LOS ANGELES - Lady Antebellum was the big winner at the Grammys on Sunday with five awards, including record and song of the year for the band's yearning ballad "Need You Now," but rockers Arcade Fire won the biggest prize, album of the year, for their highly acclaimed "The Suburbs."
Arcade Fire's Win Butler was visibly stunned as the group accepted its trophy and then quickly performed the night's last song.
Eminem perhaps had reason to be stunned as well. Though nominated for a leading 10 awards, including record, song, and album of the year, he took home just two - both in the rap categories, for best album and solo performance.
The night's true upset, however, came as Esperanza Spalding - a jazz bassist and singer who sold a fraction of Justin Bieber's music and is perhaps best identified by her voluminous Afro - beat the perfectly coifed 16-year-old pop phenomenon, and also Florence & the Machine, Mumford & Sons and Drake for best new artist. She is the first jazz artist to win the category.
People are also reading…
Terrence Wilson, the New York City pianist who was the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's guest soloist this weekend, won his first Grammy. Wilson won for Best Orchestral Performance for a recording he made with the Nashville Symphony. Wilson did not attend the ceremonies because he was performing his final Tucson concert Sunday.
On StarNet: View photos from the red carpet and of all the big winners at azstarnet.com/gallery
Winners in selected major categories at Sunday's 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
• Album of the Year: "The Suburbs," Arcade Fire
• Record of the Year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Song of the Year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• New Artist: Esperanza Spalding
• Pop Vocal Album: "The Fame Monster," Lady Gaga
• Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Hey Soul Sister," Train
• Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga
• Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Just The Way You Are," Bruno Mars
• Rock Song: "Angry World," Neil Young
• Rock Album: "The Resistance," Muse
• R&B Song: "Shine," John Legend & The Roots
• R&B Album: "Wake up!" John Legend & The Roots
• Rap Solo Performance: "Not Afraid," Eminem
• Rap Song: "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
• Rap Album: "Recovery," Eminem
• Female Country Vocal Performance: "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
• Male Country Vocal Performance: "'Til Summer Comes Around," Keith Urban
• Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Country Album: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Latin Pop Album: "Paraiso Express," Alejandro Sanz
• Contemporary Jazz Album: "The Stanley Clarke Band," The Stanley Clarke Band
• Classical Album: "Verdi: Requiem," Riccardo Muti, conductor
• Traditional Gospel Album: "Downtown Church," Patty Griffin
• Dance Recording: "Only Girl (In The World)," Rihanna
• Electronic Dance Album: "La Roux," La Roux
• Alternative Music Album: "Brothers," The Black Keys
• Spoken Word Album: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)," Jon Stewart
Arizona Daily Star reporter Cathalena E. Burch contributed to this story.
