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E-mailBut what came as a shock to those who were in attendance in Los Angeles last weekend was the death of singer Whitney Houston who was scheduled to perform in a pre-Grammy dinner. Houston, 48, was found dead in the bathtub of her Beverly Hills hotel room Saturday afternoon. The cause of death is still undetermined.
The 54th Grammy Awards paid tribute to the singer who popularized songs like The Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You and I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Host LL Cool J opened the night with a prayer for Houston. The event also featured a video of Houston's Grammy performance of her hit revival of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You. The song was also performed by Jennifer Hudson later that evening.
But while the mood was generally somber, the night was still filled with spectacle and glitter as the industry's top performers take the Grammy stage.
Adele's comeback
Belting in her first public performance since a throat operation last year, Adele's simple yet powerful Rolling in the Deep affirmed her status as one of the best singers of this generation. The 23-year old British star won all of her six nominations including the top awards: Song, Record and Album of the Year.
Praise for Adele did not end with the standing ovation she got after her performance. Huffington Post reports that with more than 35,000 posts per minute, Adele was one of the most Tweeted-about about celebrities that night.
Save for Houston, there was no doubt that Adele, the 2009 Grammys Best New Artist, was the star of the night. Even the simplest actions such as chewing a gum when she accepted the Song of the Year award and the giggle-followed-by-a-sigh-of-relief after her breathtaking performance were talked about by viewers.
But perhaps what got most of the attention was Adele's emotional, yet funny acceptance speech when she received the Album of the Year award. In it, the singer credited the creation of her album to a “rubbish relationship.” The speech got hilarious when she announced in the microphone that she “got a bit of snot.”
Rihanna's blonde
Besides Adele, other stars grabbed attention, including Rihanna, who turned heads when she arrived on the red carpet sporting blonde hair and a very revealing gown.
MTV reported that her performance with Coldplay that night was well-received, with viewers saying that “her voice sounds amazing” and that the collaboration was “pretty good.” The 24-year old singer, who had four nominations including Album of the Year, bagged the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Kanye West, Fergie and Kid Cudi.
But while the public waited with bated breath to see how Rihanna would react to meeting former boyfriend Chris Brown, who was also tapped to perform at the Grammys, no such encounter was reported.
Brown, who was sentenced five years probation and six months community service after assualting Rihanna in 2009, got three nominations. He won the Grammy for Best R&N Album. Sydney Morning Herald reported that Brown's return in the Grammy stage drawn criticisms, quoting reactions from viewers who claim that “the controversial R&B star shouldn't have been rewarded with such attention.”
Nicki Minaj' controversial performance
Meanwhile, with Lady Gaga's apparent low profile image that night, it was up to Nicki Minaj to take over the “crazy” genre, reports Inquisitr. Wearing a red-riding hood inspired gown, the Superbass singer got surprised reactions for bringing with her a man in a pope costume.
Minaj further heightened the theatrics during her performance of a new single, Roman Holiday. The production included a pre-taped video of the singer talking to a priest, and an “exorcism” followed by Minaj levitating on stage.
As expected, the performance drew criticisms from most viewers. Online site Celebs, for instance, dubbed Minaj' performance as a blatant Lady Gaga Imitation. Washington Post also reported that the Catholic League has condemned the production.
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