Let’s face it the Grammys aren’t always the most exciting award show. As the Granddaddy of music award shows, it is generally known for playing it safe and frankly I often have hard time getting through the entire telecast. But this year may be different (at least for a little while). Michael Jackson’s two eldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, are set to accept his Lifetime Achievement award. That will be good for stirring up some emotions (and probably a good share of tears). While in the performance category, USA Today reports that Mary J. Blige will team with Andrea Bocelli to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” This marks the 40th anniversary of the song sweeping the Grammys so producers wanted to add it to the show. . And it will be available in audio and video form on ITunes —to aid in the Haitian relief efforts.

“What made me want to do this is the fact that this is a world situation,” Blige said. “Andrea represents another place that is feeling what’s happening in Haiti, too. I felt it was important for people to see us as a team representing what needs to be done.”

This isn’t the first time the two have sung together. They paired up on “What Child Is This” on Bocelli’s Christmas album “My Christmas” last year. But for Blige this continues in her path to be taken more seriously beyond her moniker The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Now I don’t think she necessarily wants to drop that title because after all she is nominated for a Grammy for “IfULeave”, her duet with Musiq Soulchild.  But its nice to see her having a period of expansion that seems to go hand-in-hand with  a newfound maturity (well mostly anyway).

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