Grammy Awards 2012: Rihanna, Coldplay, Chris Brown, Katy Perry Take To The Stage (VIDEO)
Adele's comeback performance of Rolling In The Deep stole the Grammy Awards show last night. However, things weren't so great for fellow Brit Chris Martin, who struggled to create such a stir as he sang Coldplay's hit Paradise.
Sounding off-key and croaky, frontman Martin battled through the song, fighting the bad cold that has prompted the band to scrap upcoming Australian tour dates.
A whole host of musicals greats also performed throughout the evening.
Talking points included Rihanna's pumped-up rendition of We Found Love, during which she writhed around on the crowd until the Calvin Harris-produced track came in. The singer's blonde 'do gave the performance a twinge of Tina Turner.
Bruce Springsteen kicked the evening off with a stirring rendition of uplifting new song We Take Care of Our Own and Katy Perry made her fiery first TV appearance since her December marriage split to Russell Brand.
Other major performance highlights included Chris Brown's colourful act to his new song Turn Up The Beat, which saw him stand atop a collection of colourful blocks dressed in a white and gray varsity jacket, white pants and sparkling trainers.
Stars Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Sir Paul McCartney, who was given a standing ovation for his performance of new romantic standard My Valentine from his new album Kisses on the Bottom, also took to the stage. McCartney also closed the show with a rocking, guitar-heavy hits medley that featured Joe Walsh, Dave Grohl and Springsteen.
The night's most bizarre performance came from Nicki Minaj as she debuted a new alter-ego, called Roman, during a strange performance art piece inspired by horror film The Exorcist. Minaj appeared to levitate as dancers dressed as monks and a man pretending to be a bishop watched on.
But the 2012 Grammys will be remembered for its all-star tributes - to Etta James, 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Glen Campbell, the Beach Boys, who kicked off their 50th anniversary celebrations with a rendition of summer anthem Good Vibrations at the ceremony, and Whitney Houston, who passed away in a Los Angeles hotel on the eve of music's big night.
Host LL Cool J began the show with a prayer for the late superstar before introducing a clip of her performing I Will Always Love You at the 1994 Grammys. And Houston superfan Jennifer Hudson stunned the Grammy audience with a emotional rendition of the same song as part of the In Memoriam segment of the show.
Reports suggested the Dreamgirls star had struggled with the tribute during last-minute rehearsals earlier in the day but she held it together for the pitch-perfect cover.
The night could easily have become a sombre one as stars reflected on Houston's life and legacy, but winners and performers alike appeared to want to make the celebration just that, and soul legend Diana Ross, a 2012 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honouree, summed up the ceremony best as she stepped up to present the Best Album honour to Adele at the end of the event.
She said, "I am so excited to be here in this fantasic energy. We are having so much fun."
SLIDESHOW: The Grammys best bits in photos:
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The Huffington Post UK/WENN Sarah Dean First Posted: 13/02/2012 09:37 Updated: 13/02/2012 09:37