(...Story Continued from Previous Page) The single
was released in time for Grammy contention that year, although the CD was
not.
Jennifer Hudson provided the night's
most emotional moments onstage. The Oscar winner took her first Grammy
award -- for Best R&B Album -- for her self-titled debut.
Hudson, 27, made no direct reference to the October killings of her mother,
brother and nephew that kept her in seclusion until just this month. But while
fighting back tears, she made it clear that her family was foremost on her
mind.
"I first would like to thank God who has brought me through. I would like to
thank my family in heaven and those who are with me today."
Hudson later performed "You Pulled Me Through," a dramatic song about
overcoming deep despair, with the lyrics: "When I was drowning, when I was so
confused, you, you pulled me through." As she sang the last note, she looked
directly into the camera and dissolved into tears once again.
The Grammy telecast was filled with eye-popping and eyebrow-raising
performances, from Radiohead's collaboration with a
college marching band to a televised black-and-white throwback performance 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 the telecast caused by
the absences of Brown and Rihanna. She was supposed to sing "Live Your
Life/Disturbia" as the second performance of the night; he was later to sing
"Forever."
And each was nominated in the Pop Collaboration With Vocals category: Brown
for "No Air" with "American Idol" champion Jordin Sparks; and Rihanna for "If I
Never See Your Face Again" with Maroon 5. Brown was also nominated for Male
R&B Vocal Performance for "Take You Down."
Neither won a Grammy on Sunday, and the Recording Academy found able
replacements for their performance slots in Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban
as they all sang Green's classic hit, "Let's Stay Together." No mention was made
on the broadcast about the switch.
At about 3:30 p.m. PT, just as the crowd was filing into the Staples Center,
Los Angeles police released a report saying Brown was under investigation for an
incident the night before. The report said he and a woman were driving in the
ritzy neighborhood of Hancock Park when they began to argue around 12:30 a.m.
Sunday. Brown stopped the car and both got out, whereupon the argument
escalated, the report said. The woman, who had visible injuries when police
arrived, identified Brown as her attacker, but he had left the scene, the report
said.
Police said Brown walked into a station around 7 p.m., was interviewed by
detectives and was released after posting bail before 9 p.m. A black SUV was
later seen leaving the jail facility, but it wasn't immediately clear whether
Brown was inside.
Back at the Staples Center, Lil Wayne won the first Grammys of his
career for "Tha Carter III," which took the 26-year-old rap veteran from rap to
pop MVP. It wasn't entirely his fault for not sweeping all eight of his
nominations: He was competing against himself in two categories in which he
won.
Besides Best Rap Album, he won Best Rap Solo Performance for "A Milli," Rap
Song for "Lollipop" and Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Swagga Like Us."
Coldplay won three, including Song of
the Year for "Viva La Vida."
"We've never had so many Grammys in our life," said lead singer Chris Martin,
perhaps so excited that he got confused (they had already won five 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
Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan and fellow Brit
singer Duffy to nab Best New Artist. It was
her second award of the evening.
"Thank you so much. I'm going to cry. I want to thank my manager, my mom,
she's in London. And, Duffy, I love you. I think you'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 Pop Vocal.
More Grammy coverage: Photos | Video | More
AP reporters Jacob Adelman, Beth Harris, Derrik J. Lang, Anthony McCartney and Natalie Rotman
contributed to this story.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. |
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