(Feb. 9) - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' unorthodoxpartnership yielded rich rewards on Grammy night, as the pairnabbed five awards for their haunting "Raising Sand," includingrecord and album of the year honors.
But their sweep was overshadowed before the show even began when police announced thatChris Brown, himself a double nominee and scheduled performer, wasbeing investigated for allegedly assaulting an unidentified womanthe night before. Brown turned himself in to authorities and wasbriefly held before posting $50,000 bail Sunday night, jail recordsshowed.
Jennifer Hudson is overcome with emotion after her performance at the 51st annual Grammy awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Sheryl Crow presents the Best Country Song award to Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland during the 51st Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Brown and longtime girlfriend Rihanna, also nominated, were bothslated to perform in different slots of the show, but separatelydropped out at the last minute. The victim of Brown's allegedassault wasn't identified, and it wasn't immediately clear whetherRihanna's absence was related to Brown's.
Police booked the 19-year-old R&B singer and dancer on suspicionof making a criminal threat, a felony. Police did not explain howtheir initial report of an injury assault related to the charge,but it will ultimately be up to the district attorney's office todecide what charges, if any, should be brought against Brown.
Back at the Staples Center, Lil Wayne entered the evening withthe most nominations with eight, and went home with four, includingrap album of the year.
The pairing of the former Led Zeppelin rocker and Krauss, abluegrass queen, may have seemed downright weird on paper, but theT Bone Burnett-produced album was universally acclaimed andhighlighted Krauss' unique mastery of different musical styles.Subdued but emotionally stirring, "Raising Sand" was an artistictriumph for both artists, and perhaps demonstrated why Krauss isthe most decorated female artist in Grammy history with 26.
"We ostensibly come from such different places on the musicalmap. There are radical differences in the ways we've gone aboutenjoying our lives as musicians," Plant said backstage after theshow. "Alison has shown me so much of the America I've never beenexposed to. There's so many songs in the air. America needs to knowwhat it's songs are all about."
Plant and Krauss had already won a Grammy last year for "GoneGone Gone (Done Moved On)" from "Raising Sand," bringing therecord's haul to six. The single was released in time for Grammycontention that year, while the CD was not.
Country superstar Carrie Underwood dazzled in a sparkling gold and silver sleeveless dress.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
M.I.A. proudly displayed her due-any-second baby bump in a blue and purple patterned dress, with her hair worn down in loose waves.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Coldplay sported brightly colored matching suits on the red carpet that called to mind their 'Viva la Vida' military look.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Sheryl Crow showed off her sexy figure - from a regimen of yoga, Pilates and "P90X" -- with a simple, classy blue dress and accompanying stilettos.
Kevin Mazur, WireImage.com
LeAnn Rimes stepped out on the red carpet in a knee-length blue and olive green dress with matching heels.
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
Jonas Brothers displayed their fashion sense with dapper variations on a black suit. Kevin and Joe opted for a classic look with matching bowties, while youngest bro Nick opted for a contemporary necktie.
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
'Idol' champ Jordin Sparks walked the red carpet wearing a black, patterned sleeveless dress by Arizona couture designer Debra Davenport. The gown's silver lining was emphasized by Sparks' choice of jewelry -- one long earring.
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
Brooke Hogan showed off her tan in a lavender strapless gown that put her ample cleavage front and center.
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
Jamie Foxx sported a lustrous, patterned black suit with gradient sunglasses. With his daughter in tow as his date, he acknowledged the strength and talent of fellow actor-musician Jennifer Hudson in an interview on the red carpet.
Lester Cohen, WireImage.com
Paris wore a quirky purple dress featuring a bikini-style top with flashy gold skirt and purple mesh.
Jennifer Hudson provided the night's most emotional momentsonstage. The Oscar winner took her first Grammy award - for bestR&B album - for her self-titled debut.
Hudson, 27, made no direct reference to the October killings ofher mother, brother and nephew that kept her in seclusion untiljust this month. But while fighting back tears, she made it clearthat her family was foremost on her mind.
"I first would like to thank God who has brought me through. Iwould like to thank my family in heaven and those who are with metoday.
Hudson later performed "You Pulled Me Through," a dramaticsong about overcoming deep despair, with the lyrics: "When I wasdrowning, when I was so confused, you, you pulled me through." Asshe sang the last note, she looked directly into the camera anddissolved into tears once again.
The Grammy telecast was filled with eye-popping andeyebrow-raising performances, from Radiohead's collaboration with acollege marching band to a televised black-and-white throwbackperformance from Jay-Z, T.I., Lil Wayne, Kanye West and a (very)pregnant M.I.A. on "Swagga Like Us."
But not even these could patch up the gaping hole in thetelecast caused by the absences of Brown and Rihanna. She wassupposed to sing "Live Your Life/Disturbia" as the secondperformance of the night, he was later to sing "Forever."
Best Metal Performance - Metallica for 'My Apocalypse.'
Valerie Macon, AFP / Getty Images
Male Pop Vocal - John Mayer for 'Say.'
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Lifetime Achievement - Brenda Lee
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Lifetime Achievement - The Blind Boys of Alabama
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Best Rap Album - Lil Wayne for 'Tha Carter III.'
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Record of the Year and Album of the Year - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for 'Please Read the Letter.'
John Shearer, WireImage.com
Best R&B Album - Jennifer Hudson for 'Jennifer Hudson.'
Best Rock Album and Song of the Year - Coldplay for 'Viva la Vida.'
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group - Sugarland
Best New Artist - Adele
John Shearer, WireImage
And each was nominated in the pop collaboration with vocalscategory, Brown for "No Air" with "American Idol" championJordin Sparks; and Rihanna for "If I Never See Your Face Again"with Maroon 5. Brown was also nominated for male R&B vocalperformance for "Take You Down."
Neither won a Grammy on Sunday, and the Recording Academy foundable replacements for their performance slots in Justin Timberlake,Al Green, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban as they all sang Green'sclassic hit, "Let's Stay Together." No mention was made on thebroadcast about the switch.
At about 3:30 Pacific time, just as the crowd was filing intothe Staples Center, Los Angeles police released a report sayingBrown was under investigation for an incident the night before. Thereport said he and a woman were driving in the ritzy neighborhoodof Hancock Park when they began to argue around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.Brown stopped the car and both got out, whereupon the argumentescalated, the report said. The woman, who had visible injurieswhen police arrived, identified Brown as her attacker, but he hadleft the scene, the report said.
Police said Brown walked into a station around 7 p.m. and wasinterviewed by detectives, and was released after posting bailbefore 9 p.m. A black SUV was later seen leaving the jail facility,but it wasn't immediately clear whether Brown was inside.
Around the same time, Lil Wayne won the first Grammys of hiscareer for "Tha Carter III," which took the 26-year-old rapveteran to from rap to pop MVP. It wasn't entirely his fault fornot sweeping all eight of his nominations: he was competing againsthimself in two categories in which he won.
Besides rap album, he won best rap solo performance for "AMilli," rap song for "Lollipop" and rap/sung collaboration for"Swagga Like Us."
Coldplay won three, included song of the year for "Viva LaVida."
"We've never had so many Grammys in our life," said leadsinger Chris Martin, perhaps so excited he got confused (they hadalready won four over the years). "We feel so grateful to be here.I'm going to tear up."
British singer Adele was also teary, as she beat the JonasBrothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan and fellow Brit singerDuffy to nab best new artist. It was her second award of theevening.
"Thank you so much. I'm going to cry. I want to thank mymanager, my mom, she's in London. And Duffy I love you. I thinkyou're amazing. Jonas Brothers, I love you as well," she said,delivering that last bit with a devilish look, eliciting laughter.
It was Adele's second award; she earlier won for best female popvocal.
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