"Dani California" earned them best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal and best rock song, while 'Stadium Arcadium' won two awards.
"Ladies and gentleman, we are the Police and weÂ’re back!" said Sting shortly before singing "Roxanne" to kick off the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. It was the threesomeÂ’s first public performance since their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nearly four years ago.
The Dixie Chicks remarkably bounced back from political scandal, winning all five of the categories they were nominated for, after some fan backlash resulting from some harsh comments made about President Bush by lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003. "Not Ready to Make Nice" won best country performance by a duo or group with vocal, record of the year and song of the year, while 'Taking the Long Way' earned them album of year and best country album.
Another big winner in country was American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, who scored best new artist and best female country performance. Underwood joined Rascal Flatts in paying tribute to the Eagles with "Hotel California," "Desperado" and "Life in the Fast Lane."
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who were nominated six times, won four awards. "Dani California" earned them best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal and best rock song, while 'Stadium Arcadium' won best rock album and boxed or special limited edition package.
Dubbed by "Crash" star Terrence Howard as a "down to earth diva," Mary J. Blige won best R&B performance and R&B song for "Be Without You." Her best-selling LP, 'The Breakthrough,' won best R&B album. She had eight nominations - more than anyone else this year.
For the first time in the history of the show, online voters picked an unknown singer to join Justin Timberlake for a duet onstage in the "My Grammy Moment" competition. American Idol alum and Oscar nominee Jennifer Hudson announced Houston native Robyn Troup as the winner, who excitedly took to the stage to sing "Ain't No Sunshine When SheÂ’s Gone" and "My Love" with Timberlake.
Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, James Blunt, Beyonce, Shakira, Lionel Richie, Chris Brown, Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera, Ludacris, Justin Timberlake, the Dixie Chicks, Beyonce, Gnarls Barkley and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among some of the other memorable performers during the telecast.
Multi-Grammy winners Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole and Reba McEntire, rapper/actor Common as well as actors Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), actress/singer Mandy Moore, Academy Award winner Quentin Tarantino, actor Luke Wilson, Natasha Bedingfield, 12-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett, comedian Lewis Black, Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage, current Ornette Coleman, LeAnn Rimes, Nicole Scherzinger (of the Pussycat Dolls), Seal, actor David Spade, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Joan Baez, two-time Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Jennifer Hudson, Grammy winner Queen Latifah, three-time Grammy winner Chris Rock 24-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder, the Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Nelly Furtado, actor Terrence Howard, Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson, two-time Grammy winner P!nk, and R&B sensation Rihanna all appeared as presenters.
