Urban World

» A Night Out at the Grammys

The Grammy Awards is the biggest night of the year on the music calendar when all the A-listers pull out all the stops on the red carpet.

And this year's star-studded bash in Los Angeles on January 31^st didn't disappoint with stars including Beyonce Knowles, Lady GaGa, Pink and Taylor Swift all making an impression - both good and bad - as they arrived at the bash.

Lady GaGa, opened the awards with legend Elton John with an electric duet.  She also performed her mega-hit Poker Face, wore a jaw-dropping, celestial Armani Prive lilac gown complemented with bejewelled platform heels.

She completed her typically wacky ensemble with a spiked star sculpture made of metal and two-tone blonde curls.

GaGa debut album The Fame scooped Best Dance/Electronic Album and smash hit single Poker Face took Best Dance Recording.

Newly engaged Katy Perry went for the dominant colour of the evening, as she showed off her figure in a nude and gold floor-length Zac Posen gown.

She accessorised her outfit with a jewelled Judith Leiber clutch bag and fiancé Russell Brand on her arm.

BEYONCE won Song Of The Year in the main ceremony for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)

She followed her award win with a dramatic performance, joined on stage by a number of dancers dressed as futuristic soldiers as she sung a medley of songs, including her track If I Were a Boy and a take of Alanis Morrissette's hit You Oughtta Know.

Wearing a revealing dress, she powered her way through the performance, at one stage doing a Michael Jackson-esque crotch-grab and later crawling on the stage on all fours as she belted out the songs.

The singer also won big in the R&B category where she picked up both Best Song and Female R&B Vocal Performance awards for Single Ladies.

Beyonce also won Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for At Last, while I am/ Sasha Fierce won Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Her husband JAY-Z won Best Rap Solo Performance for D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune).

Renowned for her tomboy style, Pink stunned her peers by turning out in a stunning grey and black panelled mermaid strapless gown.

Arriving with husband Carey Hart, Pink gave the feminine outfit a rock 'n' roll touch with her quiffed platinum 'do.

Another singer renowned for her tough, androgynous style, Rihanna also went for a feminine look with a high-necked, white Elie Saab gown and gold strappy sandals.

Sporting a nearly identical blonde quiffed hairstyle to Rihanna was her idol Mary J Blige, who flaunted her curves in a fuchsia column dress with keyhole cleavage.

Like Lady GaGa and Beyonce, teenage country singer Taylor Swift sported several different looks.

Although arriving on the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder shimmering Kaufmanfranco blue gown, the 19-year-old also wore a simple nude gown to collect some of her awards during the pre-awards telecast.

However former teen queen Britney Spears, who leaped to fame 10 years ago, committed a fashion no-no in her sheer, lace Dolce & Gabbana dress over a black bodysuit.

The singer jetted in from recording new album in Miami to attend the bash with her agent boyfriend Jason Trawick.

While many stars were going for typical floor-length couture, some famous females crossed the red carpet boundaries with their extremely high hemlines.

Jennifer Lopez managed to accomplish both floor-length and a mini with her bizarre Versace gold mini dress with a white panelled front and side, giving the photographers a glimpse of only one of her toned legs.

And of course, given the title of her latest single 'Louboutins', she was wearing a pair of white Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels.

Miley Cyrus shrugged off her teen queen persona in teal panelled Herve Leger by Maz Azria dress and gladiator heels.

After weeks of promoting her acting stints in the movie Nine, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie was back where she belonged showing off her fabulous legs in a cobalt blue Emilio Pucci dress.

Black Eyed Peas won three awards for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With VocalsBest Video for Boom Boom Pow and Best Pop Vocal Album for The E.N.D.

Eminem took Best Rap Album for Relapse, his return to the studio after a long break and also picked up Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group with 50 Cent and Dr Dre for Crack A Bottle.

Kings Of Leon were another Grammys success story as they picked up Record Of The Year for Use Somebody, beating Taylor Swift, Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa and Beyonce to the gong.

The band also picked up Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for the same track.

Last year's Grammys were a success for Brits but this year one of our few nominations, The Ting Tings, lost out to Zac Brown Band.

One of the most touching moments of the ceremony came when two of Michael Jackson's children Prince and Paris were presented with their father's Lifetime Achievement Award.

The kids paid tribute to their dad following a 3D tribute set to the tune of Earth Song.

"Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity," says Prince. "We will continue to spread his message and help the world."

Written By Janelle Oswald