Chris Brown made headlines at the Grammys three years ago when his assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna became the biggest story of the night. He hasn't been back since -- until now.

This year, he's returning to the awards ceremony and taking the stage. 

Although Brown has been nominated for Grammys in the intervening years, he's been a no-show. This year, he's up for three Grammys -- Best R&B Album for "F.A.M.E.," as well as Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for his track "Look At Me Now," which also features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

Rihanna will also hit the stage at Sunday's show, performing with Coldplay. She's in the running for four awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Loud."

Brown and Rihanna join this year's stellar lineup of performers, which includes Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys.

The 54th annual Grammy awards, hosted by LL Cool J, will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday at 8 p.m. 

Tags: Chris Brown Rihanna