The Grammy winners are...

Amy Winehouse and Kanye West win big at the 50th annual awards ceremony -- but Herbie Hancock walks away with Album of the Year

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Photo: Kevork Djansezian/AP Photo

Amy Winehouse and Kanye West were the big winners at Sunday’s 50th annual Grammy Awards, each scoring multiple trophies — but in the surprise of the night, Album of the Year honors went to Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters, the legendary jazz pianist’s collection of Joni Mitchell covers (featuring guest artists like Norah Jones, Tina Turner, and Corrine Bailey Rae).

Winehouse, who performed ”I’m No Good” and ”Rehab” via satellite from London, came close to sweeping every category in which she was nominated. By the end of the night, she’d won five Grammys, including Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album (for Back to Black), and Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance (all for ”Rehab”). In her acceptance speech for Record of the Year, an ecstatic Winehouse thanked, among others, her label, her parents, and ”my Blake, incarcerated” (referring to her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil); she dedicated the award to London, as the crowd cheered.

West, who went into the night with the most nominations (eight), picked up four trophies: Best Rap Solo Performance (for ”Stronger”), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (”Southside,” with Common), Best Rap Song (for ”Good Life”), and Best Rap Album (for Graduation). After ripping through his hit ”Stronger” with Daft Punk, the rapper paid tribute to his late mother, Donda, with an emotional performance of ”Hey Mama.” He again recognized her in his acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, and admonished the band for attempting to play him off.

As for the Album of the Year winner? ”Unbelievable!” said presenter Quincy Jones after announcing a clearly shocked Hancock as the winner.

Other winners include Carrie Underwood (two country-category trophies for ”Before He Cheats”); Rihanna and Jay-Z (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the ubiquitous ”Umbrella”); Justin Timberlake (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for ”What Goes Around…Comes Around” and Best Dance Recording for ”LoveStoned/I Think She Knows”); Bruce Springsteen and Foo Fighters, who split most of the trophies in the rock categories; and even Barack Obama, who beat Bill Clinton for Best Spoken Word Album.

Winners in the major categories:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
River: The Joni Letters, Herbie Hancock

RECORD OF THE YEAR
”Rehab,” Amy Winehouse

SONG OF THE YEAR
”Rehab,” Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)

NEW ARTIST
Amy Winehouse

RAP ALBUM
Graduation, Kanye West

ROCK ALBUM
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Foo Fighters

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Icky Thump, the White Stripes

POP VOCAL ALBUM
Back to Black, Amy Winehouse

COUNTRY ALBUM
These Days, Vince Gill

R&B ALBUM
Funk This, Chaka Khan

CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
Because of You, Ne-Yo

FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”Rehab,” Amy Winehouse

MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”What Goes Around…Comes Around,” Justin Timberlake

POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
”Makes Me Wonder,” Maroon 5

SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”Radio Nowhere,” Bruce Springsteen

ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
”Icky Thump,” the White Stripes

HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
”The Pretender,” Foo Fighters

ROCK SONG
”Radio Nowhere,” Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”No One,” Alicia Keys

MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”Future Baby Mama,” Prince

R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
”Disrespectful,” Chaka Khan Featuring Mary J. Blige

R&B SONG
”No One,” Alicia Keys

RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
”Stronger,” Kanye West

RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
”Umbrella,” Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

RAP PEFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
”Southside,” Common Featuring Kanye West

RAP SONG
”Good Life,” Kanye West Featuring T-Pain

FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood

MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
”Stupid Boy,” Keith Urban

COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
”How Long,” the Eagles

COUNTRY SONG
”Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Love, the Beatles (George Martin and Giles Martin, producers)

For a full list of Grammy winners, click here.

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