A Grammys Producer Explained Why Trevor Noah Is the Perfect Host for the Show
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1984–present
Trevor Noah News: Comedian Returns to Host His 5th Grammy Awards
When Ben Winston became executive producer of the Grammy Awards live ceremony five years ago, Trevor Noah was atop his list of potential hosts. Their partnership is still going strong in 2025.
Noah, 40, will helm music’s annual showcase for the fifth consecutive year on February 2, putting him among the most prominent hosts in the show’s history. Only Andy Williams (7), John Denver (6), and LL Cool J (5) have taken the microphone more times.
The comedian will also serve as a producer himself. In a recent interview, Winston told CBS New York that Noah has numerous qualities that make him the ideal host. “He’s just the most collaborative, wonderful person, and I think for this year more than any other we are so lucky that we have him,” Winston said. “Because he’s both, he’ll get the emotional tone right of what’s going on in Los Angeles [with the wildfires] right now, and he’s so smart and intelligent. But he’s also just incredibly funny.”
In addition to his hosting duties, Noah was nominated for Best Comedy Album for his 2023 Netflix special Where Was I. (Dave Chappelle won the category for The Dreamer during the afternoon Premiere Ceremony.) The 67th Grammy Awards air Sunday at 8 p.m. E.T. on CBS. Live streaming is available to Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers.
Who Is Trevor Noah?
Born in South Africa, Trevor Noah is one of the top stand-up comedians in the world. After appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show With David Letterman, Noah took on a correspondent role on the popular The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. He then replaced Stewart and served as the show’s host from September 2015 until December 2022. The Emmy winner continues to perform stand-up and hosts the podcast What Now? With Trevor Noah.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Trevor Noah
BORN: February 20, 1984
BIRTHPLACE: Soweto, South Africa
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces
Mother and Father
Trevor Noah was born on February 20, 1984, in Soweto, South Africa, to a Black Xhosa mother, Patricia, and a white Swiss-German father, Robert. The couple’s union was illegal due to the country’s apartheid system, which officially sponsored racial oppression and segregation. Although his parents tried to conduct their relationship in secret, Noah’s mother was frequently jailed for short periods of time, and young Noah was often hidden from authorities. Some of his experiences growing up, including the deep poverty his family endured, later became the subject of Noah’s comedic work, which have often looked at the racial dynamics of his native country.
In a June 2022 interview with 60 Minutes, Noah said he speaks to his mother every day. “We’ve had a beautiful evolution in our relationship, and I’m so grateful for it, because I think many people never get to experience an evolution of their relationship with their parents—or by the time that evolution comes, it’s almost too late,” he also told People in October 2024.
Stand-Up Comedian
Having appeared in a soap opera in his late teens, Noah started to hone his chops as a comedian in his 20s, taking to the comedy stage due to a dare from friends. His skill and talent blossomed, and Noah became one of the leading figures of stand-up comedy in South Africa. His peers noted that the young performer, who can speak several languages fluently and imitate accents effortlessly, had big ambitions for his career.
In 2009, Noah helmed his own one-man show, The Daywalker, which was also filmed as a documentary, and hosted The South African Music Awards. In 2010, the comedian’s own talk show, Tonight With Trevor Noah, debuted on M-Net and Mzansi Magic channels.
After performing stand-up in the United States, Noah staged another one-man show, The Racist, at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe festival. That year he also made his American TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Noah was the first South African comedian to appear on the program. The following year, he had his own comedy special on Showtime, Trevor Noah: African American.
The Daily Show Host
In late 2014, Noah landed yet another major gig, debuting as a correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. After Stewart announced in February 2015 that he would be leaving the program, it was revealed in March that Noah would be his replacement. Noah had appeared on the program three times previously.
Questions surfaced about how the show might change with a fresh, international host taking the anchor seat. Controversy also followed around some of Noah’s previous Twitter posts, which contained jokes that could be considered offensive to women and Jewish communities. Rumors also arose that he poached material from other stand-up comics. Nonetheless, Comedy Central executives announced that they were sticking with their decision.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah made its debut on September 28, 2015, with fellow comedian Kevin Hart as the first guest. The following year, Noah released the autobiography Born a Crime, which became a New York Times bestseller.
While viewership of The Daily Show was generally below that of the peak days of the uber-popular Stewart, Comedy Central saw enough positive signs from the new host to sign him to a five-year extension in September 2017. Noah subsequently released a statement in which he joked, “It’s really exciting to renew this contract for either five more years or until Kim Jong-un annihilates us all—whichever one comes first.”
Noah hosted The Daily Show for the final time in December 2022. He accepted the show’s 2023 Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Series. “Hey, Jon Stewart, wherever you are my friend, thank you for calling me up. Thank you for asking me to come and join you on this crazy journey,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Net Worth
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Noah’s total fortune at around $100 million as of January 2025.
Quotes
I came from a world where I was the first person in my family to be on an airplane. I was the first person to go to a school where there were children that weren’t just Black. The first to have friends of a different race.
Comedy is really getting quite popular in South Africa. It’s moving from the bastard child of entertainment into the mainstream, which is very good. I think the reason it’s doing so well is because South Africans need to laugh and South Africans want to laugh.
I’ve always wanted to be a comedian in the world. I don’t want to be labeled a South African comedian.
I’ve lived life without boundaries, which has been great for me. I really, really don’t see colors in a weird way. When I saw my dad, I never saw a white man. It was my dad.
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