The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on February 8, 2009, honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008. Neil Diamond was honored as the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year on February 6, two days prior to the Grammy telecast.
Lil Wayne received the most nominations, with eight. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, winning five awards, including Album of the Year for their critically acclaimed album Raising Sand. Krauss became the sixth female solo artist to have won 5 awards in one night, joining Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Beyoncé and Amy Winehouse.
The awards broadcast won an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special.
Performances
The following performed: Performer(s)Song(s) PerformedU2"Get on Your Boots"Al GreenJustin TimberlakeKeith UrbanBoyz II Men"Let's Stay Together"ColdplayJay-Z"Lost!" "Viva La Vida"Carrie Underwood"Last Name"Kid Rock"Amen""All Summer Long""Rock 'n' Roll Jesus"Taylor SwiftMiley Cyrus"Fifteen"Jennifer Hudson"You Pulled Me Through"Jonas BrothersStevie Wonder"Burnin' Up""Superstition"Katy Perry"I Kissed a Girl"EstelleKanye West"American Boy"Kenny Chesney"Better as a Memory"T.I.Jay-ZLil WayneKanye WestM.I.A."Swagga Like Us""Paper Planes"Paul McCartneyDave Grohl"I Saw Her Standing There"Sugarland"Stay"AdeleJennifer Nettles"Chasing Pavements"RadioheadSpirit of Troy"15 Step"T.I.Justin Timberlake"Dead and Gone"Duke FairJamie FoxxNe-YoSmokey RobinsonTribute to Four Tops"Reach Out I'll Be There""Standing In the Shadows of Love""I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"Neil Diamond"Sweet Caroline"John MayerB.B. KingBuddy GuyKeith UrbanTribute to Bo Diddley"Bo Diddley"Lil WayneRobin ThickeTerence BlanchardAllen ToussaintTribute to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina"Tie My Hands"Robert PlantAlison Krauss"Rich Woman""Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)"Stevie Wonder"All About the Love Again" Notes Both Rihanna and Chris Brown were scheduled to perform, but their performances were canceled after Brown was arrested after their fight.
Presenters The following presented: Whitney Houston – presented Best R&B Album. Dwayne Johnson – introduced Justin Timberlake. Simon Baker – introduced Coldplay. Keith Urban – paid tribute to Gene Autry as a Lifetime Achievement recipient and introduced Carrie Underwood. Leann Rimes and Sheryl Crow – paid tribute to Brenda Lee as a Lifetime Achievement recipient and presented Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Duffy and Al Green – presented Song of the Year. Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift – presented Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Emily Proctor and Jason Mraz – introduced The Jonas Brothers. Blink 182 – presented Best Rock Album. Craig Ferguson – introduced Katy Perry. Kanye West and Estelle – presented Best New Artist. Morgan Freeman – introduced Kenny Chesney. Sean Combs, Herbie Hancock, and Natalie Cole – presented Record of the Year. Queen Latifah – paid tribute to Dean Martin as a Lifetime Achievement recipient and introduced Kanye West, M.I.A., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and T.I. Kate Beckinsale – introduced Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl. Jack Black and Charlie Haden – paid tribute to Hank Jones a Lifetime Achievement recipient and presented Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Jay Mohr and LL Cool J – introduced Sugarland and Adele. Gwyneth Paltrow – introduced Radiohead. Samuel L. Jackson – introduced T.I. and Justin Timberlake. Neil Portnow – introduced Smokey Robinson. Gary Sinise – introduced Lil Wayne, Robin Thicke, and Allen Toussaint. Will.i.am and T-Pain – presented Best Rap Album. Zooey Deschanel – introduced Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Green Day – presented Album of the Year.
Awards Special merit awards MusiCares Person of the Year Neil Diamond
Lifetime Achievement Award winners Gene Autry The Blind Boys of Alabama The Four Tops Hank Jones Brenda Lee Dean Martin Tom Paxton
Trustees Award winners George Avakian Elliott Carter Allen Toussaint
Technical Grammy Award winners Clarence "Leo" Fender Universal Audio
President's Merit Award Clive Davis
General For all of these there are both nominees and winners, the winners are in bold.
Record of the Year "Please Read the Letter" – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer "Chasing Pavements" – Adele Eg White, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Steve Price, engineer/mixers "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael Brauer & Rik Simpson, engineers/mixers "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis Simon Cowell, Clive Davis & Ryan "Alias" Tedder, producers; Craig Durrance, Phil Tan & Ryan "Alias" Tedder, engineers/mixers "Paper Planes" – M.I.A. Diplo, producer; Switch, engineer/mixer
Album of the Year Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael H. Brauer, Markus Dravs, John O'Mahoney, Rik Simpson & Andy Wallace, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne Babyface, Brisco, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Kidd Kidd, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, D. Smith, Static Major, T-Pain & Bobby Valentino, featured artists; Alchemist, David Banner, Vaushaun "Maestro" Brooks, Cool & Dre, Andrews "Drew" Correa, Shondrae "Mr. Bangladesh" Crawford, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Jim Jonsin, Mousa, Pro Jay, Rodnae, Skillz & Play, D. Smith, Swizz Beatz, Robin Thicke, T-Pain & Kanye West, producers; Angel Aponte, Joshua Berkman, Andrew Dawson, Joe G, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Fabian Marasciullo, Miguel Scott, Robin Thicke, Julian Vasquez & Gina Victoria, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer Year of the Gentleman – Ne-Yo Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Polow Da Don, StarGate, Stereotypes, Syience, Shea Taylor & Shomari "Sho" Wilson, producers; Kirven Arrington, Jeff Chestek, Kevin "KD" Davis, Mikkel Eriksen, Jaymz Hardy Martin, III, Geno Regist, Phil Tan & Tony Terrebonne, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers, Jr., mastering engineer In Rainbows – Radiohead Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
Song of the Year "Viva la Vida" Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay) "American Boy" William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle featuring Kanye West) "Chasing Pavements" Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Adele) "I'm Yours" Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz) "Love Song" Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles)
Best New Artist Adele Duffy Jonas Brothers Lady Antebellum Jazmine Sullivan
Pop Best Female Pop Vocal Performance "Chasing Pavements" – Adele "Love Song" – Sara Bareilles "Mercy" – Duffy "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry "So What" – P!nk
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance "Say" – John Mayer "All Summer Long" – Kid Rock "That Was Me" – Paul McCartney "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz "Closer" – Ne-Yo "Wichita Lineman" – James Taylor
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay "Waiting in the Weeds" – Eagles "Going On" – Gnarls Barkley "Won't Go Home Without You" – Maroon 5 "Apologize" – OneRepublic
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "Rich Woman" – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss "Lesson Learned" – Alicia Keys & John Mayer "4 Minutes" – Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland "If I Never See Your Face Again" – Maroon 5 & Rihanna "No Air" – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
Best Pop Instrumental Performance "I Dreamed There Was No War" – Eagles "Love Appetite" – Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere "Fortune Teller"– Fourplay "Steppin' Out" – Stanley Jordan "Blast!" – Marcus Miller
Best Pop Instrumental Album Jingle All the Way – Béla Fleck and the Flecktones Sax for Stax – Gerald Albright Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One – Larry Carlton The Spice of Life – Earl Klugh A Night Before Christmas – Spyro Gyra
Best Pop Vocal Album Rockferry – Duffy Detours – Sheryl Crow Long Road Out of Eden – Eagles Spirit – Leona Lewis Covers – James Taylor
Dance Best Dance Recording "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Alive 2007)" – Daft Punk "Ready for the Floor" – Hot Chip "Just Dance" – Lady Gaga & Colby O' Donis "Give It 2 Me" – Madonna "Disturbia" – Rihanna "Black & Gold" – Sam Sparro
Best Electronic/Dance Album Alive 2007 – Daft Punk New York City – Brazilian Girls Bring Ya to the Brink – Cyndi Lauper X – Kylie Minogue Last Night – Moby Robyn – Robyn
Traditional Pop Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Still Unforgettable – Natalie Cole The Sinatra Project – Michael Feinstein Noël – Josh Groban In the Swing of Christmas – Barry Manilow Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall – Rufus Wainwright
Rock Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance "Gravity" – John Mayer "I Saw Her Standing There" – Paul McCartney "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" Bruce Springsteen "Rise" – Eddie Vedder "No Hidden Path" – Neil Young
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon "Rock N' Roll Train" – AC/DC "Violet Hill" – Coldplay "Long Road Out of Eden" – Eagles "House of Cards" – Radiohead
Best Hard Rock Performance "Wax Simulacra" – The Mars Volta "Inside the Fire" – Disturbed "Visions" – Judas Priest "Saints of Los Angeles" – Mötley Crüe "Lords of Salem" – Rob Zombie
Best Metal Performance "My Apocalypse" – Metallica "Heroes of Our Time" – DragonForce "Nostradamus" – Judas Priest "Under My Thumb" – Ministry "Psychosocial" – Slipknot
Best Rock Instrumental Performance "Peaches En Regalia" – Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock "Castellorizon" – David Gilmour "Suicide & Redemption" – Metallica "34 Ghosts IV" – Nine Inch Nails "Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace)" – Rush
Best Rock Song "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen "House of Cards" – Radiohead "I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
Best Rock Album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay Rock N Roll Jesus – Kid Rock Only By The Night – Kings of Leon Death Magnetic – Metallica Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
Alternative Best Alternative Music Album In Rainbows – Radiohead Modern Guilt – Beck Narrow Stairs – Death Cab for Cutie The Odd Couple – Gnarls Barkley Evil Urges – My Morning Jacket
R&B Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Superwoman" – Alicia Keys "Me, Myself and I" (Live) – Beyoncé "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson "Need U Bad" – Jazmine Sullivan
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo "You're the Only One" – Eric Benét "Take You Down" – Chris Brown "Can't Help But Wait" – Trey Songz "Here I Stand" – Usher
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal "Stay with Me (By the Sea)" – Al Green & John Legend "Ribbon in the Sky" – Boyz II Men "Words" – Anthony David & India.Arie "I'm His Only Woman" – Jennifer Hudson & Fantasia "Never Give You Up" – Raphael Saadiq feat. Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance "You've Got the Love I Need" – Al Green & Anthony Hamilton "A Change is Gonna Come" – Wayne Brady "Baby I Know" – Linda Jones with Helen Bruner & Terry Jones "Love That Girl" – Raphael Saadiq "In Love With Another Man" – Jazmine Sullivan
Best Urban/Alternative Performance "Be OK" – Chrisette Michele & will.i.am "Say Goodbye to Love" – Kenna "Wanna Be" – Maiysha "Many Moons" – Janelle Monáe "Lovin You (Music)" – Wayna & Kokayi
Best R&B Song "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo "Bust Your Windows" – Jazmine Sullivan "Customer" – Raheem DeVaughn "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole