Now that the Grammys are officially over and the internet is slowly moving onto the next award show, I feel like this is the perfect time to finally talk about what it's actually like attending the Grammy Awards.

Yep, I was lucky enough to attend the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017 and let me tell you... if you're not an A-lister, the experience is very different than what you see on TV.

Get our free mobile app

My Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience At The Grammys

Read More: Music Stars Protest ICE at 2026 Grammy Awards

I was only 20 years old when I was selected through a lottery to attend.  I was given a ticket to get in, but everything else was on me, like flight, hotel, outfit, all of it.  My "job" was being a seatfiller, which meant I was there to warm up the seats for celebrities arriving late to the ceremony.  That also meant a lot of moving around in-between speeches and commercial breaks.

I only had a few weeks to prepare for the big day, so I rented a dress from Rent the Runway, grabbed some sparkly heels from DSW, and booked a flight to LA for the biggest night in music.  Once we arrived, about 300 of us were herded into a parking garage where we waited for three hours.  They eventually seated us based on when we arrived, and luckily, I was second in line!  I got first dibs on where to sit.

I was now surrounded by every big name in music; Beyonce, Adele, John Legend, and bands I only thought I'd ever see in concert, like Twenty One Pilots and Pentatonix!  Justin Bieber wasn't there, though.  He had other plans I guess!

Related: 2026 Grammys Winners Revealed: See the List!

The show itself lasted about three hours, and seatfillers weren't allowed to have water, food, or even leave their seat unless directed.  You just sit there and look pretty.  You're not allowed to interact with any celebrities unless they speak to you first... or you're out.  They will literally kick you out.

Honestly?  What you see on TV is exactly how it feels in real life - lots of awkward speeches, a little unorganized, and celebrities everywhere!  That's all I cared about, let's be for real.  Ed Sheeran, Lukas Graham, Adele, and Katy Perry all performed, too!

After the show, the crew was tearing down and one of them told me to hop up on the stage where Adele had just performed so they could take my picture.  I did... and immediately got yelled at because "I wasn't supposed to be up there."  Even though their own crew told me to.  I got the picture, so it was totally worth it haha.

At the end of the day, it wasn't as glamorous in the way people imagine, but it was unforgettable.  Exhausting, chaotic, and slightly too long of a show, but still one of the coolest experiences of my life!