," noting that 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 organization, to be honest, because he presents so well," he added. "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."

Ben Winston at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Winston's apprehension is understandable, considering Noah's sharp commentary about Donald Trump's return to office in last year's monologue. At the time, the comedian quipped that "there's been a few changes in Washington, so I'm going to enjoy tonight, because it may be my last time I get to host anything in this country."

Noah also called out what turned out to be just the beginning of Trump's crackdown on immigration with mass deportations, in which the administration began targeting immigrants with sweeping ICE raids in schools and churches, halting new (and canceling existing) migrant asylum hearings, and more.

"We're going to be honoring the best in music as voted on by the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, and 20 million illegal immigrants," Noah said at the time.

Donald Trump will skip Super Bowl, disses performers Bad Bunny and Green Day: 'Terrible choice'

Trevor Noah says Grammys might be last time he gets 'to host anything in this country'

A year later, Trump has found himself at the center of several national and international controversies in recent weeks, with the administration's ICE initiatives drawing widespread criticism following the deaths of Minnesota residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of United States Border Patrol officers earlier this month.

During a year in which Bad Bunny made Grammy history by becoming the first Spanish-language artist to earn nominations for Album, Record, and Song of the Year in a single year, it's safe to assume that Noah will have more than a little to say during this year's ceremony.**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

Sunday's show will see Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny competing for the biggest awards, as well as performances from Sabrina Carpenter and all eight Best New Artist nominees. It will also mark the Grammys' final show in a 50-year run with CBS, as the Academy has signed a new $500 million, 10-year deal with Disney to bring the ceremony to ABC, Disney+, and Hulu.

The 2026 Grammys will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.**

- Awards Shows & Events

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Grammys”