Adele swept the top categories at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, taking
home five top awards including Album of the Year for her blockbuster
smash 21, Record and Song of the Year for “Rolling in the Deep”
and Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.” The British singer
also won for Pop Vocal Album and returned to the stage after months of
medical issues for a rousing, vibrant rendition of “Rolling in the Deep.” Paul Epworth, producer of 21, also won for Producer of the Year.
While
it was very much Adele’s night, Whitney Houston’s death yesterday cast a
shadow over the entire ceremony, with host LL Cool J opening the show
by offering a brief prayer for the late superstar. “There’s no way
around this,” the rapper and actor said. “We’ve had a death in the
family.” Later in the show, Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to Houston by
performing her own rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” the singer’s
signature hit.
