Fil-Am Olivia Rodrigo stars at landmark Brit Awards 2021; pregnant Little Mix members attend

LONDON — Rising stars Arlo Parks and Olivia Rodrigo are among the artists performing to 4,000 guests at Tuesday's Brit Awards, where soul singer Celeste and hit machine Dua Lipa are both tipped to win big.

Thousands streamed into London's O2 Arena for the biggest night in British pop music as the ceremony welcomed guests for the first time in two years as part of the government's pilot scheme easing coronavirus restrictions.

Audience members were neither observing social distancing nor wearing face coverings once seated, but needed to produce a negative test result for the virus.

British rapper Rag'n'Bone Man will also perform live with the choir from Britain's National Health Service (NHS), while veteran US star Pink will join the performance remotely from the United States.

"Having people attend this special evening makes me really excited for touring to come," said Rag'n'Bone Man.

"I'm grateful that Pink is able to join from across the pond... and the NHS Choir are sounding amazing."

More than half of the audience is made up of key workers from London, honouring them for their work during the pandemic.

"Music has been a great source of comfort and connection during the pandemic," said Culture Minister Caroline Dineage.

"Tonight we'll bring the industry back together with 2,500 key workers to celebrate another year of brilliant British music."

Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards also attended. Perrie and Leigh-Anne went viral on Twitter yesterday for being pregnant at the same time and for showing pregnancy photos for Mother's Day.

Key workers

The annual ceremony, which normally takes place in February, was postponed by three months because of safety and logistical concerns due to the virus.

Indie titans Coldplay kicked off the show with a performance on the River Thames, while superstar singer Dua Lipa, best known for global hit singles "Don't Start Now" and "New Rules", was later to play live at the venue.

"This has been a long, tough year for everyone and I'm delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so," said the singer.

"They are quite simply an inspiration. The Brit Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember."

She is nominated for three awards, including the coveted Best Album, which has four women nominated on the five-act shortlist for the first time.

Emerging singer and poet Arlo Parks, Celeste, rap duo Young T & Bugsey, and DJ and producer Joel Corry have also received three total nominations across different categories.

Taylor Swift will become the first female artist to win the global icon Brit Award, for what organisers said was "her immense impact on music across the world and incredible repertoire and achievements to date".

Controversy

The Brit Awards have recognised the cream of British pop music since they were first held in 1977, and have often been splattered with scandal and farce.

The 1989 Brits are best remembered for the shambolic presenting skills of glamour model Samantha Fox and Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood, and a comical series of mishaps.

In 1992, anarchic dance duo The KLF fired blanks from a toy machine gun at the audience and dumped a dead sheep at the entrance to the venue.

Four years later, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker stormed the stage in protest while Michael Jackson performed surrounded by children.

In 1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon dumped a bucket of iced water over then deputy prime minister John Prescott.

And Madonna suffered whiplash injuries at the 2015 edition when she fell off the stage wearing a giant cape and surrounded by dancers wearing bondage-style costumes and horns on their heads. — Reports from Philstar.com/Deni Bernardo