51st Annual Grammy Awards

Performances

• Both Rihanna and Chris Brown were scheduled to perform, but their performances were canceled after Brown was arrested after their fight.

Presenters

• 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

• Gene Autry
• The Blind Boys of Alabama
• The Four Tops
• Hank Jones
• Brenda Lee
• Dean Martin
• Tom Paxton

• George Avakian
• Elliott Carter
• Allen Toussaint

• Clarence "Leo" Fender
• Universal Audio

• '''Clive Davis'''

General

• * 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

• * T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineerViva 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 engineerTha 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 engineerYear 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 engineerIn Rainbows – Radiohead
• * Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

• * Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters
• "American Boy"
• * William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters
• "Chasing Pavements"
• * Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters
• "I'm Yours"
• * Jason Mraz, songwriter
• "Love Song"
• * Sara Bareilles, songwriter

• Duffy
• Jonas Brothers
• Lady Antebellum
• Jazmine Sullivan

Pop

• "Love Song" – Sara Bareilles
• "Mercy" – Duffy
• "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
• "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry
• "So What" – P!nk

• "All Summer Long" – Kid Rock
• "That Was Me" – Paul McCartney
• "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz
• "Closer" – Ne-Yo
• "Wichita Lineman" – James Taylor

• "Waiting in the Weeds" – Eagles
• "Going On" – Gnarls Barkley
• "Won't Go Home Without You" – Maroon 5
• "Apologize" – OneRepublic

• "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

• "Love Appetite" – Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere
• "Fortune Teller"– Fourplay
• "Steppin' Out" – Stanley Jordan
• "Blast!" – Marcus Miller

Dance

• "Ready for the Floor" – Hot Chip
• "Just Dance" – Lady Gaga & Colby O' Donis
• "Give It 2 Me" – Madonna
• "Disturbia" – Rihanna
• "Black & Gold" – Sam Sparro

[Traditional Pop]

Rock

• "I Saw Her Standing There" – Paul McCartney
• "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" Bruce Springsteen
• "Rise" – Eddie Vedder
• "No Hidden Path" – Neil Young

• "Rock N' Roll Train" – AC/DC
• "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
• "Long Road Out of Eden" – Eagles
• "House of Cards" – Radiohead

• "Inside the Fire" – Disturbed
• "Visions" – Judas Priest
• "Saints of Los Angeles" – Mötley Crüe
• "Lords of Salem" – Rob Zombie

• "Heroes of Our Time" – DragonForce
• "Nostradamus" – Judas Priest
• "Under My Thumb" – Ministry
• "Psychosocial" – Slipknot

• "Castellorizon" – David Gilmour
• "Suicide & Redemption" – Metallica
• "34 Ghosts IV" – Nine Inch Nails
• "Hope " – Rush

• "House of Cards" – Radiohead
• "I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie
• "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon
• "Violet Hill" – Coldplay

Alternative

R&B

• "Me, Myself and I" – Beyoncé
• "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole
• "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson
• "Need U Bad" – Jazmine Sullivan

• "You're the Only One" – Eric Benét
• "Take You Down" – Chris Brown
• "Can't Help But Wait" – Trey Songz
• "Here I Stand" – Usher

• "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

• "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

• "Say Goodbye to Love" – Kenna
• "Wanna Be" – Maiysha
• "Many Moons" – Janelle Monáe
• "Lovin You " – Wayna & Kokayi

• "Bust Your Windows" – Jazmine Sullivan
• "Customer" – Raheem DeVaughn
• "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole
• "Spotlight – Jennifer Hudson

Rap

• "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." – Jay-Z
• "Paris, Tokyo" – Lupe Fiasco
• "N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)" – Nas
• "Sexual Eruption" – Snoop Dogg

• "Royal Flush" – Big Boi featuring Raekwon & Andre 3000
• "Mr. Carter – Lil Wayne featuring Jay-Z
• "Wish You Would" – Ludacris featuring T.I.
• "Put On" – Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West

• "Low" – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
• "Green Light" – John Legend & Andre 3000
• "Got Money" – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
• "Superstar" – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos

• * D. Carter, S. Garrett, D. Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters
• "Low"
• * T. Dillard, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters
• "Sexual Eruption"
• * Calvin Broadus, S. Lovejoy & D. Stewart, songwriters
• "Superstar"
• * Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriters
• "Swagga Like Us"
• * D. Carter, S. Carter, Clifford Harris & Kanye West, songwriters

Country

• "For These Times" – Martina McBride
• "What I Cannot Change" – LeAnn Rimes
• "Last Call" – Lee Ann Womack
• "This Is Me You're Talking To" – Trisha Yearwood

• "You're Gonna Miss This" – Trace Adkins
• "In Color" – Jamey Johnson
• "Just Got Started Lovin' You" – James Otto
• "Troubadour" – George Strait

• "God Must Be Busy" – Brooks & Dunn
• "Love Don't Live Here" – Lady Antebellum
• "Every Day" – Rascal Flatts
• "Blue Side of the Mountain" – The Steel Drivers

• "Shiftwork" – Kenny Chesney & George Strait
• "House of Cash" – George Strait & Patty Loveless
• "Life in a Northern Town" – Sugarland, featuring Jake Owen & Little Big Town
• "Let the Wind Chase You" – Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban

• "Sumatra" – Cherryholmes
• "Two Small Cars In Rome" – Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green
• "Sleigh Ride" – Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
• "Is This America? " – Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby

New Age

Jazz

• "Seven Steps to Heaven" – Till Brönner
• "Waltz for Debby" – Gary Burton & Chick Corea
• "Son of Thirteen" – Pat Metheny
• "Be–Bop" – James Moody

Gospel

• "East to West" – Casting Crowns
• "I Understand" – Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, BeBe Winans, Mariah Carey, & Hezekiah Walker's LFC
• "Shall We Gather at the River" – Take 6
• "Waging War" – CeCe Winans

• * Kirk Franklin, songwriter
• "Cover Me" – 21:03 with Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful, & J Moss
• * James L. Moss, songwriter
• "Get Up" – Mary Mary
• * Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Warryn Campbell, & Eric Dawkins, songwriters
• "Give Me Your Eyes" – Brandon Heath
• * Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters
• "You Reign" – MercyMe
• * Jim Bryson, Steven Curtis Chapman, Nathan Cochran, Barry Graul, Bart Millard, Mike Scheuchzer, & Robby Shaffer, songwriters

Latin

Blues

Folk

[Reggae]

World music

• nominee Angels & Almas – David Maldonado

Polka

Children's

Spoken word

Comedy

Musical show

• * Kurt Deutsch, Alex Lacamoire, Andrés Levin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Moss & Bill Sherman, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer/lyricist

Film, television and other visual media

• "Ever Ever After" – Carrie Underwood
• "Say" – – John Mayer
• "That's How You Know" – Amy Adams
• "Walk Hard" – John C. Reilly

Composing and arranging

• "The Adventures of Mutt" – John Williams
• * John Williams, composer

• "Define Dancing" – Thomas Newman
• * Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman, arrangers

• "Here's That Rainy Day" – Natalie Cole
• * Nan Schwartz, arranger

Package

Album notes

Historical

Production, non-classical

• * Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell & Jack White III, engineers

• * Death Magnetic
• * Home Before Dark
• * Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy)
• * Seeing Things
• * Weezer (Red Album)

• "Electric Feel"
• *, remixers Justice

Production, surround sound

• Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina – Paavo Järvi & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – Michael Bishop & Robert Woods

Production, classical

• David Frost, Tom Lazarus & Christopher Willis – Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago – Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man, Yo-Yo Ma & Chicago Symphony Orchestra

• David Frost
• * Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique – Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic
• * Right Through The Bone—Julius Röntgen Chamber Music
• * Schubert: Sonata in D major; Liszt: Don Juan Fantasy – Min Kwon
• * Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago – Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Yo-Yo Ma, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man & Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Classical

• Kurt Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny – James Conlon, conductor

• Bernard Haitink, conductor – Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4

• Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny – James Conlon, conductor; Fred Vogler, producer; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone & Audra McDonald – Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich & Robert Wörle Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and Chorus

• Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn – Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos

• Gloria Cheng – Piano music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutosławski

• Pacifica Quartet – Elliott Carter: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5

• Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale – Spotless Rose: Hymns To The Virgin Mary

• Hila Plitmann – Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan – JoAnn Falletta

Music video

• "Pork and Beans" – Weezer
• * Mathew Cullen, video director; Bernard Rahill, video producer

• * Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer

Records

• Alison Krauss became the sixth female solo artist to have won five Grammys in one evening. The artists who won five before her are Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Amy Winehouse. However, at the ceremony next year, Beyoncé surpassed the record by gaining six such awards.

In Memoriam

Trivia

• The four Grammys Lil Wayne won were the first ever Grammy Award wins in his career.
• George Strait also won his first ever Grammy Award.
• After a four-year hiatus, pop-punk band Blink-182 announced their reunion before giving the award for rock album of the year to alternative rock band Coldplay.
• LeRoi Moore, saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band, died on August 19, 2008. The video tribute to musicians who had died in the previous year excluded Moore, disappointing and angering fans. Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, responded with a statement noting that Moore was included in a list of deceased musicians in the program for the event, and "unfortunately we are unable to include all of the talented and wonderful people within the allotted timeframe." This created a tremendous outrage from the band's fans and many other music celebrities.

Artists with multiple nominations and awards

• Eight: Lil Wayne
• Seven: Coldplay
• Six: Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West
• Five: Alison Krauss, John Mayer, Robert Plant, Radiohead and Jazmine Sullivan
• Four: Adele, Danger Mouse, Eagles, Lupe Fiasco, George Strait, and Stargate, T.I.

• Five: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
• Four: Lil Wayne
• Three: Coldplay
• Two: Adele, John Mayer, Ne-Yo, Daft Punk