GRAMMY SPREADS IT AROUND
Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Kings of Leon and Zac Brown Split the Biggies; Phoenix, Levon Helm and Maxwell Among the Feel-Good Winners, While Gaga and Peas Get Short Shrift
Early leader Beyonce didn’t get the ultimate Grammy for Album of the Year. Neither did the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga or the Dave Matthews Band. Yup, it turned out to be Taylor Swift’s night, once again. As Paul Grein predicted, the Kings of Leon completed their journey from way outside to the mainstream, getting Record of the Year for the powerful and durable anthem, “Use Somebody.” And not even Kanye would take issue with that. Here’s a selected rundown of the victors:
Performance of the night went to P!nk, whose segment came off like a woman-against-the-elements reality-show bit.
Album of the Year
Fearless Taylor Swift
Record Of The Year:
"Use Somebody" Kings Of Leon
Best New Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Song Of The Year
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
“Make It Mine” Jason Mraz
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"I Gotta Feeling" The Black Eyed Peas
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
"Lucky" Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
Best Pop Vocal Album
The E.N.D. The Black Eyed Peas
Best Dance Recording
"Poker Face" Lady Gaga
Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Fame Lady Gaga
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
"Working On A Dream" Bruce Springsteen
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“Use Somebody” Kings of Leon
Best Rock Song
"Use Somebody" Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
Best Rock Album:
21st Century Breakdown Green Day
Best Hard Rock Performance
“War Machine” AC/DC
Best Metal Performance
“Dissident Aggressor” Judas Priest
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“A Day In The Life” Jeff Beck
Best Alternative Music Album
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Phoenix
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” Beyoncé
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
“Pretty Wings” Maxwell
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"Blame It" Jamie Foxx & T-Pain
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
“At Last” Beyoncé
Best R&B Song
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Best R&B Album
Blacksummers' Night Maxwell
Best Contemporary R&B Album
I Am... Sasha Fierce Beyoncé
Best Rap Solo Performance
“D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)” Jay-Z
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
“Crack A Bottle” Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Run This Town" Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
Best Rap Song
"Run This Town" Shawn Carter, R. Fenty, M. Riddick, Kanye West & E. Wilson, songwriters (Athanasios Alatas, songwriter) (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)
Best Rap Album
Relapse Eminem
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“White Horse” Taylor Swift
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
“Sweet Thing” Keith Urban
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"I Run To You" Lady Antebellum
Best Country Song
"White Horse" Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Best Country Album:
Fearless Taylor Swift
Best Americana Album
Electric Dirt Levon Helm
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Townes Steve Earle
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Brendan O'Brien