The acclaimed collaboration of former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss swept all five categories in which they were nominated, including Album of the Year, at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The musical odd couple also won Record of the Year, along with awards in the Pop, Folk/Americana, and Country categories.
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss accept the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for "Rich Woman" at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, February 8, 2009. [Sohu.com]
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60-year-old Plant was one of several British artists to take center stage at the American music industry's Oscars. Other UK winners included rock band Coldplay, who won three awards including Song of the Year, and 20-year-old rookie Adele, who was named Best New Artist.
Plant's status as a rock legend was earned as front-man as for one of the international rock phenomena of the 1970s. "I'm bewildered," said the once golden-haired, bare-chested singer, upon winning Album of the Year, the event's grand prize. "In the old days, we would have called this selling-out, but I think it's a good way to spend a Sunday. Forty years after landing in this town it's all different," he continued, after collecting the best pop collaboration with vocals award. "It's fantastic. This project has been spectacular all the way through."
Plant and Krauss' "Raising Sand," on which the duet reworked old folk ballads and R&B chestnuts, was an instant critical and commercial hit. Plant scuttled a much-trailed Led Zeppelin reunion by opting to tour Europe and America with Krauss instead. He said his collaboration with country singer Krauss had been a "fantastic experience."
Led Zeppelin were never honored during their active years between 1968 and 1980, the year the band broke up following the death of drummer John Bonham. Plant's sole previous wins were for a 1990s collaboration with former bandmate Jimmy Page, and for a song from the "Raising Sand" album with Krauss last year.
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. [Sina.com.cn]
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With 26 wins, Krauss now ties with French conductor Pierre Boulez as the third-most-honored artist in the Grammys' 51-year-history. The only artists ahead of her are the late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti with 31, and prolific producer/composer Quincy Jones with 27.
R&B star Chris Brown inadvertently supplied some last-minute fireworks. The double-nominee canceled a scheduled performance amid reports that he was involved in an incident of domestic violence in the early hours of Sunday.
His girlfriend, three-time nominee Rihanna, also scrapped her planned appearance. The 20-year-old singer had been due to perform early in the show but organizers abruptly announced her withdrawal just before the event.
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Justin Timberlake and Al Green perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. [Sohu.com]
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"We have just been informed that Rihanna will not be attending the 51st Grammy Awards," a spokeswoman said to an audience buzzing with rumour and counter-rumour. "We're sorry she will not be performing this evening. We have no further information."
The hole in the schedule left by Rihanna's missing performance was hastily filled with a duet between Justin Timberlake and soul legend Al Green.
