Trevor Noah Jokes He Only Hosts the Grammys in Hopes of Winning One: ‘It’s All Been a Long Con’ (Exclusive)

Is anyone more ready for the 2024 Grammys than Trevor Noah?

The South African comedian, 39, is set to host music’s biggest night for the fourth year in a row — and this time he’s also nominated for best comedy album for his recent special, I wish you would.

This year’s Grammys will take place on February 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and will feature performers including SZA, Joni Mitchell, Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Dua Lipa, Luke Combs, Burna Boy, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott and U2.

Check out PEOPLE’s complete coverage of the Grammys for the latest news on music’s biggest night.

The ceremony itself will be a race between some of the biggest stars of 2024 to take home the award. SZA led this year’s nominations with eight, followed by Phoebe Bridgers, engineer Serban Ghene and Victoria Monét, who received seven nominations each. Behind them, Rodrigo, Eilish, Jack Antonoff, Jon Batiste, boygenius, Brandy Clark, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift won six nominations each.

Ahead of the 2024 Grammy Awards, Noah spoke with PEOPLE about his upcoming fourth hosting gig, navigating the space after the Jo Koy controversy surrounding the Golden Globes and whether he’ll return to host if he doesn’t win his own turntable this year.

Trevor Noah at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

This year, you are hosting the Grammy Awards for the fourth time. As someone who didn’t come from the music world before, what have you learned each year that you’ve been in charge?

The first thing I learned is that all your preparations are really just a parachute for what actually happens at night because anything can happen, and every year it somehow does. I also learned that it’s a celebration of those musicians and what they’ve done, that they’re all there to have fun and be entertained. So, as a host, I’m constantly finding my way around the room. There are people walking by when I’m trying to do something. There are people catching up with their friends while I’m trying to get the series going.

In a weird way, I realized that it’s almost like being at a big party and trying to work while being at the party. And then I learned to have fun. In my opinion, it is one of the best concerts. I don’t think there are many concerts that can match what the Grammys put on in terms of the collection of artists. Where else will you be able to watch Dua Lipa, Burna Boy, Billie Eilish, you name it, on the same stage? It’s something I don’t take for granted and really enjoy.

Trevor Noah calls Dua Lipa a ‘beautiful light’ and recalls the first time he saw her perform

Are you feeling nervous about this year after seeing Jo Koy’s experience at the Golden Globes?

You know what? My nerves are the same every year. I don’t need to see anything to get nervous. I’ve never approached an award show or a standup show without nerves. I’m always worried about what’s going on. I take nothing for granted and I’m never sure a joke will land. You just prepare yourself. You hope for the best. Telling a joke is like jumping out of a plane with a parachute, you have an idea where you’d like to land, but when you get really close to the ground, you might be a little off where you intended to be. So I’m just working, trying to think of the funniest things to say and ways to say them. I leave the rest to God.

Jo Koy Says He’d ‘Love’ To Host Golden Globes Again After Receiving Mixed Reviews (Exclusive)

In addition to hosting, this year you were nominated for the best comedy album for your special, I wish you would. How does it feel to receive that honor, especially for this special?

It’s really important to me because it’s not just about the award or the nomination, it’s about the company I’m nominated with. I grew up watching Wanda Sykes on TV, seeing her as one of the funniest human beings. I watched Chris Rock single-handedly define an era of comedy. I watched Dave Chappelle captivate audiences and take comedy to new heights. I mean, being in the same category as those people is really something special. It becomes a turning point in my life that reminds me to think more about the process than the outcome. And just to be in this moment, I want to enjoy it as long as possible.

You were already nominated once for the same award in 2020, which was shortly before you started hosting the show. So if you don’t take this award home with you, will you consider returning to the show as a host next year? Or was this all an elaborate campaign to win a Grammy?

[Laughs] It was all a long con. That’s how it was. No no. I wish it was. I never dreamed or hoped that I would be nominated for a Grammy. It’s one of those beautiful accidents in life that you find yourself, I guess, anywhere on the same stage with the artists who write the music of our lives. I’m really, really happy to be in that company. But yeah, if they asked me to host, I think I would say yes – but let me give you that answer after I host this time. As my mom always says, just chew the food that’s in your mouth and you can focus on the next bites.

Trevor Noah.

Michael Schwartz/CBS via Getty

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s fashion show? Are there any performers you’re most excited to see or awards you’re hoping will go to certain people?

This one is difficult for me because I am a presenter and producer, so I try to be as impartial as possible. I definitely have people that go, “Ooh, they did that for me.” But as someone who’s not only been nominated for Grammys, but someone who’s been nominated for awards and other shows, the honest truth is that I don’t think there’s any way you can win in art. I think the real way you win in art is to move people and impact their lives.

Awards are an industry that rewards you from within, and they say, ‘This is collective recognition.’ But I don’t know. I’m not part of the counting team so I don’t even know how close the votes are. Sometimes I think to myself ‘What if someone had won by one, three or five votes?’ So, in a weird way, I’m not rooting for either person. I just think of my favorites and go, ‘Oh, that person was really great. I liked what they did. I liked what they did. I think they should win.’ But the truth is that if someone is nominated, that probably means they could and should win.

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