Beyoncé won a record-breaking 32nd Grammy Award, while Harry Styles won album of the year, at this year's ceremony in Los Angeles - making history winning best dance/electronic album for her euphoric dance opus, Renaissance and overtaking conductor George Solti, whose record of 31 Awards stood for more than 20 years.
"I'm trying not to be too emotional," she said when accepting her prize. "I'm trying to just receive this night." Overall, Beyoncé won four prizes at the ceremony. But, despite her success, she was once again locked out of the coveted album of the year award - losing the prize four times.
A visibly moved Harry Styles was also recognised for his record Harry's House. And in his speech, the British star downplayed the importance of the prize.
"On nights like tonight, it's obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music," he said. "I don't think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what is going to get us one of these."
Attended by the likes of Adele, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Shania Twain and Stevie Wonder, with performances from Lizzo, Steve Lacy and Brandi Carlile, British artists had a great night, with indie duo Wet Leg winning two prizes, including best alternative album; and Sam Smith receiving best pop duo/group performance for Unholy, a duet with Kim Petras.
Adele also won best pop vocal performance for Easy On Me, dedicating the prize to her son Angelo. She told the audience she had written the first verse "in the shower when I was choosing to change my son's life", by divorcing her then-husband, Simon Konecki.
"I love a piano ballad winning any kind of award because it's very old school and very brave," she said. Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt was the surprise winner of song of the year - beating favourites Taylor Swift and Beyoncé with her sorrowful ballad Just Like That. Voters were undoubtedly moved by Raitt's tender lyrics, in which a woman mourning the death of her son finds comfort from the man who received his heart in a transplant.
"I'm so proud that you appreciate this one," said the 72-year-old, accepting her trophy. Bad Bunny won the prize for best Música Urbana album, in recognition of Un Verano Sin Ti, which spent 13 weeks at number one in the US last year as other performances came from Americana star Brandi Carlile and Lizzo who later won record of the year for About Damn Time, and used her speech to honour Prince, who gave her an early break on his song Boytrouble.
"When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music." She also paid tribute to Beyoncé, calling her "the artist of our lives". Tributes were then paid to Olivia Newton-John, Irene Cara, David Crosby and Jeff Beck as Kacey Musgraves played a heartfelt version of Coal Miner's Daughter in tribute to the "Queen of Country" Loretta Lynn; while Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie was honoured with a performance of her signature hit, Songbird, by Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Mick Fleetwood. And Migos rapper Quavo played Without You - a song he wrote after the tragic death of his nephew and bandmate Takeoff last November.
50 years of hip-hop was then marked as the stage was taken over by more than two dozen rap icons, as turntable pioneer Grandmaster Flash kicked off the set with Flash Was On The Beat, cueing up an almost 12-minute trawl through the genre's greatest hits. Run-DMC played Rock The Bells, Public Enemy delivered a verse of Yo, Bum Rush The Show, Missy Elliot swept in for Lose Control and Busta Rhymes gave a show-stopping performance of his high-velocity rap from Chris Brown's Look At Me Now.
