Controversial rapper Eminem scooped up three Grammy awards but fell short of the big prizes of Album and Song of the Year, which went to Rock group Steely Dan and U2 respectively, at the 43rd annual ceremony.
U2 won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year Grammys for their song Beautiful Day, from the All That You Can't Leave Behind album. The song was chosen over I Try by Macy Gray, Say My Name by Destiny's Child, Breathe by Faith Hill, and I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack.
In all, U2 made off with three awards, including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group, giving it a clean sweep and taking its career haul to 10.
U2 vocalist Bono said he thought Gray - who earlier won the female pop vocal Grammy - should have won record of the year for I Try.
Rock group Steely Dan won the prestigious Album of the Year award for Two Against Nature.
Eminem's controversial The Marshall Mathers LP won in the category of Best Rap Album of the Year - fans describe it as poetic and personal, but detractors revile it as misogynist, antigay and violent.
The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences earlier gave Eminem a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song, The Real Slim Shady.
Eminem also won a Grammy in the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or a Group category for the song Forgot About Dre, sung in collaboration with his musical "godfather", rapper Dr Dre.
Near the end of the show Eminem performed a duet of one of his songs with openly gay singer Elton John. Eminem's songs include lyrics on gay bashing and violence against women and have been reviled as misogynist, homophobic and violent.
The ceremony opened hours earlier with singer Madonna arriving on stage in a sparkling limousine, then dancing on the vehicle's roof as she belted out the opening song.
Outside the auditorium, a group of around 100 protesters gathered to voice their opposition to Eminem.