USA: U2 sweep the 2006 Grammy Awards, with up-and-comers John Legend and Kelly Clarkson taking home multiple awards

Record ID: 589338

  • Title: USA: U2 sweep the 2006 Grammy Awards, with up-and-comers John Legend and Kelly Clarkson taking home multiple awards
  • Date: 15th February 2006
  • Summary: STEVEN TYLER AND JOE PERRY OF AEROSMITH BEYONCE KNOWLES WALKING PAST CAMERAS JOHN LEGEND AND FEMALE COMPANION ELVIS COSTELLO
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVACT2WSSAS768KHDR1763YC00W0
  • Story Text: Lines of limos were stacked up outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles Wednesday (February 8), dropping off a who's who of the music world -- all there for the annual Grammy awards. "To see Springsteen would be very cool, to see Paul McCartney would be cool," said Audioslave's lead singer, Chris Cornell. "I never as a kid growing up in Seattle -- I never thought I'd be chilling at the Grammys with the guys who was nominated with me named Robert Plant playing and I wasn't thinking about that."
    With so many stars needing to squeeze into the arena before showtime and the limousines ever longer, the green carpet arrivals area was a log jam of talent. In tandem or solo, they posed for the ever eager photographers, rarely choosing to speak with the assemblage of television crews. One time Grammy wunderkind Alicia Keys and country siren Faith Hill embraced for the cameras. Neo-crooner Michael Buble and one of his inspirations, Tony Bennett posed together. Soulful Joss Stone, with nose ring and a flower tucked behind her ear, was led down the carpet by a female handler. On they came, dinosaurs Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, a beaming Beyonce, walking and waving. Best new artist nominee John Legend squired a female companion. Scruffy Elvis Costello, solo and searching. A visibly pregnant Gwen Stefani, without husband Gavin Rossdale. Jamie Foxx, Kanye West's partner on "Gold Digger," had the highest praise for his collaborator and spoke about the performance they were to give during the show. "Oh, it's going to be crazy. You know how Kanye's doing. I mean this guy, he's even keeping me in the dark about things. Just tell me where to go, just tell me where to stand. So it's going to be good." He even took the time to give his picks for the night. "Mariah, I'm rooting for Mariah, I'm really rooting for Kanye, I'm rooting for John Legend. I'm just hoping it all gets distributed in the right way," he said.
    'Desperate Housewife' Teri Hatcher found herself far from Wisteria Lane. "I'm presenting best pop vocal album -- first Grammy's ever, very excited to be here, excited to see the concert and just to be a part of it," she said.
    Country royalty Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill talked about collaboration, in life and in music. "It's fun as a couple that have lived together, having kids together, and do the same kind of thing for a living it's fun to find songs that have a different kind of theme than what you normally do, it's fun to do those kind of songs," said McGraw.
    Rapper LL Cool J talked about what he was looking forward to seeing during the show. "It's really cool to be here and to actually be a part of this environment, and then seeing Madonna perform, I haven't seen her perform and she's performing with an animated group, which is cool, so it's cool."
    R & B queen Mary J. Blige held a solo rose as she walked past the media. Jermaine Dupri, producer for Mariah Carey one her multi-nominated "Emancipation of Mimi," after hearing that her album had already been honored during a pre show, seemed content. "I feel good, I mean, we won, I'm excited, you know what I mean, so, I can go ahead and sit-down and watch the show without sitting up on the edge of the show."
    But finally Grammy glory went to Irish rockers U2. The band won all five categories in which it was nominated, including the coveted album and song of the year awards. With a career haul of 22, the band ranks No. 6 on the all-time list of Grammy winners.
    But it was a mixed evening for the three acts who led the nominations with eight each, pop singer Mariah Carey, rapper Kanye West and R&B singer John Legend.
    Carey, whose comeback album was the biggest selling release in the United States last year, won three statuettes. But she did not get a chance to thank anyone, because all her awards were announced during the non-televised portion, which she did not attend.
    She was the only person nominated in all three of the lead categories of album, song and record of the year. Punk rock trio Green Day was the surprise winner of the latter award.
    West won three rap awards. Legend won best new artist, as expected, and two R&B awards.
    U2's new CD "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" also won best rock album. Additionally, the band won for rock performance by a duo or group with vocal ("Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own") and rock song ("City of Blinding Lights").
    The evening produced several surprises, led by inaugural "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson's two awards for pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. She beat Paul McCartney in the former category, and Carey in the latter.
    "I don't know what's going on, but thank you Jesus and God and everyone else that supported my career," she said after receiving the album award.
    McCartney was among the multiple nominees who went home with nothing. He received three nominations. Other losers included rapper 50 Cent, who had six nominations, and Grammys darling Alicia Keys, who had five nominations.
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