Queen Of The Night: Adele sweeps the board winning SIX Grammy Awards as the world of music pauses to remember their 'fallen sister' Whitney Houston

It was a night of triumph and sadness in Los Angeles as two vocal titans ruled the evening.


Brit singer Adele swept the board at the Grammy Awards making a triumphant return to the world stage as the music industry paused to pay tribute to vocal power house Whitney Houston.


The Londoner won SIX Grammy Awards, including the big categories like Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Rolling In the Deep and Album of the Year for her smash hit 21.


The ceremony opened on a sombre note as host, hip-hop star LL Cool J led the star-studded audience in the Staples Center in prayer in honour of the 48-year-old singer who died suddenly on Saturday afternoon.








Someone Like You: British sensation Adele made a triumphant return to the music world at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last night





Winner: The Londoner clutches her Grammy on the night of her much anticipated return to the world stage


Dressed in a black tuxedo, the rapper looked on the verge of tears as he said: ‘There is no way around this.


‘We’ve had a death in our family.


‘So at least, for me, the only thing that feels right is to start with a prayer for the woman that we love, for our fallen sister Whitney Houston.’


The rapper – whose real name is James Todd Smith – said: ‘Heavenly Father, we thank you for sharing our sister Whitney with us.


‘Though she is gone too soon, we remain truly blessed to have been touched by her beautiful spirit.’






Elated: Adele couldn't contain her excitement after scooping the gong for album of the year at the ceremony





Where will she put them all?: Adele beamed as she posed with her six awards cradled in her arms after the ceremony ended


The rapper-turned-actor’s tribute continued as the show’s producers reminded the crowd of one of the multi-Grammy Award-winners.


Although she had been dead just over 24 hours Houston’s peers gave her a standing ovation after watching her sing her hit I Will Always Love You on video taken from a previous ceremony.


He then said: ‘Whitney, we will always love you.’


The host refused to get too sad and took the opportunity to welcome Adele’s return to the music community just months after vocal surgery threatened to end her career.


‘Adele,’ he said. 'Welcome back.’









Touched: Adele was visibly moved to be honoured with the biggest award of the night and burst into tears as she took to the stage to collect the gong


Congratulations: Adele received a big hug from pop diva Diana Ross, who presented her with the esteemed award at the end of the star-studded show


Adele was triumphant in her first performance since vocal cord surgery forced the cancellation of a tour and months of vocal rest.


As the world wondered whether her voice would still soar, she answered with her performance of her hit Rolling in the Deep and received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd.


The song also won her one of the night's most prestigious awards, Song of the Year, as well as one for Best Pop Solo Performance.


‘I can't believe I'm getting emotional already,’ she said after picking up the latter award.





Singing her heart out: Adele got a standing ovation after giving her first performance since having throat surgery that threatened her career





Best of British: Paul McCartney and Adele gave two of the best performances of the night


Something to celebrate: Ryan Tedder, who produced Adele's award-winning album 21, was literally jumping with joy after scooping the gong


‘And seeing as it's a vocal performance, I need to thank my doctors, I suppose, who brought my voice back.’


The singer got up throughout the night as she won award after award.


In total she won six – in every single category in which she was nominated making her tie with Beyonce to become the only female artist in Grammy Award history to win the most gongs in a single night.


The chirpy Londoner kept the glitzy crowd laughing with her down-to-earth comments, even commenting on her runny nose as she scooped her award for Album of the Year.
After thanking her mum, she giggled: ‘Oh, a little bit of snot.’






Emotional: Jennifer Hudson broke down in tears as she performed I Will Always Love You as a tribute to Whitney Houston


Tribute: Host LL Cool J led the audience in prayer at the Staples Center as the star-studded crowd paused to remember Whitney Houston


She also lovingly thanked respected producer Rick Rubin and new boyfriend Simon Konecki.


The night's other big winners, the Foo Fighters walked away with five Grammy Awards, notably winning for Best hard Rock/ Metal Performance for White Limo and Best Rock Performance for Walk.


Front man David Grohl was thrilled with the recognition and noted that they made their album Wasting Light in a garage.


He made a point of saying during one of his thank you speeches: ‘To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of making music is what's most important: Singing into a microphone, learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft.


‘That's the most important thing for people to do…’



Commanding the audience: Nicki Minaj delivered a dramatic performance of her upcoming single Roman Holiday after arriving at the bash with a man dressed as the Pope





Raising the bar: Nicki's performance pf Roman Holiday saw her be levitated in the air as she wowed the crowd on stage




Successful: Taylor Swift performed at the star-studded bash and also scooped two gongs, which she posed with after the event




Country girl: Taylor Swift performed with her band armed with a banjo



Another notable winner was Chris Brown, who was performing on the stage for the first time since he dropped out of 2009's broadcast.


His attack on Rihanna the night before led to both their absences, an assault charge for Brown and a career low.


But 2011 marked an amazing comeback for Brown who won the award for best R&B album for his record F.A.M.E.





Rocking the stage: Dave Grohl performed with his band the Foo Fighters while crooner Bruno Mars did a set






Introduction: Gwyneth Paltrow took to the stage to introduce a highly anticipated performance by Adele





Working hard: Paul McCartney displayed his sweat patches as he played guitar while performing at the ceremony




Tribute: Amy Winehouse's parents Mitch and Janis accept the award for Best Pop Dup/Group performance, along with Tony Bennett, on behalf of their late daughter





Pairings: Sir Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga strike a pose while Fergie and Marc Anthony presented an award on stage

The singer said: ‘[I] thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing.’


His ex-girlfriend Rhianna gave a raunchy performance with British rock band, Coldplay, wearing little but a pair of leather hot pants and a bra top.


Donning her new peroxide blonde hairstyle she grinded with her dancers before standing opposite Chris Martin who strummed along on guitar.


Her friend Katy Perry also gave a steamy performance.


Firework: Katy Perry took to the stage in a form-fitting outfit, performing against a background of dramatic pyrotechnics






Russell who? The newly-single singer appeared in great form despite her recent split from husband Brand

Dressed in a dominatrix-style outfit the blue-haired pop star wore a skin-tight cat suit of gold, silver and black.


The Fireworks star took the stage as male dancers pumped away behind her and pyrotechnics lit up the stage.


Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney were among the other performers who entertained the glitzy crowd.


The former Beatle wore a white dinner jacket while Swift strummed a banjo when it was her time to sing.



Mesmerised: Katy Perry couldn't help but look at her friend's chest as Rihanna had left very little to the imagination in her daring dress





Girl talk: Rihanna ensured she made the time to catch up to her close pal Katy Perry and sat next to her at the ceremony




Racy: Rihanna gave a steamy performance at the Grammy Awards two years after a violent altercation with then boyfriend Chris Brown forced her to pull out of a planned performance



Duet: Rihanna took to the stage after her performance of We Found Love to sing alongside Chris Martin of Coldplay




Return to the limelight: Two years after missing the Grammy Awards after physically abusing then girlfriend Rihanna, singer Chris Brown performed at the ceremony

The stars of country music including Blake Shelton paid tribute to Rhinestone Cowboy Glenn Campbell by singing a medley of his songs.

The veteran crooner announced last year that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s.

The 75-year-old brought McCartney and his peers to their feet as he belted out his signature tune.

Meanwhile Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt remembered Etta James, who died earlier this year, by singing her hit Sunday Kind of Love.

Another poignant moment came earlier in the evening at a smaller pre-Grammy Awards ceremony, prior to the screened version.





Crooners: Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine entertains the crowd while, right, the show's host LL Cool J addresses the audience





Date night: Celebrity couples Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest and Alica Keys and husband Swizz Beatz enjoy the show

Mitch and Janis Winehouse, parents of late singer Amy Winehouse who died of excessive drinking in 2011, accepted the award for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance for the song Body and Soul with Tony Bennett.
‘Long live Whitney Houston,’ Winehouse said.

‘Long live Amy Winehouse and long live Etta James. There's a beautiful girl band up there.’

The Londoner also said: ‘We shouldn't be here. Our darling daughter should be here.

‘These are the cards that we're dealt.’

Winehouse wasn’t the only star to mention Houston throughout the night.

Later in the show, actress and singer Jennifer Hudson - who has called Houston an inspiration and one of her biggest idols - performed an emotional tribute, singing a rendition of the late star's biggest hit.



Country stars: Musicians Neil Perry and Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry, Glen Campbell, Reid Perry of The Band Perry and Blake Shelton performed at the awards ceremony



Arm candy: LL Cool J, who hosted the event, enjoyed a moment on stage with actress Kate Beckinsale, who was wearing a Grecian inspired gown

Dressed in black, with only the accompaniment of a piano, she had to fight back tears as she sang I Will Always Love You, ending with the line: ‘Whitney, we will always love you.’

In his performance of Runaway Baby, Bruno Mars also mentioned the star's death, saying: ‘Tonight we're celebrating.

‘Tonight we're celebrating the beautiful Miss Whitney Houston.’

Meanwhile Stevie Wonder – who took to the stage to introduce Paul McCartney – also slipped in a reference to the Greatest Love Of All singer.

The former Motown artist said: ‘To Whitney up in heaven, we all love you.




Working the crowd: David Guetta and Chris Brown also performed together at the awards ceremony to the delight of the audience



Excited fans: Deadmau5 came on stage surrounded by blue, while fans waved their hands in the air to the music

But perhaps the greatest quotes of the night came from the woman who was celebrating her astounding success.

The cheeky Londoner thanked her mother when she picked up her gong for Album of the Year.

She told the woman that raised her as a single parent in Tottenham: ‘First of all I want to say mum: “Girl did good”.

‘This record is inspired by something that is really normal and everyone's been through it, which is a rubbish relationship.’

‘It's been a life changing year.’

Adele wasn’t the only British artist to walk away with a Grammy.






Winners: (L-R) Taylor Swift, Diana Ross, Alison Krauss and Melanie Fiona all took home Grammys

Corinne Bailey Rae picked up an award for Best R&B performance for her song Is This Love.


On the hip-hop side Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas won a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for All Of The Lights, which was also recognised for being the Best Rap Song of the Year.

West, who wasn’t at the event, also scooped an award for Best Rap Album for his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Meanwhile, he shared the Grammy for Best Rap Performance for his duet with Jay-Z for their record Otis.

Jay-Z, who just became a father for the first time after his wife Beyonce gave birth to their daughter Blue Ivy, was also not in attendance.

Despite making a grand red carpet entrance in a blood red dress made especially for her by Donatella Versace, Nicki Minaj failed to win the Best New Artist Grammy.


Balancing act: Adele had some struggle to contain her Grammys in her arms as she displayed the six gongs to a throng of photographers

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