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Los Angeles
09 February 2009
Former rocker Robert Plant and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss dominated the music industry's Grammy Awards Sunday, winning five Grammys for their collaborative album Raising Sand.
Plant, former lead singer with the rock group Led Zeppelin, and bluegrass musician Alison Krauss also earned Grammys for record of the year for the track "Please Read The Letter."
The pair also won Grammys for country collaboration, pop collaboration and contemporary folk/Americana album.
For veteran rocker Plant, the haunting album was a new musical venture.
"Wow, 40 years after landing in this town, it's all different. It's fantastic," Plant said.
Rapper Lil Wayne won four Grammys, including one for best album for the best-selling Tha Carter III and another for best solo rap performance.
The singer Duffy, who earned a Grammy for best pop vocal album for Rockferry, announced winners of the songwriter's award.
"And the Grammy for song of the year goes to Coldplay for "Viva La Vida," Duffy said.
That was one of three Grammys for Coldplay. The others were for best rock album and best pop performance by a duo or group.
British pop singer Adele was named best new artist.
Jennifer Hudson took home her first Grammy for her self-titled rhythm and blues album Jennifer Hudson. There were poignant moments as she accepted the award and performed the song "You Pulled Me Through." Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed in October, and she has been in seclusion until this month.
Like Hudson, country singer Carrie Underwood first found stardom on the U.S. talent show American Idol. A multiple Grammy winner, Underwood took home another award Sunday for country vocal performance for the song "Last Name." Backstage, she said she is always on edge in competitions.
"There's not single award show that when they're announcing the nominees, I don't get nervous," Underwood said. "I hope that stays around too, because when you're nervous, it means you care."
Rhythm and blues artist Chris Brown was scheduled to perform at the Grammys, but pulled out of the broadcast as police announced that he was being investigated for allegedly assaulting an unidentified woman. The two were said to be arguing in a parked car early Sunday. Brown was held briefly in police custody and released on bail.
Shortly before airtime, Grammy officials also announced that Brown's girlfriend, the pop singer Rihanna, had canceled her performance, forcing last-minute changes to the program.
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