But for most of the show, I didn’t take very many photos. I was too bizzy Twittering and gathering info on Chris Brown. The official afterparty, tho, that was a whole lotta fun … mainly cuz the food was so good. They had these huge tables set up with HEAPS of shrimp, crab, oysters … I won’t even tell you how many times I went back for more ;) We were treated to a live performance by Robin Thicke and the food and drink was everywhere. Here are a few pics from the afterparty:

The party itself was Hippie-themed … and not very well. The dancers were not very impressive, in fact, I found them very unsettling. It was all I could do to keep shoveling shrimp into my face to be distracted.

Again, we had a blast … much love goes out to my friend Zlata at ABSOLUT Vodka, again, for the kind hook-up. So much fun!

And now … on to the other goss o’ the day …

Everyone was lookin’ their swanky best … Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood looked lovely (tho, I preferred the dress that J. Hud changed into for her onstage performance) and Jesse McCartney looked crazed as he latched on to Paris Hilton’s teet for their odd photo op. Dunno what the kid was trying to accomplish but I hope he bathed afterward.

It turned out that Alison Krauss and Robert Plant were the big winners of the evening … along with Adele who took home the award for Best New Artist (edging out Duffy and the Jonas Brothers — thank God!). After the jump, check out some photos from the Grammy Press room of some of the winners with their trophies and find out who won what at last night’s affair …

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the big winners at the 51st annual Grammy Awards Sunday night. They won album of the year for Raising Sand; record of the year for their performance of the song “Please Read the Letter”; and three other honors. The duo upset rapper Lil Wayne and British rock band Coldplay; those artists had the best-selling albums of 2008. Lil Wayne took home three Grammys, including best rap album, and Coldplay also won three awards, including song of the year. The pairing of former Led Zeppelin singer Plant with bluegrass fiddler and singer Krauss turned out to be a surprise hit with critics and fans last year. The demure Krauss only spoke once during the Grammy telecast, when she and Plant accepted the album of the year award. “It’s been a wonderful time, and especially [with] Robert, there’s never a dull moment,” Krauss said. “I’d like to say I’m bewildered,” Plant added. “In the old days, we would have called this selling out. But I think it’s a good way to spend a Sunday.” It was an emotional Sunday for singer Jennifer Hudson. Less than four months ago, her mother, brother and nephew were murdered. The former American Idol contestant and Oscar winner fought back tears as she picked up her first Grammy — for best R&B album. “I first would like to thank God, who has brought me through. I would like to thank my family in heaven and those who are here today.” It was Hudson’s second public performance since the tragedy. She sang a week earlier at the Super Bowl. Unheard Controversy The Grammy ceremony was, for the most part, relentlessly upbeat. Members of Coldplay bounded onstage wearing blue, purple, green and red jackets to accept the song of the year award. But the song, “Viva La Vida,” is the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit: In December, guitarist Joe Satriani filed suit in federal court alleging the band ripped off his 2004 instrumental, “If I Could Fly.” The suit generated a lot of coverage in the press and online, but Satriani may have a tough time proving his case. Some online music lovers have pointed out similarities between his tune and a 2002 release by the Argentine group Enanitos Verdes. Like the charges of musical plagiarism, the biggest news of the night went unmentioned during the telecast. Just as the ceremony was getting under way, the popular 19-year-old R&B singer Chris Brown was turning himself in to Los Angeles police for allegedly assaulting a woman early Sunday morning. Brown was scheduled to perform, as was his girlfriend, Rihanna, and both were nominated for Grammys. Neither won and both canceled — at the last minute. That led to a lot of speculation that Rihanna was the woman Brown assaulted. Los Angeles police declined to name the woman. Meanwhile Grammy organizers scrambled madly to fill their slots. The head of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Neil Portnow, said the Grammys have never faced a situation like this. “Everybody has certain problems at times in their lives, things that you wish maybe didn’t happen, maybe you’re not proud of,” Portnow said. “I’m not a judgmental kind of an individual. I’m sorry they weren’t there for their moments on the stage. I think that’s the thing that is most unfortunate to me at the moment.” Los Angeles police say Brown was booked on suspicion of making a felony criminal threat and released after posting $50,000 bail.

UGH, it is *impossible* to talk about last night’s Grammys without the Chris Brown story getting a mention. In any event, I was pretty pleased with many of the winners … tho, I didn’t see that Plant/Krauss thing coming. I thought for sure that Coldplay would clean up … I’m kinda glad that they didn’t. I don’t really love them but I do enjoy that Viva La Vida song … but, I was not a fan of the way Coldplay ripped off the Wiggles with their very colorful outfits:

I’m just sayin’. And, it MUST be said that Katy Perry put on the WORST PERFORMANCE of the night:

I’m so over all of her hype, I’m glad that she didn’t win anything … she sounded horrible live in person and I’m ready for her bandwagon to jump the track and go away. Adele and Estelle, on the other hand, are amazing performers and I was THRILLED with their wins. Those ladies can sing and I’m happy they were rewarded for their talents.

David and I had such a great time and it was all due to the kind generosity of our friends at ABSOLUT Vodka … and as a result, I’d like to mention that ABSOLUT debuted a new commercial in relation to their In An ABSOLUT World campaign during last night’s Grammy Awards telecast — the first time the company has aired a commercial in primetime. In case you missed seeing it last night, here it is again:

Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne garnered the most Grammy nominations, receiving eight, and British alternative rock band Coldplay grabbed seven as the Recording Academy announced this year’s nominees. Lil Wayne and Coldplay were both nominated for the prestigious album of the year award for the 51st annual Grammy Awards. Nominations were announced during a star-studded, prime-time concert special Wednesday night. Rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West and R&B crooner Ne-Yo received six nominations each. Alison Krauss, John Mayer, Robert Plant, Radiohead and newcomer Jazmine Sullivan received five each. Nominees in six categories were announced during the show that aired on CBS. Mayer, Mariah Carey, the Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift performed for the event. Swift, perhaps surprisingly, didn’t receive a single nomination. Though her albums — her 2006 debut CD and her recently released “Fearless” — weren’t eligible for the competition, she released several hit singles during the Grammy consideration window, which ran from October 2007 to September. And despite a huge hit single — “I Kissed a Girl” — Katy Perry failed to be nominated for best new artist. The singer did earn a nomination for best female pop vocal performance. “I feel very grateful to be recognized by an institution of such iconic musical history. I can’t believe it, but this year I won’t be watching the Grammys in my jammies,” she said in a statement. Newcomer Duffy, who had a big hit with “Mercy,” was nominated for three Grammys, including best new artist. She may have to get used to more attention. In October, she told CNN, “I still feel kind of underground in America, which is quite nice in a way though — to be able to sit around the corner at [a Los Angeles] cafe and have my breakfast.” The album of the year nominees are a diverse group. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” continues in the British band’s tradition of making big statements; on the other hand, on “Raising Sand,” old hands Plant and Krauss, working with producer T Bone Burnett, created a haunting, minimalist record that hearkens back to old folk and blues recordings. Longtime critics’ darlings Radiohead hit No. 1 with “In Rainbows,” which was equally distinctive for its initial release as a pay-your-own-price download. (The album was released on CD in January.) Lil Wayne had a commercial breakthrough with “Tha Carter III,” the year’s best-selling album, which featured the No. 1 tune “Lollipop.” Hip-hop artist Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman” deliberately opted for a brighter sound, he said after the ceremony, according to The Associated Press. “When I was putting it together, I was trying to do something that everybody could get into, as opposed to just my pop and R&B core group,” Ne-Yo said, according to the AP. “I was trying to do something that the world could enjoy, and I think that the Grammy people paid attention to that.” Nominees for record of the year are Adele’s “Chasing Pavements”; Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”; Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love”; M.I.A’s “Paper Planes”; and Plant and Krauss’ “Please Read the Letter.” Song of the year, a songwriters’ award, had five nominees: “American Boy,” popularized by Estelle featuring Kanye West; “Chasing Pavements,” whose hit version was performed by Adele; “I’m Yours,” written and performed by Jason Mraz; “Love Song,” written and performed by Sara Bareilles; and Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” written by the band. In some ways, it’s an odd time for the industry to celebrate. CD sales have plunged in the last few years, and music downloads, which continue to rise, have yet to fill the gap. With concert ticket prices often well above $50 a pop and wildly fluctuating gasoline prices, musicians are feeling the pinch.

I’m pretty surprised that neither Mariah Carey nor Taylor Swift got any nominations … these are the types of artists that the Grammy Award folks usually love to lavish trophies upon. I wonder if Mimi knew that she was going to get the shaft from the Grammys before she agreed to appear on the Nomination Special that aired on TV last night. I bet she’s pissed. After the jump, check out a few pics of John Mayer and Xtina Aguilera doing their thing on stage at the Grammy Awards Nomination Special that aired on CBS last night …

I’m very excited that Kylie Minogue (Best Electronic/Dance Album), M.I.A. (Record of the Year), Boyz II Men (Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals — seriously!!), Jennifer Hudson (Best R&B Album), Snoop Dogg (Best Rap Solo Performance) and The Raconteurs (Best Rock Album) all got noms. I’ll be pullin’ for these folks to win awards on Grammy night next year. It should also be mentioned that Lady Gaga managed to garner a Grammy nom as well (Best Dance Recording) … and still, Mariah Carey got nothing. That’s crazy, y’all. Click HERE to see a full list of all the nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. Did your faves get noms? Do you think Mimi got robbed?

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