Whitney Houston Tragic Grammys Draw 39.9 Million Viewers, Second Most Watched Ever

February 13, 2012 8:26am

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2ND UPDATE: In the final Live+Same Day ratings, the audience for last night’sGrammy Awards climbed to 39.91 million, still the second largest ever behind the 1984 show, up 50% from last year. The adults 18-49 average was adjusted down to a 14.1/32, up 41% from last year.

UPDATE: With its timing, exactly 24 hours after the news of Whitney Houston’s death, the Grammy Awards were poised to draw a huge audience onCBS. And they did. The show averaged 39 million viewers, the second most watched Grammy telecast ever, behind only the 1984 show (43.8 million). Vs. last year, when the Grammy posted their largest viewership in a decade, the awards show was up an remarkable 46%. Among adults 18-49 (14.4/32), it was up 44%, matching its best result since 1990. The ceremony included numerous references to Houston’s death, including a prayer read by host LL Cool J and a tribute performance of “I Will Always Love You” by Jennifer Hudson. Adele was the big winner of the night with six gramophones, including the top awards for record and album of the year, and delivered her first performance since her throat surgery. The other network stayed mostly out of the way with the exception of ABC. ItsAmerica’s Funniest Home Videos (2.0/5 in 18-49) was actually up 5% from 2 weeks ago. ButOnce Upon A Time (3.0/7), Desperate Housewives (1.8/4) andPan Am (0.7/2), which faced directly the Grammys, were all sharply down, by 14%, 31% and 42%, respectively.Desperate Housewives and Pan Am posted series lows. NBC’sDateline (1.6/4) was up 33% from 5 weeks ago. A special (and possibly final for this incarnation on NBC, following the donkey semen stunt debacle)Fear Factor (1.5/3), which was put on so Celebrity Apprentice doesn’t launch against the Grammys, was down 35% from its last Monday original.

PREVIOUS: According to overnight ratings from 56 markets, the Grammys averaged a 25.2 household rating/38 share, up 45% from last year, which could translate into the largest viewership in some 2 decades.

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16 Comments

confusedon February 13, 2012 3:48 pm
Jennifer Hudson wasn’t a fitting choice to do a Whitney Houston tribute. What has Hudson contributed besides a lackluster film career and American Idol? She’s nowhere near what Houston accomplished. Adele would’ve been appropriate because she’s actually had multiple number one hits! That’s much more of an accomplishment then Jennifer Hudson.
- oliviaon February 14, 2012 10:22 am
  She won an oscar.
  And of course she is not and never will be Whitney Houston, like Whitney was not Aretha (both unique in their own ways but Aretha is maybe another level again, in the same category as a Billy Hollyday imo..) ..but come on it was at least bearable, it could have been some Beyonce, Rianna and others limited ‘talents’ like that..so it could have much much worse.
Bruceon February 13, 2012 3:09 pm
Go Bruce. Awesome way to open the show. Wished Sir Paul allowed more singing with him at the end.
JBCon February 13, 2012 1:26 pm
I’m sure the CBS Exec are all trying to figure out who they can convince to take a bath the day before next years broadcast.
- karaon February 14, 2012 10:17 am
  ha ha so true and so sad but so true..that is ‘business’ for you…
  Hey CBS the same network who had the most watched premiere of a tv show in these last years with Two and a Half Men this fall..they really make money and business with stars personal lives..
  Rip Whitney
jenniferon February 13, 2012 11:27 am
Dorothy, I totally agree with you-I have no idea what the execs at abc are thinking-,or,even if they are thinking at all. Was very,very stupid airing new episodes of their programs up against the Grammys-especially knowing even more people would tune in to the awards because of the news about Whitney. IMHO:Parts of the abc lineup are currently on a downward spiral. If they think a piece of s#*t such as The River is going to change that,the programmers at abc are dreaming. Abc needs to come up with more intelligent programs such as “Modern Family”. Thank you.
kokoon February 13, 2012 11:13 am
One thing we’ll always remember about Whitney is that when you can really sing, all you need is a mike. Bravo, Jennifer Hudson. And Adele. Adam Levine? Eh. Too much swagger for that thin nasal voice. Niki Minaj? Wha wha? All style and no substance… and waaaay too long. Chris Brown? Great set, good dancer, lousy singer. His opening on that song was weak weak weak.