In a Grammy Awards that featured more Auto-Tune-ready collaborations than Lady Gaga costume changes, Beyoncé Knowles and Taylor Swift dominated the competition Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé won six Grammys — the most by any woman in the 52-year history of the awards — including song of the year for “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” while Swift won four.
But it was Swift’s "Fearless" that took the evening’s highest honor: album of the year.
“I just keep thinking back to like when you’re in second grade, and you sing at your talent show for the first time. People joke around and they say, ‘Oh maybe we’ll see you at the Grammys someday.’ But that seems like an impossible dream,” Swift said. "I’m living an impossible dream."
Kings of Leon managed to upset Beyoncé and Swift in one category, winning the record of the year Grammy for their single, "Use Somebody."
Stephen Colbert, before presenting the award for song of the year to Beyoncé, pulled an iPad out of his jacket to read off the list of nominees. (Colbert won a Grammy for best comedy for his Christmas album, "A Colbert Christmas.")
Lady Gaga opened the broadcast with a glam-rock-opera performance of “Poker Face” followed by a duet of "Your Song" with Sir Elton John. Later, Beyoncé, who led all Grammy hopefuls with 10 nominations, performed a cover of Alanis Morissette’s "You Oughta Know."
Swift, sounding off-key, was joined by Stevie Nicks on stage for Fleetwood Mac’s "Rhiannon" and Swift’s Grammy-nominated "You Belong With Me."
Michael Jackson was honored during a 3-D tribute performance by Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson. Jackson’s children Prince Michael and Paris appeared onstage to accept a lifetime achievement award in their late father’s honor. "We’d like to thank God for watching over us these last seven months," Prince said.
The show, broadcast on CBS, wasn’t without its share of hitches. During Lil’ Wayne and Eminem’s performance of "Drop the World," the network opted to censor long sections of the song, resulting in a virtually-unlistenable airing.
The show, broadcast on CBS, wasn’t without its share of hitches. During Lil’ Wayne and Eminem’s performance of "Drop the World," the network opted to censor long sections of the song, resulting in a virtually-unlistenable airing on the East Coast.
For a list of Grammy Awards handed out during the broadcast, see below.
For a full list of winners, click here.
Song of the Year
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“Pretty Wings,” Maxwell
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyoncé
“Use Somebody,” Kings Of Leon
”You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift
Best Country Album
Fearless, Taylor Swift
The Foundation, Zac Brown Band
Twang, George Strait
Defying Gravity, Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy, Lee Ann Womack
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
Best Comedy Album
Back From The Dead, Spinal Tap
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!, Stephen Colbert
Internet Leaks, "Weird Al" Yankovic
My Weakness Is Strong, Patton Oswalt
Suckin’ It For The Holidays, Kathy Griffin
Tall, Dark & Chicano, George Lopez
Record of the Year
"Halo," Beyoncé
"I Gotta Feeling" The Black Eyed Peas
"Use Somebody," Kings of Leon
"Poker," Lady Gaga
"You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift
Best Rock Album
Black Ice, AC/DC
Live From Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
21st Century Breakdown, Green Day
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
No Line On The Horizon, U2
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Ego," Beyoncé & Kanye West
"Knock You Down," Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo
"Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
"I’m On A Boat," The Lonely Island & T-Pain
"Dead And Gone," T.I. & Justin Timberlake
Album of the Year
"I Am … Sasha Fierce," Beyoncé
"The E.N.D.," Black Eyed Peas
"The Fame," Lady Gaga
"Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King," Dave Matthews Band
"Fearless," Taylor Swift
More to read:
5 Ways to Save the Grammy Awards
The Grammys: Who Will Win … and Who Should!
