U2, a little-known band from Dublin, Ireland, were the big winners at The Recording Academy's 48th Annual Grammy Awards presented last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Statesman and humanitarian Bono humbly accepted the awards throughout the evening, taking the time to acknowledge and compliment fellow Album of the Year nominees Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani and Sir Paul McCartney instead of singing U2's praises.

As if Bono and his mates needed more affirmation that they rule the musical landscape, U2's "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," a song Bono wrote after his father passed away, won the Grammy for Song Of The Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group. Although released in 2004, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb qualified for this year's awards and not only won Best Album of the Year but also took home the the Best Rock Album Grammy. For the second straight year U2 won Best Rock Song, with "City of Blinding Lights" winning the award given last year to "Vertigo." The Irish band's success even spread to other categories with Steve Lillywhite, taking Producer of the Year for his work on Atomic Bomb.

Possibly owing to the fact that U2 didn't have a song nominated in the category, Green Day took home a Grammy for the second straight year, winning Record of the Year for Idiot's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Before awarding John Legend the Grammy for Best New Artist, also a category in which U2 wasn't nominated, a litany of prior winners were listed. However, the list notably left off prior recipients Milli Vanilli.

The expected Mariah Carey landslide never materialized. Poised to win 8 Grammys, which would have been the most ever won in one year by a female artist, Carey's three Grammys, all in the R&B categories, seemed less significant, given the astronomical expectations. However, her failure to win in any of the major categories makes the Academy's decision to slot Madonna as the opening act a less egregious choice.

On a show where U2 rocked the house and Bruce Springsteen captivated the crowd with a poignant rendition of "Devils With Dust," concluding by simply saying "bring'em home," Kanye West and Jamie Foxx nearly stole the show. Bringing full SWAC Drumline flair, complete with marching band and the "Broke Phi Broke" fraternity, West and Foxx surely had the censors sweating with their energetic version of "Gold Digger." West was the big winner in the rap categories, taking awards for Best Rap Album (Late Registration), Best Rap Solo Performance ("Gold Digger") and Best Rap Song, a songwriter's award ("Diamonds From Sierra Leone").

While awards ceremonies can be a dry affair, this year's Grammys provided its share of surreal moments. Paul McCartney's appearance at the end of Linkin Park & Jay-Z's performance of "Numb/Encore" (which won the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration) to mash-up "Yesterday" would rank highest on the list of "did I just see that" moments were it not for Sly Stone appearing at the end of a star-studded tribute to his music with a ridiculous brilliant-blond mohawk.

The televised broadcast concluded with a tribute to the music of New Orleans, featuring Dr. John and Allen Toussaint, but quickly became a eulogy to the recently departed Wilson Pickett. With Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and The Edge on guitar, the time-pressed finale of "In The Midnight Hour" ended promptly at 11:30 EST.

American Idol Kelly Clarkson walked off with two awards: winning Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Since U Been Gone" and Best Pop Vocal Album for Breakaway. In the country categories, Allison Krauss & Union Station took home three Grammys.

Winners From the 48th Annual Grammys Include:

Record of the Year: "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" - Green Day

Album of the Year: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - U2

Song of the Year: "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" - U2

Best New Artist: John Legend

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "From The Bottom Of My Heart" - Stevie Wonder

Best Pop Performance by Duo/Group with Vocals: "This Love" - Maroon 5

Best Pop Vocal Album: Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Devils and Dust" - Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Performance by Duo/Group: "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" - U2

Best Rock Song: "City of Blinding Light" - U2

Best Rock Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - U2

Best Hard Rock Performance: "B.Y.O.B." - System Of A Down

Best Metal Performance: "Before I Forget" - Slipknot

Best Alternative Music Album: Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes

Best Female R & B Vocal Performance: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey

Best Male R & B Vocal Performance: "Ordinary People" - John Legend

Best R&B Song: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey

Best Contemporary R & B Album: "The Emancipation of Mimi" - Mariah Carey

Best Rap Solo Performance: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West

Best Rap Performance by Duo/Group: "Don't Phunk With My Heart" - Black Eyed Peas

Best Rap Song: "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" - Kanye West

Best Rap Album: Late Registration - Kanye West

Best Traditional Blues Album: 80 - B.B. King & Friends

Best Soundtrack: Ray

Best Soundtrack/Score: Ray

Labels: U2