LOS ANGELES – Beyoncé scooped six prizes at this year’s Grammy Awards – setting a new record for a female artist.
The singer won song of the year and R&B song for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), female pop vocal for Halo, female R&B vocal, traditional R&B vocal and contemporary R&B album at the 52nd annual awards.
The singer, who lost out in the album of the year category to country star Taylor Swift, now holds the record for the most gongs won by a single female performer in one year.
“This has been such an amazing night for me and I’d like to thank the Grammys,” the singer (28) told the star-studded audience in Los Angeles.
Swift (20) took four awards: album and country album for Fearlessand country song and female country vocal for White Horse.
Beyoncé's husband, Jay-Z, Black Eyed Peas and Kings of Leon won three awards, with Kings of Leon's tally including record of the year for Use Somebody.
Lady Gaga, who won two awards, opened the ceremony in a green-sequined bodysuit with wings, singing Poker Face.
She was joined by a rhinestoned Elton John, who melded her track Speechlessand his classic Your Songfrom opposite ends of a pair of conjoined pianos.
One British singer, Imogen Heap (32), threatened to steal Lady Gaga’s reputation for wearing the most outrageous outfit when she arrived on the red carpet.
Heap, who won a Grammy for best engineered album, wore what was dubbed a “twit dress” – a huge necklace with a live Twitter feed and a “TV” purse to display videos her fans were sending to her account.
Susan Boyle did not win any awards but did get a mention, when host Stephen Colbert mocked his glamorous audience by praising her for “saving” the recording industry.
“You may be the coolest people in the world. This year your industry was saved by a 48-year- old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes,” the comedian said.
Michael Jackson’s children Prince and Paris took to the stage to accept their father’s lifetime achievement award, with Prince saying: “Through all his songs his message was simple: love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world.”
The show included a 3-D tribute to Jackson with Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson singing along to a video clip of Earth Song.
Many of the stars wore Red Cross buttons in support of Haiti earthquake relief, while Mary J Blige joined Andrea Bocelli in a rousing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Waterto raise money for Haiti.
British winners included Jeff Beck for rock instrumental performance for A Day in the Life, and rockers Judas Priest for metal performance for Dissident Aggressor.
The compilation soundtrack in a film category went to Slumdog Millionaire, which features English artist MIA on the record.
The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil documentary, All Together Now, won the award for long form music video and an album made with British producer Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, won best recording package.
Irish rockabilly singer Imelda May (35) performed How High the Moonwith Beck in tribute to the late guitar legend Les Paul. – (PA)