Ladies shine during Grammys
LOS ANGELES — It's been a year of "Fearless" and fairy tales for Taylor Swift.
The 20-year-old country cutie — who has been on a winning streak for months with her hit album, "Fearless" — won four Grammy Awards Sunday, including the night's top prize, album of the year.
"I did not see it coming tonight," she told reporters after the show. "This was a beautiful, beautiful surprise."
Earlier in the evening, Swift performed her song, "Today Was a Fairytale," which apparently became more and more true as the night went on. She also sang with one of her heroes, Stevie Nicks, on a mash-up that mixed Nicks' hit "Rhiannon" with Swift's award-winning "You Belong With Me."
Swift swiped the night's biggest prize, but Beyoncé was the biggest winner. The multihyphenate entertainer made Grammy history as she collected six awards, the most won by a female artist in one night.
The 28-year-old diva won song of the year for her anthem "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), a trophy she shared with three fellow writers. "Single Ladies" also won prizes for best female R&B vocal and best R&B song.Her song "At Last" was named best traditional R&B vocal performance and "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" won best R&B contemporary album."This has been such an amazing night for me and I'd love to thank the Grammys," Beyoncé said after winning best female pop vocal for "Halo." She also thanked her family and her husband, Jay-Z.Swift said she was excited to find a place for her four awards, which included best country song and best female country vocal for "White Horse" and best country album for "Fearless."Another country act to take a top award was the Zac Brown Band, which won best new artist.Nashville rockers Kings of Leon celebrated throughout the night as the family band snapped up three trophies, including record of the year."I'm not going to lie, we're all a little drunk," said lead singer Caleb Followill. "But we're happy drunks."
Lady Gaga won two Grammys during the pre-telecast ceremony but didn't get to strut her headline-making outfits on stage during the prime-time show. She still showed her musical prowess, opening the program with her Grammy-nominated hit "Poker Face" before joining Elton John on a duet that melded her song "Speechless" with his classic "Your Song" in a performance that featured dueling pianos and glitter-painted faces.Performances dominated the nearly three-and-a-half hour telecast. Usher, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood shared the stage during a tribute to Michael Jackson that also featured 3-D footage created for the comeback concerts Jackson was planning when he died.Jackson's young children, Prince and Paris, accepted a lifetime achievement award for their late father."Through all his songs his message was simple, love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world," Prince said.
Winners in selected major categories at Sunday's 52nd Annual Grammy Awards:• Record of the Year: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon• Album of the Year: "Fearless," Taylor Swift• Song of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it)," Beyonce Knowles• New Artist: Zac Brown Band• Pop Vocal Album: "The E.N.D.", The Black Eyed Peas• Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Halo," Beyonce Knowles• Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Make It Mine," Jason Mraz• Rock Album: "21st Century Breakdown," Green Day• Rock Song: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon• R&B Album: "BLACKsummers'night," Maxwell• R&B Song: "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Beyonce Knowles• Rap Album: "Relapse," Eminem• Rap Song: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West• Country Album: "Fearless," Taylor Swift• Female Country Vocal Performance: "White Horse," Taylor Swift• Male Country Vocal Performance: "Sweet Thing," Keith Urban,• Latin Pop Album: "Sin Frenos," La Quinta Estacion• Contemporary Jazz Album: "75," Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate• Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10"• Traditional Gospel Album: "Oh Happy Day," various artists• Dance Recording: "Poker Face," Lady Gaga• Electronic Dance Album: "The Fame," Lady Gaga• Alternative Music Album: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," Phoenix• Spoken Word Album: "Always Looking Up," Michael J. Fox• Comedy Album: "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" Stephen Colbert
