Adoration for Adele: 6 Grammys
11:30: And we're done. What did you guys think of LL Cool J's hosting skills? Were you satisfied with the Whitney Houston tribute? Sound off in the comment section.
11:23:Paul McCartney returns to sing us out with Golden Slumbers and Carry that Weight, followed by a jam session that includes Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Joe Walsh. McCartney closes out the show with The End.
11:17: AWARD: Make that six. Adele wins album of the year for 21.Clean sweep! "I just wanna say, Mum, your girl did good!" she exclaims to her mother, who couldn't attend. She says that 21 is relatable because it's about something everyone's gone through: "a rubbish relationship." Then the tearful singer laughs that's she's got snot coming out of her nose. That makes you relatable too, Adele.
11:10: AWARD: Add record of the year to Adele's win column. She thanks radio programmers this time.
11:05: Here's another performance you'll have to explain — why the scary rapper girl was torturing I Feel Pretty.Nicki Minaj gets the avant garde slot this year and man, does she bring the weird with Roman's Revenge and Roman Holiday. Expect complaints from religious groups first thing in the morning.
10:51: After wishing the late Don Cornelius "peace, love and soul," LL sends us to the outdoors dance party featuring Chris Brown, David Guetta, Lil' Wayne, Foo Fighters and Deadmau5. Hey kids, have fun tomorrow explaining to your parents and over-50 co-workers what was up with the Mickey Mouse head spinning records.
10:44: This is arguably the performance everyone's been waiting for — and it's barely been on the schedule for 24 hours: a tearful Jennifer Hudson reprises Whitney Houston's version of I Will Always Love You.
10:33: AWARD: Bon Iver wins best new artist. Hipsters everywhere scoff that they are not new.
"I'd like to thank all the nominees and the non-nominees that will never be up here," says singer Justin Vernon. "I'd like to thank all the voters — sweet hookup!" He also gives a holler to the band's hometown, Eau Claire, Wis.
10:31: Before the best new artist trophy is given out, Tony Bennett and Carrie Underwood show the kids how it's done with It Had to Be You.
10:16:Taylor Swift introduces the Glen Campbell farewell segment. First up: The Band Perry doing Gentle on My Mind, followed by Blake Shelton with Southern Nights. Then the Rhinestone Cowboy himself takes to the stage, giving this viewer flashbacks to 1970s family ski trips.
10:12: The Target commercial for Adele's album runs again. If only the people on mass transit who feel compelled to sing out loud actually sounded like the girl on that bus.
10:05:Gwyneth Paltrow introduces Adele: "We are so glad that singular voice is back." And it's worth noting (and even applauding) that Adele didn't feel the need to change into another outfit to perform. That's rare at awards shows anymore. When she finishes, the entire house is on its feet and she looks happy to be back on stage.
10:03: Good news: One hour left to go (assuming the show's running on time). Better news: Adele performs next.
9:57: AWARD: And the best country album goes to … someone other than Taylor Swift. Lady Antebellum wins for Own the Night.
9:54:Katy Perry performs ET and Part of Me.
9:51: AWARD: Adele picks up song of the year (which goes to the writers) forRolling in the Deep. That's her fourth of the night.
9:39: Folk duo Civil Wars give Grammy viewers a taste of what they're all about before handing off to Taylor Swift, who's already won two awards tonight. She performs Mean. And in case you're wondering who ticked her off this time, the song is directed toward the press, who ripped on her for last year's duet with Stevie Nicks. It would seem that the experience made her a better songwriter and live performer.
9:36: AWARD: Chris Brown is really back. He wins R&B album of the year for F.A.M.E. "I thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing," he says.
9:31:Stevie Wonder sends some love to Whitney Houston and whips out his harmonica for the opening to Love Me Do before handing off to Paul McCartney. He recruits Diana Krall and The Eagles' Joe Walsh for his new song, My Valentine, coming soon to an elevator near you.
9:21: "Here's something you don't see every day — or every decade," says Ryan Seacrest, introducing the Beach Boys, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. They are all back together for Good Vibrations, and the younger acts join in toward the end.
9:18: Maroon Five kicks off the Beach Boys tribute with Surfer Girl, a nice match for Adam Levine's higher register. Foster the People is next up with Wouldn't It Be Nice, and we are pleasantly surprised when Mark Foster doesn't mumble all the verses.
9:12: AWARD: Foo Fighters go five for five when they collect the best rock performance Grammy. "This was a special record for our band," singer Dave Grohl explains. "Rather than go to the best studio in L.A., we made this record in my garage with some microphones and a tape player. The human element is the most important part — singing into a microphone, learning to play an instrument, learning your craft, that's what's important."
9:10:New York Giants player Victor Cruz saves a truly awkward presentation by re-enacting his touchdown salsa dance. Then he, teammate Mario Manningham and NCIS star Pauley Perrette lose momentum again when they take forever reading the winner's name.
9:09: Best commercial: Willie Nelson covering Coldplay's The Scientist in an animated spot for Chipotle. And if you liked his cover, you can download it on iTunes. (Wonder how that commercial would have fared in Ad Meter if they'd run it during the Super Bowl …)
8:56: Rihanna takes to the stage for We Found Love (a song that now conjures up visuals of the Glee cast and Esther Williams) before joining Coldplay for Princess of China. Then Chris Martin takes over for Paradise.
8:47:Jack Black has gone outside the Staples Center so he can keep his street cred intact while introducing the Foo Fighters, who perform Walk under a tent on the plaza.
The Foos have four trophies so far and are up for two more during the telecast. Unfortunately, one of those is album of the year, where they're up against Adele. Grohl was circumspect about that on the red carpet: "I don't think we're going home with that one."
8:38:Kelly Clarkson and country star Jason Aldean team up for Don't You Wanna Stay.
8:35: AWARD: Jay-Z and Kanye West win best rap performance for Otis. Neither is at the show. Jay-Z has a good excuse for skipping. We're not sure what kept Kanye away, but maybe he should continue sitting out awards shows for a bit.
8:27: Chris Brown's time in the penalty box is officially over; he's back on the stage to perform a medley of Turn Up the Music and Beautiful People.
8:23:AWARD:Adele wins the pop solo performance category for Someone Like You. "My life changed when I wrote this song — before anyone heard it, I felt it," she tells the crowd. She makes a point of thanking her doctors. Shout out to all the otolaryngologists!
8:21:Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys remember another R&B star lost this year: Etta James. They perform her song A Sunday Kind of Love.
8:11: Well lookee here: Bruno Mars performs Runaway Baby.
8:07: LL Cool J introduces the night's first Grammy memory: a clip of Houston singing I Will Always Love You at the 1994 Grammys. The house gets on its feet. "Whitney, we will honor you the best way we know how -- with song," LL says.
8:05: Host LL Cool J begins: "How do we speak to this time, to this day? There is no way around this. We've had a death in the family. So the only thing that feels right is a prayer -- for a woman we loved, our sister, Whitney Houston."
8:01: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band open the show with We Take Care of Our Own, from the upcoming Wrecking Ball, due March 6.
7:42: Rihanna's black, cut-down-to-there, open-backed Armani dress looks like it was designed to make the press forget to ask her how she feels about being back at the Grammys with Chris Brown for the first time since their altercation on the eve of the 2009 show. And it seems to be working; Ryan Seacrest doesn't even bring up the subject with her.
7:40: Nicki Minaj is in a red Versace Red Riding Hood get-up. Looks like someone is vying to be this year's Lady Gaga. She is getting some mild competition from Katy Perry, who's decked out in blue — all the way to her roots. But from here, it looks less edgy and more Queen Elizabeth II.
7:13: E! is reporting that Whitney Houston's autopsy has been completed, but the results are not being released yet due to security concerns. Earlier today, Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was released from a Los Angeles hospital. Meanwhile, her father, Bobby Brown, is leaving the New Edition reunion tour and is heading back to Los Angeles to be with her.
7:04: Good evening, and welcome to USA TODAY's Grammy night coverage. While the TV commentators and stars have been reminiscing about Whitney Houston, the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences has been handing out trophies.
Because much of the show's three hours are devoted to performances, that only leaves room for about a dozen awards during the telecast. So most of the show's awards are announced in the hours leading up to the red carpet.
Here's the score so far:
•Adele has won two and could still win record, song, album and pop solo, all being handed out on the show.
•The Foo Fighters have won four and could win a fifth, rock performance.
•Skrillex has won three and could still win new artist.
•Kanye West has won three and could still win rap performance.
•Tony Bennett won both of the Grammy categories in which he was nominated.
•Cee Lo Green won two.
•Taylor Swift won two.
