Swift's album wins Grammy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” was named Grammy album of the year. Swift also won three other awards Sunday night, including best country album.

But Beyonc was the night’s big winner. Beyonc made history at the Grammys as she collected six trophies, including song of the year for her anthem “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” making her the most decorated woman in one night in the 52-year history of the awards show.

The multihyphenate entertainer won her sixth trophy with best female pop vocal for her soaring ballad “Halo.” Perhaps she was not aware of her record-setting feat; her acceptance speech was decidedly low key.

“Thank you so much. This has been such an amazing night for me and I’d love to thank the Grammys,” Beyonc said in her brief remarks. “I’d like to thank all of the fans for their support over the years.”

The Kings of Leon, whose “Use Somebody” trumped her “Halo” to win record of the year, were a bit more entertaining when they picked up their trophy, the family quartet’s third of the night.

“I’m not going to lie, we’re all a little drunk. But we’re happy drunks,” said lead singer Caleb Followill.

Beyonc , who in 2004 won five Grammys on the strength of her debut album “Dangerously in Love,” a mark tied by the likes of Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Alison Krauss, reached that milestone again Sunday en route to the new record. She is the first to reach that mark twice.

She won the songwriting trophy along with three writers for her omnipresent anthem “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” The superstar also won best R&B contemporary album for “I Am ... Sasha Fierce” among her other awards, and still had the opportunity to win the evening’s remaining top award — album of the year.

Lady Gaga, who won two Grammys during the pre-telecast ceremony, kicked off the night with a sequined green leotard with massive shoulders as she sang her Grammy-nominated hit “Poker Face” amid an elaborate stage that included dramatic choreography and pyrotechnics.

Moments later, she scaled things down a bit — as much as Lady Gaga can — and brought out Elton John as they melded her song “Speechless” and his classic “Your Song” together in a performance that featured dueling pianos, and glitter-painted faces.

Taylor Swift, who was second to Beyonc in Grammy nominations with eight nods, won four awards, including best country album. Though the 20-year-old has won just about every award imaginable over the past year for her best-selling CD “Fearless,” she was wide-eyed when she accepted her trophy for country album.

“I just keep thinking back to when you’re in second grade and you sing in the talent show for the first time and people joke around and say, ’Maybe we’ll see you at the Grammys some day.’ But that just seems like an impossible dream,” she said. “I just feel like I’m standing here accepting an impossible dream.”

Later, she also collaborated with a rock legend: Stevie Nicks joined her on stage as they both sang Nicks’ “Rhiannon” and Swift’s “You Belong With Me.”

The Grammy for best new artist went to the Zac Brown Band, while best rock album went to Green Day for “21st Century Breakdown.”

The Black Eyed Peas also had three trophies, as well as Jay-Z, who won for best rap solo performance and two awards for “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West.

Rihanna — who was forced to bow out of last year’s awards as a performer after being assualted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, accepted the trophy along with Jay-Z with Beyonc ’s young nephew in tow. West — who has been keeping a relatively low profile since his dustup with Swift a few months back — was a notable no show.

Maxwell, up for six awards, also won his first Grammys — best R&B male vocal for the ballad “Pretty Wings” and best R&B album for “BLACKsummers’ night.” The album marked the R&B crooner’s return after an absence of eight years from the music business.

The show included a special 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson featuring a video clip he made of “Earth Song” as Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson sang along.