You have to feel for John Waters.
The good news is that the Baltimore-based writer and filmmaker just got nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award in the Spoken Word category for his latest book, “Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom of A Filth Elder.”
The bad news is that he’s up against Michelle Obama, one of the most popular people on the planet, who was nominated for the audio version of her bestseller, “Becoming.”
Waters, who has been nominated for a Grammy before, is taking it all in stride.
“This is my second nomination in the Spoken Word category,” Waters said in an email. “The first time it was for the audio book of ‘Role Models’ and Joan Rivers died and beat me. This time, Michelle Obama will live and beat me too.”
He has a suggestion for the Grammy broadcast, though.
“I wish we could read each other’s books aloud at the awards ceremony,” he said. “She could be ‘Mrs. Know It All’ and I could be ‘Mr. Not Becoming.’”
Regardless, he said, “I am honored to be included with all five of the nominees.”
Others nominated in the Spoken Word category, which includes poetry, audio books and storytelling, are: Sekou Andrews and String Therapy for “Sekou Andrews and String Therapy,” Eric Alexandrakis for “I. V. Catatonia: 20 Years as a Two Time Cancer Survivor,” and various artists for the “Beastie Boys Book” Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Serratt and Dan Zitt, producers.
The 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony will air Jan. 26 on CBS.
