andPOP Grammy Coverage: Norah Jones Sweeps Grammy Awards

(andPOP) - Norah Jones became the surprise and obvious big winner at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, taking home five trophies.

Jones, the pop-jazz singer, won the awards for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Pop Vocal Album.

Her album, "Come Away With Me," also won Best Engineered Album (S. Husky H?skulds & Jay Newland), and won Arif Mardin the Producer of the Year award. Her single, "Don't Know Why," earned writer Jesse Harris Song of the Year honours.

Jones, who was almost unknown at this time last year, captured all five awards she was up for. She was tied with seven other singers for the most nominations. Many dubbed the Album of the Year award a race between Eminem and Bruce Springsteen, but Jones became the surprise winner, much to the dismay of the crowd who was yelling ?Bruce.?

"I just want to say in a time when this world is really weird, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have had the year I've had," she said, while accepting the Best Album award.

The veteran Springsteen did not go away empty handed. He won three for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album, although those were all handed out before the live telecast. He performed ?The Rising,? and later joined Elvis Costello, Little Steven Van Zandt, Dave Grohl and Tony Kanal in a tribute to Joe Strummer with The Clash?s "London Calling."

Eminem received the awards for Best Rap Album and Best Short Form Music Video. Upon accepting the Rap award, Eminem opted out of the usual thanking-industry-people speech, instead thanking MCs that have inspired him.

"Thank you, because I learned from all of you," he said.

The Dixie Chicks won three awards for Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Coldplay was also a multiple winner, getting the awards for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best Alternative Music Album. Nelly received the awards for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Kelly Rowland. The two of them performed ?Dilemma.?

After performing a set with Vanessa Carlton and James Taylor, John Mayer was handed the award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. No Doubt received the trophy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Avril Lavigne was the only artist of the seven people who were nominated for five awards that got shut out. Sheryl Crow, Ashanti, and Raphael Saadiq, also nominated for five, received one each. Eminem, Jones, Springsteen and Nelly were the others who received five nominations.

Lavigne performed ?Sk8r Boi? and arrived dressed in a ?custom made? tuxedo. Fellow Canadian Remy Shand, who had four nominations, was also shut out.

After losing seven times last year, India.Arie won her first Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance and Best R&B Album.

?N Sync sang a medley of Bee Gees songs. Barry and Robin Gibb won an honorary Grammy Award and presented it to Adam Gibb, the son of the late Maurice Gibb.

?We love Maurice very much," said Robin, Maurice?s twin brother. "He's in our hearts forever and we're very proud of him tonight."

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited and opened the show by performing their 1960s hit, ?The Sound of Silence.? They had not performed together since 1993 after having a falling-out. They did not dismiss the rumour of a reunion tour.

"It's possible," Simon said. "We don't have any plans."

Look for an analysis on the awards coming Monday.