Last night's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles were dominated by R&B singer Beyoncé who won six Grammys, the most by a female performer in one year.
Country singer Taylor Swift took home the album of the year award for Fearless, while rock band Kings of Leon securing record of the year at the music awards.
Irish rockabilly singer Imelda May featured at the event, appearing with Jeff Beck during a tribute to guitarist Les Paul.
Beyoncé (28) who led the field with 10 nominations, won song of the year with her anthemic hit Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), beating tunes by Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Kings of Leon and eight-time nominee Swift.
Single Ladies also yielded Grammys for R&B song and female vocal performance, and Beyoncé was honoured for contemporary R&B album with I Am . . . Sasha Fierce and traditional R&B vocal performance for her cover of At Last.
Beyoncé was also nominated in the film category for her work on the soundtrack to the movie Cadillac Records but lost that race. Her career total stands at 15.
Country-pop starlet Taylor Swift, who rocketed to stardom with ballads of teen love that she wrote on her bedroom floor, became the youngest artist to win the coveted Grammy for album of the year.
Swift, who turned 20 in December, took home four awards after being nominated eight times. She had never previously won any Grammys. Her second album, Fearless, was the most popular release in the United States last year.
In winning album of the year, Swift broke a record held since 1996 by Alanis Morissette, who was 21 when she won for Jagged Little Pill. Swift also was the first solo female country winner ever of the award.
She also won the Grammy for best country album, and a pair of awards for her song White Horse, female country vocal performance and best country song.
Both female artists were eclipsed for record of the year by Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon, who were the surprise honourees for their pop-radio hit Use Somebody.
The show included at 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and Usher performing Earth Song. Jackson, who died last year at age 50, was the top-selling artist of 2009, with 8.3 million albums sold, according to SoundScan.
"Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity," said Prince Michael, Jackson's son, who was accepting a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the late singer. "His message was always love."
Agencies