Justin Timberlake And Al Green’s Unexpected Performance . . . Explained

So, how did the Grammy producers convince Justin to take Rihanna’s spot at the show this past Sunday? Well, according to Jack Sussman, CBS’ VP, it was pretty damned easy. EW.com asked him about in a recent interview:

When did you learn that Rihanna and Chris Brown weren’t going to make it?
The Grammy production team was knee deep in rehearsals at the Staples Center when they first got the call between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Sunday about the no-shows (Rihanna was supposed to immediately follow U2 with a medley of “Disturbia” and “Live Your Life” while Brown was going to sing “Forever” before Kid Rock’s performance). “Beyond thinking, I hope they’re okay, it immediately goes out of your mind because you’re too busy thinking about what to do next,” says Sussman. Justin Timberlake had just finished rehearsing his duet with T.I. when the team approached him in his dressing room about filling Rihanna’s spot with a brand new act. “Justin’s first words were, ‘what can I do to help?’” recalls Sussman. “That’s what you want to hear.” It was Timberlake’s idea to perform with Al Green, since the two Memphis natives had once performed “Let’s Stay Together” — and Green was already in town to present an award with Duffy. The veteran crooner was literally in his hotel bathtub when he got the call to rush to rehearsals, where he and Timberlake had less than two hours to prepare (Brown’s performance was not replaced).