Rapper Kanye West and singer Mariah Carey may have received much of the pre-show attention, as both had received eight nominations and were considered favorite, but U2 topped all.

Eventually West and Carey received three awards each. So did John Legend. The vocalist won in the categories best R&B album (for his platinum debut \"Get Lifted\"), best male R&B performance and best new artist.

Larry Mullen and the other bandmembers recieved their five Grammys including awards for album of the year (for \"How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb\") and song of the year (for City of Blinding Lights).

The Irish group now has 20 Grammys, among the top 10 award winners on the all-time list.

Mariah Carey picked up three Grammys, inlcuding one for the song We Belong Together, and one for her album \"The Emancipation of Mimi\".

Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first edition of \"American Idol,\" won best female vocal performance for her song Since U Been Gone and best pop vocal album for \"Breakaway.\"

To surprise of many in the audience ex-The Beatles frontman Paul McCartney and funk legend Sly Stone gave a live performance during the ceremony.

The Grammy Awards (originally the Gramophone Awards), are presented by the Recording Academy, an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry.

The Grammys are one of four annual major US music awards shows, the others being the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.