2009 Grammy Awards Shine Bright

With the ‘economic turndown,’ there are some spectacles that seem to be unfazed. Despite the obvious tough times for the music industry, the 51st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angles came through with flying colors; with star after star shining brightly amid a bevy of live acts and newcomers.

In his welcoming speech, Neil Portnow, the President of the Awarding Organization, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, suggested that all in attendance have a good time and implored new President Obama to create a new cabinet position for the Secretary of the Arts.

AP – Alison Krauss, left and Robert Plant accept the award for album of the year at the 51st Annual Grammy


An unlikely pairing for former Led Zeppelin rocker Robert Plant and Nashville bluegrass sweetheart Alison Krauss stole the show, winning five Grammy wards; including “Album of the Year” for “Raising Sand.”

When Krauss accepted the award with Plant, she reminded everyone that, although the rocker is 60, “there’s never a dull moment.” Plant stated, “I’m bewildered. In the old days we would have called this selling out, but I think it’s a good way to spend a Sunday.”

The live acts were an eclectic mix of musical genres, sure to appease all in attendance as well as the millions of starry-eyed television viewers. Some of the notable performances included:


The young pairing of Taylor Swift (19) and Miley Cyrus(16), who sang a duet of Swift’s song “Fifteen”

66 year-old Sir Paul McCartney belting out an old Beatle classic with 40 year-old drummer Dave Grohl on the drums

Soul legend Stevie Wonder teaming up with the Jonas Brothers

A ‘rap pack’ teaming of Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Kayne West, T.I. and a very pregnant M.I.A. in a performance of T.I’s “Swagger Like Us”

Guitar geeks John Mayer and Keith Urban sitting in with Blues legend B.B. King

U2 kicking the event off with their new single “Get On Your Boots”

Rock legend Neil Diamond serenading the crowd with his classic song “Sweet Caroline”

Radiohead performing with the USC marching band

Jay-Z teaming up with Coldplay

A Four Tops tribute

Lil Wayne and Allen Toussaint paying tribute to New Orleans

A teary-eyed performance from Jennifer Hudson of “You Pulled Me Through”


The Grammy Awards tapped into the Internet with official updates on both Twitter and Facebook. There was also an improvisational collaboration to fill in for Rihanna and Chris Brown who were both nominated and scheduled to perform, but were absent after LA Police confirmed that Brown (who is dating Rihanna) is the subject of an investigation into felony domestic violence battery from the night before. So Al Green teamed up with Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men and Keith urban to perform Green’s iconic soul number “Let’s Stay Together.”

Instead of focusing on the negative, the Recording Academy focused on what the night is all about, the music, the musicians, recording artists and producers and the immeasurable passion that is put forth by all.

Here is a condensed list of the winners:

Album of the Year – “Raising Sand” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - T Bone Burnett, producer, Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer, Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer

Record of the Year – “Please Read The Letter” - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Song of the Year – “Viva La Vida” - Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters

Best New Artist - Adele

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals – “Rich Woman” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical - Rick Rubin (Death Magnetic, Home Before Dark, Mercy, Seeing Things, Weezer)

Best Rock Song – “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” - Bruce Springsteen, songwriter

Best Rock Instrumental Performance – “Peaches En Regalia” - Zappa Plays Zappa Featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock

Best Metal Performance – “My Apocalypse” - Metallica

Best Pop Instrumental Album – “Jingle All The Way” - Béla Fleck & The Flecktones

Best Pop Instrumental Performance – “I Dreamed There Was No War” - Eagles

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance – “You've Got The Love I Need” - Al Green Featuring Anthony Hamilton

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – “Stay With Me (By The Sea)” - Al Green Featuring John Legend

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – “Still Unforgettable” - Natalie Cole

Best Country Album – “Troubadour” - George Strait

Best Bluegrass Album – “Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 and 1947” - Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Best Country Instrumental Performance – “Cluster Pluck” - Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals – “Killing The Blues” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Reggae Album – “Jah Is Real” - Burning Spear

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album – “Raising Sand” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Traditional Folk Album – “At 89” - Pete Seeger

Best Traditional Blues Album –“One Kind Favor” - B.B. King

Best Contemporary Blues Album – “City That Care Forgot” - Dr. John And The Lower 911

Best Long Form Music Video – “Runnin' Down A Dream” - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright video producer

Best Traditional Gospel Album – “Down In New Orleans” - Blind Boys Of Alabama

Best comedy Album – “It's Bad For Ya” - George Carlin

Best Polka Album – “Let The Whole World Sing” - Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra

Best Recording Package – “Death Magnetic “(Metallica) - Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat & David Turner, art directors

For a complete list of winners visit: www.grammy.com.