The 54th Annual Grammy Awards have wrapped. In addition to it being a historic night, following the tragic death of Whitney Houston, the Grammys turned out to be a big night for Hip Hop and R&B — this despite the controversial elimination of categories like Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Leading the final list of winners, “21” singer Adele won a total of five awards, including Album, Record and Song of the Year. Accepting the awards, Adele was utterly humble following a huge year on the charts and a serious throat condition that had many fans worried. Taking the stage to give her first performance in months, Adele proved she is well and back better than ever.
Hip Hop veterans McLyte and LL Cool J hosted the pre-telecast and telecast presentations of the Grammy Awards respectively, LL Cool J being the first individual to host the Grammys in seven years. Opening music’s biggest night with a prayer in honor of the late Whitney Houston, the award-winning rapper and actor did quite well as a host.
Kanye West swept the entire Rap category at this year’s Grammys, winning a total of four awards, including Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song. He shares his winnings with Jay Z, Rihanna, Fergie and Kid Cudi who contributed to award winning songs “Otis” and “All of the Lights”.
Chris Brown also had a big night Sunday, winning his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona did however dominate the R&B categories with wins for their collaboration “Fool For You”. That song earned them both Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Corinne Bailey Rae rounds out the list of R&B winners with an award for Best R&B Performance (“Is This Love”).
While many a musician paid tribute Whitney Houston Grammy night, Jennifer Hudson was the singular voice chosen to pay tribute in song. Performing “I Will Always Love You,” Hudson paid tribute to the very voice that presented her with Best R&B Album, her first Grammy win, in 2009.
Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Bruno Mars also gave standout performances Sunday night.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards aired Sunday, February 12 on CBS.
Winners List:
R&B Album: F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
Rock Performance: “Walk,” Foo Fighters
Rap Performance: “Otis,” Jay-Z and Kanye West
Pop Solo Performance: “Someone Like You,” Adele
Pop Vocal Album: 21, Adele
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Duets Ii, Tony Bennett and Various Artists
Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Body and Soul,” Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
Short Form Music Video: “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
Long Form Music Video: “Foo Fighters: Back and Forth,” Foo Fighters
Rap/Sung Collaboration: “All of the Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie
Rap Song: “All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West
Rap Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
R&B Performance: “Is This Love,” Corinne Bailey Rae
Traditional R&B Performance: “Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona
R&B Song: “Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green and Jack Splash
Pop Instrumental Album: The Road From Memphis, Booker T. Jones
Country Solo Performance: “Mean,” Taylor Swift
Country Duo/Group Performance: “Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars
Country Song: “Mean,” Taylor Swift
Folk Album: Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars
Hard Rock/Metal Performance: “White Limo,” Foo Fighters
Rock Song: “Walk,” Foo Fighters, Songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Rock Album: Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Alternative Music Album: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Paul Epworth
