Ariana Grande and Angelina Jolie start the new year at the Golden Globe Awards By Reuters

Written by Lisa Richwine

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) – Ariana Grande, Adrien Brody, Angelina Jolie and other Hollywood stars looked their best on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, the first major awards ceremony in a year without a clear nominee for the award. Film Awards.

“Wicked” star Grande arrived wearing a vintage yellow Givenchy gown with an embroidered bodice that she said was an homage to the yellow brick road to Oz in the movie musical.

“It’s so exciting to be here because I admire everyone I meet,” Grande said of the star-studded crowd in Beverly Hills. “Being here is the most unexpected and delightful surprise of my life.”

Also on the carpet, The Brutalist star and nominee Brody wore a large, jeweled brooch over his dark tuxedo. His co-star, Felicity Jones, shined in a shiny, sleeveless silver dress.

The Spanish-language musical thriller “Emilia Pérez” and “The Brutalist,” a three-and-a-half-hour post-World War II drama that includes an intermission, are the top contenders for the Globes.

Others include the box office hit “Wicked,” an adaptation of the Broadway play about witches “The Wizard of Oz,” and the papal selection story “Conclave.”

Restaurant tale “The Bear” and mystery comedy “Only Murders in the Building” will compete for television awards.

The Globes will air live on CBS and the Paramount+ streaming service starting at 8pm ET on Sunday (1am GMT). Comedian Nikki Glaser is hosting the champagne-fueled festivities for the first time.

Glaser, who hosted football legend Tom Brady’s roast last year, said she plans to celebrate the A-list nominees rather than mock them as some previous hosts have done.

“I want the people who were nominated to feel proud of themselves. I don’t want them to feel like they’re being attacked,” Glaser said in an interview.

The lineup of celebrity announcers includes big names including Dwayne Johnson, Elton John, Andrew Garfield and Awkwafina.

Winning a Globe could highlight films and shows in the lead-up to the Oscars in March. So far, critics say there is no clear nominee for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Unlike the Oscars, the Globes divide films into two categories. “Conclave” and “The Brutalist” are strong entries for best motion picture, drama, while “Wicked” and “Emilia Perez” are the main contenders for best motion picture, musical or comedy.

Globe winners are chosen by 334 entertainment journalists from 85 countries, compared to about 9,000 voters who choose the Oscars. The Globe’s voting body has been expanded in recent years, and organizers have introduced reforms after being criticized for ethical lapses and a lack of diversity.

Timothée Chalamet is up for Best Motion Picture Drama Actor for his role as musician Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. His competitors include Brody, who plays a Holocaust survivor and architect chasing the American dream in “The Brutalist.”

Selena Gomez is a two-time nominee for her supporting role in the film “Emilia Perez,” which tells the story of a Mexican drug dealer who transforms into a woman, and for lead comedic actress as a podcast host in the TV series “Only Murders in the Building.”

Other acting candidates include Angelina Jolie for her role as opera star Maria Callas in the movie “Maria,” Nicole Kidman as a company executive who has an affair with an intern in the movie “Babygirl,” and Zendaya as a tennis coach in the movie “Challengers.” And Ariana Grande as an actress. Student of magic in “The Wicked”.

Among the men, Daniel Craig was nominated for “Queer” and Denzel Washington was nominated for “Gladiator II.”